BUFFALO, N.Y. -- His interviews wrapped up, Tom Donahoe is
expected to select the Buffalo Bills' next head coach within the
next two days.
The Bills president and general manager was at his home in
Pittsburgh on Tuesday, interviewing New York Giants defensive
coordinator John Fox, the fourth and final candidate up for the
job.
Fox did not immediately return messages left by The Associated
Press.
Fox and Marvin Lewis, defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl
champion Baltimore Ravens, are considered the front-runners for the
post left open after Wade Phillips was fired in early January.
Donahoe already has interviewed Tennessee Titans defensive
coordinator Gregg Williams and Ted Cottrell, Buffalo's former
defensive coordinator, who has since joined the New York Jets.
Although considered a longshot, Cottrell can get out of his
contract with the Jets should he be selected for the Bills job.
Cottrell said the candidates have been informed to expect a
decision as early as Wednesday or, at the latest, Thursday.
Cottrell added that second interviews are unlikely.
Time is a factor as the incoming coach needs to hire a new
staff, and Donahoe faces free agent and salary cap concerns in the
coming month.
With the Cleveland Browns hiring University of Miami head coach
Butch Davis, Buffalo is the only NFL team without a coach.
The interview Tuesday with Fox came a day after Donahoe spent five
hours meeting with Lewis in Baltimore. Although Lewis was
unavailable for comment, his agent, Ray Anderson, released a
statement, saying: "Marvin Lewis felt the interview went well, and
will now let the process take its course."
The Bills declined to comment Tuesday. Donahoe, entering the
third week of his job after replacing John Butler, has refused to
discuss his search process.
Along with being close friends, Lewis and Fox worked in
Pittsburgh when Donahoe served as the Steelers director of football
operations, and their two teams met in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Lewis has been considered the offseason's hot coaching
commodity. He oversaw a Ravens defense regarded as one of the NFL's
best ever. Along with allowing the fewest points in a 16-game NFL
season, Baltimore yielded just 16 points through the playoffs,
holding the Giants to no points on offense.
Baltimore coach Brian Billick, who has mentored Lewis in his job
search, has credited his assistant with 90 percent of the Ravens
defense's success.
Under Fox, the Giants defense finished fifth in the NFL in
fewest yards allowed, and was ranked second overall against the
run.
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