Inside The Bills

NFL.com: Shanahan to meet with Bills next week

In the rapidly changing world of the NFL hiring process, a meeting with former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is apparently going to take place next week for the Bills front office.

That according to NFL.com’s Vic Carucci, who said owner Ralph Wilson and COO/GM Russ Brandon will meet with Shanahan next week as Brandon is overseeing the hiring process. It sounds as if the organization is ready to cede control of the entire personnel side of the organization over to a coach the caliber of Shanahan, who Carucci reports is currently the frontrunner for the position.

Even though Washington has tried more than once to lure Shanahan to run their organization, Buffalo’s job is apparently more appealing due to the solid financial footing it rests on with respect to salary cap and dead money on its books in player salaries.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher is also on a short list, but Shanahan is the main focus, likely due to his strong offensive background, an area of Buffalo’s team that has been near the bottom of the league for most of the decade.

Bills know jobs on the line

When a head coach is dismissed during the season it’s an obvious indication that more change is soon to follow at the conclusion of the season. That’s why every player in Buffalo’s locker room quickly realized that unless they put some quality performances on tape over these last seven games that Dick Jauron won’t be the only one out of a job.

“That’s the nature of this business,” said George Wilson. ”Change is coming. Change started (Tuesday). Change came (Wednesday) and it’s going to come again in the future. For me I don’t feel I have to change anything. As a team we have to be very mindful of this is your livelihood. You’re going to have a new coach come in and be very critical of the tape. He’ll be looking for ballers, looking for guys showing the right attitude, a team attitude and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. We have to put ourselves in a position to get a good job evaluation and see where the chips fall when the changes set in.”

Whether every player is taking the same approach as Wilson will be easily seen on the field over the last seven weeks. Though interim head coach Perry Fewell agrees with his strong safety, he doesn’t feel their approach now should need to change. It should have been that way all along.

“I think they always play for their future,” said Fewell of the players. ”Each and every game. What you put on tape is your resume. I feel like they do that every week they go out and play.”

No Shanahan contact… yet

Despite ESPN’s report that former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan had been contacted by the Bills to meet with the club, NFL.com National Editor Vic Carruci is reporting that no contact has been made.

Carucci in a blog posting reports that no contact has happened as of Wednesday evening. He does go on to say that the Bills have him on their list as a person of interest, but conversations about meeting have yet to take place.

Hold onto your hats Bills fans it’s going to be a crazy final seven weeks and a mad, mad January.

Drafting a QB an improving possibility

Even though interim head coach Perry Fewell stated on Wednesday that the starting quarterback will be a week to week situation, his naming of Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter this week with Trent Edwards healthy is a strong indication that the window on Edwards opportunity to be the long term starter at quarterback for the Bills has closed.

When something like this happens to a starting QB in the NFL, it’s almost like the point of no return. That’s why despite Fewell’s assertion that it’s a week to week deal, I’m wondering if it’s just a way for Fewell to keep his options open in the event that Fitzpatrick fares no better.

If Edwards gets back in the lineup it’s doubtful he’ll be able to do enough to convince Buffalo’s front office that he’s still capable of being the answer at QB. He’s had 30 NFL starts in his career and is 14-16. He’s had trouble taking the next step in his second season as a starter and third in the league, and admitted as much earlier this week.

“At times I feel like it has,” said Edwards when asked if his game has taken a step back this year. ”When you lose games it doesn’t feel like you’re progressing the way you need to. There are things that I feel like I’ve grown at and things I feel I definitely haven’t done well and need to change here.”

Whether Edwards gets that opportunity to change is completely up in the air. If Fitzpatrick is remotely consistent in leading the Bills offense this week, it’s safe to assume he’ll remain the starter moving forward, meaning Edwards will not get the chance to improve on his shortcomings.

He has one year remaining on his contract in Buffalo, but with the way things are going the likelihood that the Bills draft a quarterback high next April is improving every day.

Most Bills surprised by Jauron dismissal

After talking to several players in the Bills locker room Wednesday, it’s clear that most of them were caught off guard by the firing of Dick Jauron on Tuesday. Here’s a run down of player reaction to Jauron’s termination.

Lee Evans
“I think it was for everybody pretty shocking to learn about it and just to see how it all came about. We don’t necessarily know all the reasons behind it, but right now it is what it is.” 

