The Buffalo Bills are taking their time in rounding up candidates for the team’s vacant head-coaching job. And despite indications that Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is the clubhouse leader, a league source tells us that the Bills currently intend to hire a coach who specializes in the offensive side of the ball.
It’s prompting speculation that the Bills already have in mind a guy whose current team is still playing. The Bill are planning to interview Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm, and they were rebuffed in their efforts to pursue Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
Another possibility is Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. However, the Bills have not yet attempted to interview him.
The news also suggests that the pursuit of Bill Cowher has concluded. (Then again, until the Bills or Cowher make it clear that Cowher is out of the running, we’re inclined to think the door might be still open.)
Either way, it’s a bad sign for former Ravens coach Brian Billick. He has the offensive background, and he’s immediately available. The fact that he hasn’t already been hired suggests that he probably won’t be.
Meanwhile, time is of the essence. Assistant coaches need to be hired, and plans need to be made for free agency and the draft. The Senior Bowl practice sessions, for example, get rolling in less than two weeks. So unless the Bills are waiting to hire someone who is still coaching, they are wasting extremely valuable time.