Billick Fired
The Baltimore Ravens have fired Brian Billick as their coach, two NFL sources said.
Billick had said during the final weeks of the season that he would return next season, and the Baltimore Sun reported that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti planned to bring Billick back.
But Bisciotti never confirmed that publicly and the Ravens went 5-11 during a season in which they were expected to be one of the league's top teams. They had a nine-game losing streak before Sunday's season-ending triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and several players lost their composure late in a nationally televised loss to the New England Patriots.
Billick led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in the 2000 season but never developed the sort of efficient offense that was expected when he was hired.
The Ravens scheduled a 3:30 p.m. news conference.
Billick had an 85-67 regular season record in nine seasons as the Ravens' coach.
By Mark Maske |
December 31, 2007; 2:27 PM ET
| Category:
Ravens
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Posted by: C-dog | December 31, 2007 2:50 PM
Make Rex Ryan head coach and bring in a real offensive coordinator and the the team will be back.
PS. Go Redskins!
Posted by: Mike Morgan | December 31, 2007 2:56 PM
Steelers will beat JAX and NE before falling to the Colts in the AFCC.
INDY v. Bucs in SB
Posted by: Big Mook | December 31, 2007 3:22 PM
Unfortunate that Bellick had no leaders on the team. Lewis and his "gang" did little to keep the team's emotions on a positive track. Too many stupid plays by stupid players.
Posted by: jcfbiggs | December 31, 2007 3:22 PM
(Shizzle laughs as his beloved Redskins begin to look dominant, while the ankle-biting Ravens organization begin unravelling).
Ravens fans I will buy your Skins/Ravens tickets for the big Skins win in B-more next year.
Posted by: Shizzle | December 31, 2007 3:24 PM
Big Mook you are the biggest idiot I've ever come across! You think the Steelers will beat New England? Even worse, you think that the Bucs will be the class of the NFC? Even George Bush wouldn't make those predictions!
Posted by: ArlingtonMike | December 31, 2007 3:41 PM
This was long overdue.
Billick was billed (pardon the pun) as an offensive genius coming into Baltimore. Hey, it's easy to look like a genius when you've got Cris Carter and Randy Moss lined out wide, Robert Smith running the football, and the league MVP at the time in Randall Cunningham. That team was an absolute juggernaut offensively, though Denny Green had more to do with that than Billick did.
Billick never showed the ability to develop a QB (exhibit A, see Boller, Kyle), nor a dominant offensive scheme, not even with the 2000 Super Bowl Champs. That team won on defense, and in spite of Billick.
Billick's play-calling was mind-numbing at times, and he personally cost that team at least 2 wins this season.
With an aging defense, huge questions on the offensive line and QB, whoever takes that job has a big-league challenge in front of him.
Posted by: Owiz | December 31, 2007 3:56 PM
85-67 in the AFC North (formerly Central) is nothing to shake a stick at, and looks mighty fine compared to Marchibroda's 16-31-1 record. The year after their Super Bowl win, Billick's Ravens had to practically dismantle the team, it was so grossly over salary cap. It is, however, amazing that he was not even once able to field a really good NFL offense in Balto. I'm a Steelers fan, and I have a lot of respect for the guy.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 31, 2007 4:40 PM
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Billick went from hero to zero real quick. He can't blame all those losses on injured plyaers. Some of the calls made by his staffe were stupid beyond beilef. The Ravens would have beaten the unbeatable Patriots, but for assinine coaching. I've been hiding my Ravens paraphernalia for months now. Bye bye Billick!!