Billick fired after nine seasons as Ravens coach

[MrPsychic 1]

From ESPN:

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Brian Billick was fired as coach of the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, less than a day after his team concluded a disappointing 5-11 season and less than a year after receiving a contract extension through 2010.

 

Players were told of the dismissal as they packed up their lockers at the team's practice facility.

 

Only a few weeks ago, Billick proclaimed that he would return in 2008, but Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, who does not speak to the media during the season, made no public statement to that effect.

 

"I just changed my mind," the owner told The Baltimore Sun on Monday. "I can't explain it to you. It's the toughest decision I've had to make."

 

Billick won Super Bowl XXXV in his second season with the Ravens, and led the team to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2006. But Baltimore lost a team-record nine consecutive games this season before ending the skid Sunday with a 27-21 win over Pittsburgh.

 

"This is the reality of our business," cornerback Samari Rolle said.

 

Billick's nine seasons with Baltimore were tied for third with Philadelphia's Andy Reid as the third-longest current run with the same team. He took the Ravens to the playoffs in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006, but Baltimore won only one postseason game since its Super Bowl run after the 2000 season.

 

"Sometimes the message can get repetitive after a while," 12-year offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden said.

 

The Ravens expected to compete for the NFL championship this season after bringing back almost every starter from last year's AFC North title-winning team. But injuries and a turnover-prone offense contributed to a complete collapse after a 4-2 start, and Baltimore finished last in the division.

 

"This year the injury bug not only hit us, [it] hit our prime-time players," linebacker Bart Scott said.

 

Billick, 53, was hired as Baltimore's second head coach in January 1999, succeeding Ted Marchibroda. In Billick's first season, the Ravens reached .500 (8-8) for the first time. Then he led Baltimore to a 12-4 record and a berth in the Super Bowl, where the Ravens beat the New York Giants 34-7.

 

Billick was 80-64 as Baltimore's coach. He was the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings before being coming to the Ravens.

 

"I'm not saying I agree with it," kicker Matt Stover said of Billick's dismissal, "but sometimes things have to change."

 

Sunday, following what proved to be his final game as coach, Billick said of the victory, "It was great. Hopefully, that's a sign of things to come."

Any bets to who the new coach will be? I heard rumors they were talking to former Steeler coach Bill Cowher, but he has since declined he was going to return to coaching.

[Kor37 9]

I'm glad to see the owner of the Ravens has some testicular fortitude! I think Billick was a good coach but after this season, he just had to go. As for a successor, they are also interested in Marvin Lewis.

[VaBeachGuy 12]

I've seen this coming for a while, it should have happened after the 2005 season but they had that 13-3 season last year.

 

As for the new coach, it wouldn't surprise me if Mike Tice landed the job. Though it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't either.

 

There's a few names out there that could be thrown around though.

 

Russ Grimm

Denny Green (not likely though)

Marty Schottenheimer

Steve Mariucci

Jim Mora (not a good choice though)

Mike Martz

 

Just to name a few.

 

Martz might be a good choice for them because he's a good offensive coach.