Billick To Remain With Ravens In '06

[ShovelMonkey]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2273063

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


Scratch Brian Billick from the NFL's endangered species list.

In an announcement that confirmed rumors of the past two weeks, Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti informed players at a team meeting Wednesday morning that Billick will return as head coach in 2006. There have been strong indications from both players and assistants that Billick would be back for an eighth season.

One player contacted Monday by ESPN.com who also had been interviewed by Ravens management about Billick's ability to lead the team back to the playoffs said then that the coach "already [seemed] to know something about his future." Other sources within the team said Billick had been apprised as long as two weeks ago that he and his staff would likely return.

Billick, 51, has a 67-51 record, including playoff games, since taking over the Ravens in 1999. He has a year left on his contract.

"We have an ongoing and extensive process to find ways to win," Bisciotti said in a statement. "This included a thorough evaluation of Brian Billick. Collectively, we concluded that continuing with Brian as head coach gives us the best opportunity to win."

Part of that process was in-depth interviews with veteran players and some assistant coaches as Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome sought direction for the future. Billick is under contract through the 2007 season. Another element was an analysis of the field of potential replacement head coaches.

In only his second season as an NFL head coach, Billick led the Ravens to the Super Bowl XXXV championship. After the 2001 season, however, the Ravens were forced to dismantle that team because of salary cap excesses. The Ravens have appeared in the playoffs twice since then but have not advanced beyond the divisional round.

Baltimore has won three of its last four games to get to 6-9 for the year and concludes the 2005 season Sunday at Cleveland.



Before coming to the Ravens, Billick was tight ends coach and offensive coordinator in Minnesota from 1992-98.



He is tied for fourth in NFL seniority with Philadelphia's Andy Reid among coaches with their current teams, trailing only Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher, Tennessee's Jeff Fisher and Denver's Mike Shanahan.

Thoughts?

[Kodos]

He should go to the Raiders or Cowboys under my Jerk Magnet theory. See? Theories make predictions!

[JonInMiddleGA]

I didn't even realize there was any doubt about this.

[scooper]

He has multiple playoff appearances and a superbowl win in recent seasons. This was the first truly poor season and it's ended with a lot of momentum. I don't see why he should have lost his job. His biggest crime is not developing a great QB or offense to fit his supposed "guru" status. Last time I checked, there's no Randy Moss in Baltimore.

He is a jerk, though.

[kcchief19]

I haven't really followed the story closely enough to draw a conclusion. Is Billick really a jerk? I know I think he's a jerk because I was stupid enough to draft Jamal Lewis when I panicked after a run on running backs in my fantasy league, but aside from a certain arrogance he seems to exude that may not be completely in line with his success to this date, he seems fairly innocuous.

I do see the frustration in Baltimore that they've never had an offense under Billick, and now the defense seems to faltering with the masterminds behind it gone and key personnel aging. Billick hasn't seemed to demonstrate the ability to jettison personnel and reload the way Cowher and Reid have done thus far.

[pbot]

I think it is a solid move for the Ravens. He's earned the right to a lousy season after what he's accomplished in Baltimore. Say what you want about the crappy offenses and continual wishfull thinking that the 2000 defense would magically re-appear, but he has won games and generally speaking put a competitive club on the field. The team has improved after bottoming out in Detroit earlier in the year.

Boller *may* have finally started to get his act together so booting Billick and staff at this point would probably be counter productive. I do think he needs to handle the team a bit differently as far as how much lattitude he gives them (aka...veterans allowed to go home at night during camp, etc), but overall I think it is good he is coming back.

[cuervo72]

Part of that process was in-depth interviews with veteran players and some assistant coaches as Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome sought direction for the future. Billick is under contract through the 2007 season. Another element was an analysis of the field of potential replacement head coaches.

Hopefully NFL teams will realize that most of the time when you fire a coach, you're
going to end up hiring crap anyway...so why bother?

I think this is good for the Ravens. I think Billick is fine, and I like continuity. I agree with pbot, Boller may be getting his act together (he's young, so not unreasonable that he wouldn't have a couple of crappy years before figuring things out, right? You know, like in FOF? )

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Billick hasn't seemed to demonstrate the ability to jettison personnel and reload the way Cowher and Reid have done thus far.

How much control does he have though? I know the article says "GM" Ozzie Newsome. I can't stand Billick, but I'm not sure he has as much control over player personnel as Cowher and Reid.

[Hurst2112]

If you listen closely, you can hear all the Vikes fans up here pouting softly,

[Eaglesfan27]

I think this is a good move for the Ravens. There are no clear "genius" coaches waiting in the wings, and Billick as shown himself to be at least a good coach. Also, Boller does seem to be finally developing which should help the team next year.

[Cringer]

Firing him would have been a bad move in my mind. Glad to see he is staying.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I think this is a good move for the Ravens. There are no clear "genius" coaches waiting in the wings, and Billick as shown himself to be at least a good coach. Also, Boller does seem to be finally developing which should help the team next year.

Yup. The famous teaser. He lights up a Packers team that quit and a margainal Vikings defense and he's "developing"

But it's not like Baltimore could do better than what they have. They should stick with him another year and see what happens.

I don't see him saving his job next year. I think they'll be the same team they've been the last four or five years. A 500. team who will struggle to get into the playoffs and be lucky to win a game. Then he'll hit the chopping block.

[Eaglesfan27]

While, those two games were certainly against lesser teams, he has shown improved decision making in other games this year. I guess we'll see how the future plays out, but I really do think Boller is going to have a suprisingly good year next year.

[stevew]

Baltimore Hair Gel sellers rejoice at this news. Boller=Fools gold. The Ravens need to draft Leinart if at all possible. I think that WR Clayton can be pretty good.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by stevew

Baltimore Hair Gel sellers rejoice at this news. Boller=Fools gold. The Ravens need to draft Leinart if at all possible. I think that WR Clayton can be pretty good.

Yeah, you know, because they're going to have such a kickass draft pick and have so much to trade up along with it...and Leinart is such a big secret that the other 31 NFL teams aren't aware of his potential.