Aaron Maybin
“I was pretty surprised when I heard about it, but obviously they made a decision and that’s the direction they chose to go and we as players have to make those adjustments.”

Kyle Williams
“It’s always hard. Coach Jauron, they drafted me here. I think if you ask anybody in here they’ve got the utmost respect for him.”

Jairus Byrd
“I was surprised. I didn’t even know. I was getting my hair cut and people were texting me and coach got fired and I was taken back. I don’t know. This is my rookie year so I’m still learning and I’m learning with a new coach. Taking it all in stride I guess.”

Terrell Owens
“What’s new? Number one, that’s the nature of the business and obviously you never want to see a coach get fired, a player get released, but that’s just the nature of it and you just have to- within 24 hours you deal with it. I reached out to Coach (Jauron) and thanked him for the opportunity, for allowing me to play here and play under him and I wished him well. So at this point, you just have to move on.”

Ryan Fitzpatrick
“I can tell you that everybody in the locker room respected Coach Jauron. In the highest regard everybody thought of him, almost as a father figure just in terms of the way he went about his business, what he expected from us and the respect that he gave us.”

Marshawn Lynch
“Yeah. Been here with him for three years and I took some time to try and you know meet him and really build a relationship with him and then on our off day to turn on the TV and see that he’s gone. Just got to keep pushing.”

Andy Levitre
“I wasn’t expecting him to go as soon as he did. But we haven’t been playing to the best of our ability. I kind of saw it coming. I didn’t want him to leave. He’s a great coach. I wanted him to stay, but it’s a cut throat business and I don’t have any control over what happened.”

Whitner summons King James

Donte Whitner playing off the played up scenario on ESPN of the potential of LeBron James as an NFL player, tweeted LeBron encouraging him to take up an NFL career.

DonteWhitner    LeBron come to the NFL…..we can then finish that convo about our high school days and who wouldve did what lol.

Whitner is obviously joking around, but Whitner’s comment is based on some of what James had to say when asked about the prospect of playing NFL football.

”If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself to the game of football, I could be really good,” James told reporters before facing the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. ”No matter what team I was on.”

 The Bills safety is a Cleveland product and James is from nearby Akron, Ohio. James played wide receiver in high school. Not sure what might come of the shout out. We’ll see if LeBron responds after his game Wednesday evening.

Jags injury update

Here are a couple of the more important injury notes for the Jaguars.

Starting CB Rashean Mathis (groin) has been declared out.
Starting MLB Justin Durant (head) did not practice Wednesday.
Starting SS Gerald Alexander (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday.

Parrish, Jenkins sick

Both Roscoe Parrish and Justin Jenkins missed Wednesday practice due to illness.

Interim head coach Perry Fewell said they don’t believe it’s something serious like the flu, but are still trying to determine that.

“We hope 24 hour bug, but it’s day to day,” said Fewell. ”We don’t’ think it’s anything that’s major but it’s day to day.”

Both players have been essential contributors to special teams, though Parrish has been inactive each of the last four games.

Bills starting DTs hobbling

Both of Buffalo’s starting defensive tackles are hobbling with knee injuries, but the chances of them playing might not be as dire as it looks.

Both Kyle Williams and Marcus Stroud did not practice due to knee injuries. Williams is three weeks removed from suffering a grade two plus MCL sprain. It’s not all the way, but it’s close. Williams did some light work on the side.

“I thought they went pretty good,” said Williams. ”Better than it was on Monday. It’s not fully there yet, but it felt pretty good. I feel encouraged over it. There are still some positions that I get in that are pretty vulnerable for the ligament, but all in all it felt pretty good. Hopefully it’ll continue to progress and heal as quickly as it has.”

Stroud sustained his knee injury in the Tennessee game according to interim head coach Perry Fewell. But Fewell is optimistic Stroud will be ready to play on Sunday.

“With Marcus just I think (it happened) last Sunday in the ball game,” said Fewell. “It’s nothing that we were shocked by. He’s played a lot of snaps. So it’s just day to day with him. I feel strongly that Marcus will be ready, but it’s day to day.”

Injury report

Here’s the rundown and it’s a long one of the official injury report in terms of who did not practice Wednesday.

