ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – On his first day as the Buffalo Bills'
head coach, Gregg Williams proved adept at coming up with the right
answers.
Consider how he handled the curveball team owner Ralph Wilson
threw at him Friday.
|  | | Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, center, laughs with President Tom Donahoe, right, and Gregg Williams after Williams was introduced as the Bills' new coach. |
"Was it a forward pass, Gregg?" Wilson asked, referring to
last year's Music City Miracle in which the Tennessee Titans beat
the Bills on a controversial play in the AFC wild-card playoff.
Responded a smiling Williams, who was then the Titans' defensive
coordinator: "As of today, my thinking was it was a forward
pass."
Everyone on hand, including wife Leigh Ann, broke out in
laughter.
Hired on Thursday, the 42-year-old Williams made a good
impression in being formally introduced at a news conference held
at the Bills' complex in Orchard Park.
"I'm honored. I'm very honored. This is a storied franchise,"
Williams said. "And I'm honored that they have the faith in me to
continue in that tradition."
Williams, the Bills' 12th head coach, takes over for Wade
Phillips, who was dismissed last month.
Williams was hired partly on the basis of his preparation and
organization, something that shone through during last week's
interview with Bills president Tom Donahoe.
Donahoe called Williams the best coaching candidate he's ever
interviewed, going back to his years as Pittsburgh's director of
football operations.
"(Williams) deserves this job. He deserves this opportunity,"
Donahoe said. "He's a leader. He's got great football skills. ...
He knew the (Bills') plusses, the minuses, he was well prepared to
do this."
After introducing Williams, Donahoe told reporters that the
salary cap-strapped team cannot afford to keep two top
quarterbacks, meaning Doug Flutie or Rob Johnson will have to go by
the end of the month.
"Because of the cap, we cannot afford to keep both
quarterbacks. We can't do it," Donahoe said. "Financially, it's
probably not the best thing to do for the team. And it may have
been divisive last year.
"We have to make a commitment to one quarterback and go with
it."
Donahoe will have to decide by March 1, when all teams have to
be under the new cap, which is set at about $67 million.
The Bills are believed to be about $10 million over the cap
going into next season, with Flutie scheduled to make $7.8 million
(including bonus money) and Johnson more than $8 million. Donahoe
also faces the challenge of attempting to re-sign the Bills' top
two free agents, receiver Eric Moulds and defensive end Marcellus
Wiley.
Entering his 12th NFL season, Williams has worked his way up the
ranks with the Titans franchise. Hired by the then-Houston Oilers
as their quality control assistant, Williams also coached special
teams and linebackers before being appointed defensive coordinator
in 1997.
This past season, the Titans finished first against the run and
the pass, and set a franchise record with 55 sacks.
Williams' first step is to hire a staff – including defensive
and offensive coordinators – after numerous Bills coaches left the
team following Phillips' dismissal.
Williams has received permission to interview Tennessee
secondary coach Jerry Gray and quality control assistant Ronnie
Vinklarek for jobs in Buffalo. Williams said Gray is ready to be
his defensive coordinator. Vinklarek is expected to land an
offensive coaching post.
He added that he plans to interview Kevin Gilbride, who was
recently fired as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator.
With a reputation as being meticulously organized and a
self-admitted "football junkie," Williams said he will draw on a
list that he's maintained, ranking all college and NFL coaches
since 1992.
"I've been looking forward to this opportunity right here and
I've been preparing for an awful long time for this opportunity,"
Williams. "I'm eager to get started, hit the ground running and
get off to a good start."
Assessing the Bills, Williams said: "There's a good young
nucleus base with a good mix of veterans that lead those young guys
how to play. ... I feel very comfortable with the people that are
here in place."
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