After Ravens pull 180, so does owner, firing Billick

By Chris Cluff  |   Monday, December 31, 2007  |  Comments( 1 )

Fantasy Football
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!

Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens, followed his team's lead and pulled a 180, reversing his support of Brian Billick and deciding to fire the coach after the Ravens turned in the biggest collapse in franchise history and became the biggest disappointment in the NFL this season.

After going 13-3 in 2006, the Ravens were expected to challenge for a Super Bowl title this season. But they were decimated by injuries and finished the season with a franchise-record nine-game losing streak that resulted in a 5-11 record, an eight-game falloff from 2006 that was the worst in the NFL.

Commentary: Most, including Billick, expected the coach to survive the axe based on the extenuating injury circumstances. But, less than a year after giving Billick a contract extension, Bisciotti said he changed his mind. Billick led the Ravens to the playoffs in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006 -- winning the Super Bowl after the 2000 season -- but they had won only one playoff game since 2000. Billick finished with an 80-64 record.

Players didn't seem too fazed by the firing, and some seemed to think it was a good idea. "Sometimes the message can get repetitive after a while," Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden told reporters.

As for Billick's future, he probably will have to prove he can put together a good offense as a coordinator. He was hired by Baltimore after he had helmed the Minnesota Vikings' record-setting offense in 1998. But his Baltimore offenses couldn't even carry the ball bag for those Vikings and always held back the Ravens' stellar defense.

As for the Ravens, they are said to be interested in Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a fast-rising coaching star in the NFL.

To find out where Billick lands and whom the Ravens hire to be their new coach, as well as all of your other NFL news, come to RealFootball365.com.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (1)

About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding, ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report