Not practicing
OT Demetrius Bell (knee)
FS Jairus Byrd (groin)
LB Keith Ellison (quad)
WR Justin Jenkins (illness)
CB Terrence McGee (knee)
WR Roscoe Parrish (illness)
OT Jonathan Scott (personal)
DT Marcus Stroud (knee)
DT Kyle Williams (knee)
CB Ashton Youboty (ankle)

Ask Marcus

This week is probably the best week of them all to submit a question for Marcus’ Mailbag this week.

With Dick Jauron getting fired, his defensive coordinator Perry Fewell now named the head coach, it’s a rare opportunity for Bills fans to get direct insight from the inside at One Bills Drive.

As always you can email Stroud a question at AskMarcus@bills.nfl.net.

Jags to be without top CB

The Bills aren’t the only team down key players in their lineup. Jacksonville will be without their top cornerback.

Top CB Rashean Mathis has been declared out for Sunday’s game with a groin injury.

Of course the Bills were without their top corner Terrence McGee last week. He did not practice here on Wednesday and remains a question mark for Sunday, though he did do work with trainers on the side today.

Shanahan contacted by Bills?

ESPN is reporting that former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan has been contacted by the Buffalo Bills in an effort to arrange a meeting.

That according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who also reports that Shanahan is willing to listen according to two of his league sources. Shanahan has said in the past that he wants to be back coaching in 2010. Schefter also mentions Jim Haslett, former Bills offensive coordinator and current Giants OC Kevin Gilbride as possible candidates. He also listed Montreal head coach Marc Trestman in the CFL, who was a former 49ers coordinator.

Byrd update

Jairus Byrd has already mentioned how he’s probably not going to be 100 percent the rest of the year with a nagging groin injury related to his sports hernia surgery bothering him coming out of every game. He commented on his situation for Sunday’s game after not practicing Wednesday.

“Yeah I don’t really know,” said Byrd. ”Each game is just tough, just pulling on it. We’ll see. Hopefully I can keep playing through it.”

Filling in for Byrd at free safety in practice Wednesday was Donte Whitner.

QB decision not permanent

Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell said that his decision to go with Ryan Fitpatrick as the starting quarterback is not a permanent deal.

“We just felt like from the offensive staff and myself, we just felt like Ryan gives us the best opportunity this week against Jacksonville to win,” said Fewell. “Coming out he was 2-1 and was playing relatively well and we felt he gave us the best opportunity to win.”

When asked if it is a week to week decision at QB Fewell said the following.

“Week to week, day to day, yes,” said Fewell.

Fewell also said the quarterback decision was made after Dick Jauron was relieved of his coaching duties Tuesday.

Fitzpatrick confirmed

Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell confirmed what was suspected for Sunday’s game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will start at quarterback at Jacksonville.

Del Rio on Jauron firing

Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio addressed the firing of now Bills former head coach Dick Jauron.

“Dick’s a good man,” said Del Rio. “That’s just the hard part of the business that we’re all involved in. I wish him and his family the very best.”

When asked how many changes he expects to see from the Bills with Perry Fewell at the helm, Del Rio admits it’s a bit of the unknown, but isn’t changing their approach.

“I think in the NFL it’s an unknown week to week in many respects. We all work very hard game planning each other and teams come up with wrinkles regardless of whether there’s a coaching change or not. We’ll go through our normal game preparations and expect to put as strong a plan together as we can and go at these guys and try to scratch out a win.”

Practice update

Here’s the rundown of the non-participants at practice on Wednesday.

Not practicing
WR Roscoe Parrish
WR Justin Jenkins
CB Terrence McGee (he was working on the side with the training staff)
CB Ashton Youboty
FS Jairus Byrd
LB Keith Ellison
OT Demetrius Bell
OT Jonathan Scott (absent)
DT Marcus Stroud

We’ll have a full update on who was limited in practice later today, but Donte Whitner looked to be full go.

Scott position update

Bryan Scott’s position looks like it will remain the same this week.

With Keith Ellison not practicing again Wednesday, Scott is his replacement at OLB.

Williams practice update

A starter for the defense returned to practice here on Wednesday.

Kyle Williams is back practicing coming off a sprained MCL.

We’ll have an update as to just how much Williams participated in practice this afternoon.