Edwards would be good for Buffalo.  Hello?

By Anthony Bialy  |   Sunday, January 25, 2009  |  Comments( 83 )

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The press conferences would be more entertaining, but the fact that every fan would tune in to hear a positional coach address the media after every game isn’t the only reason the Buffalo Bills should hire Herman Edwards as an assistant. His termination from the Kansas City Chiefs is an opportunity for the Bills to acquire an experienced defensive associate, as bringing him aboard would give the team access to both experience and ample charm.

His background is appealing. Aside from his leading stints, recently in Missouri and previously in New Jersey as head of the New York Jets, Edwards made his name as the assistant head coach/defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2000 under Tony Dungy.

That’s when they put the “Tampa” in Tampa 2, a system that just happens to be sort of what the Bills use; he’d help refine Buffalo’s technique if hired for a similar position, particularly by keeping Terrence McGee sharp and helping Leodis McKelvin improve on a rookie season speckled with promising flashes. His zone knowledge will help Buffalo’s corners and safeties to work in tandem toward smothering passing assaults.

Hiring Edwards as a defensive specialist would keep him from mucking up areas where he’s notoriously weak, namely at game management and a predictably cautious run-heavy offense. Plus, even though he’s 56-77 as a head coach, his input couldn’t hurt head coach Dick Jauron. Another experienced voice would be helpful, even if Edwards’ .422 winning percentage nearly matches Jauron’s similarly uninspiring .429 mark. The optimist notes that both have numerous bad examples from which to learn.

Even better, his enthusiasm for life and football expressed through public speaking will almost be as valuable as his advice. Of course, his “You play to win the game” line was the best thing ever said at a press conference, while his answer to the question about what fans should do on the Sunday following the Sept. 11 atrocities after the NFL postponed games, namely “Go to church,” was a soberly poignant moment for a sport that found itself dealing with the proper response to unimaginable awfulness.

That moment summed up why Edwards is liked and respected by foes. For one, while he was with the Jets, Bills fans of course hated the rival but still found themselves fond of the rival’s coach. Always fervently entertaining, Edwards couldn’t be considered a head coaching candidate at present based on the way his young Chiefs played even younger last season on their way to a 2-14 mark. But aside from the relentless amount of injuries the team faced, Edwards deserves to work again, even if he might not be the overall head for at least awhile.

If Rod Marinelli can get work after leading the Detroit Lions to 16 losses in as many tries, Edwards certainly should find a job soon. He merits a similar fate to Marinelli, whom the Bears recently hired as a defensive line/assistant head coach: The two, who happened to work together on defense for the intimidating Bucs, are men who might never excel as the boss but nonetheless offer teams aid as aides.

In addition to any offers Edwards might get to join staffs, he’ll enjoy unlimited invitations for media jobs where he can amuse all fans as with pre- and post-game commentary or with during-game analysis. Or, instead of taking a commentary job, he could take a break (a year away from the game might seem tempting). But if he chooses to get back in the game, the Bills should snag him now. Edwards will help Buffalo; they just need to keep him miles away from the offense.
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