BUFFALO BILLS: With Jauron out, fans doubt Wilson will pay for name coach

By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Bill</a>

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson’s firing of coach Dick Jauron on Tuesday leaves followers of the team wondering what kind of a coach the 91-year-old icon will hire to take charge of the NFL team that has not made the playoffs in this millennium.

The Bills, who had three straight 7-9 seasons under Jauron, are 3-6 after bowing to Tennessee 41-17 on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell will be the Bills’ interim head coach when the Bills play at Jacksonville.

Mid-season firings of coaches are unusual, but the calls for Jauron’s dismissal have gotten louder as the season progressed. Those interviewed in Lockport thought it was about time Jauron was let go.

Some of the Bills’ followers were pretty pragmatic in wake of the decision and reasoned that Wilson would watch his wallet, something the Bills’ only owner has been criticized for in the past.

• Cliff Drew of Lockport felt it was long overdue and said, “Ralph Wilson’s been around for a long time and he goes with what he can get at the price he wants to pay. It may be a young up-and-comer, then again, someone on the downside of their career.”

• Jauron’s departure is awesome, according to Phil Schoenfeldt of Lockport. “The team needs a change and that’s where it’s going to start for sure.”

Schoenfeldt added, “We have not had that much success in the past years getting coordinators, pretty much no-name people. If Ralph’s going to dish out $7.5 million to pay off Jauron, maybe he’s finally ready to dish out $9 or $10 million, extra pay, for a real coach. Hopefully, he goes for someone who is more established, someone who’s won a championship before.”

• Charlotte Lambert of Lockport feels that Jauron did not work the players hard enough. “If I was him, I would have their butts out there on the field every day. I’d be working

them. For the money they make, there would be none of this ‘Oh, goodie you won a game, now you get a day off.’ Work their butts and make them earn their money ... If he doesn’t work them hard enough, they are not going to get good. He’s too soft.”

• Chuck Jenkins of Lockport felt his opinion didn’t matter much because he is a fan of the Miami Dolphins. Still, he was “kind of glad” Jauron got the hook.

“Buffalo needs to spend the money like Miami did and go for the good coaches and quarterbacks, and wide receivers,” Jenkins said. “It’s a shame they got a world-class wide receiver in Terrell Owens and they put him on the Bills and he looks like squat. It’s the team that’s doing it, not Terrell.”

• Ken Reinard of Sanborn would go for a brand-name coach and won’t miss Jauron. “It was a long time coming, the way things have been going,” he said.

• Rich Ricigliano of Amherst said the news was probably good for the team. “Things aren’t going well. He’s just not the right fit for the team.”

Ricigliano would like a tried-and-true coach, but predicted Wilson will hire an up-and-coming coach. “The owner won’t pay the money,” he said.

• Cindy Tomaino, 11, a Starpoint student said, “I think it’s OK he got fired because he wasn’t that good of a coach. I would pick a really good guy who is really good at coaching.”

• Bonnie Knarr, Cindy’s grandmother, said: “It’s about time; the people in Buffalo are going to be a lot happier. We’re good people, we’ve always supported our team and we need some good players and a better coach.

“There’s a lot of good coaches that have been let go by other teams that are a possibility. Then again, maybe he should go with some new blood. Start over again, a brand new team with a brand new coach. Anything’s got to be better.”

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

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