Tom Donahoe made it official yesterday in announcing that the contract for Gregg Williams would not be renewed. In defending his ex-coach, he proceded to rip into the local media by stating he "was embarassed to be a part of this community" because of the attacks on Gregg Williams "and others". After many of the thin-skinned talk radio hosts got to work on the comments the local callers were whipped into a frenzy, claiming to be greviously injured by Donohoe's remarks. Donohoe later hit the talk radio circuit himself, clarifying his remarks by reaffirming that his comments were intended for "the local media only...not the fans".

Basically, Donohoe took a day that had Bills fans dancing in the streets and turned it into a fan relation disaster. The locals were swarming the talk radio scene soon thereafter, and the print media rolled out their reactions this morning. The two links there point to Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan and Rochester D&C columnist Leo Roth, both of whom have been the most consistently negative writers during Gregg Williams tenure, and to whom Donohoe's remarks were likely intended (among print media, that is).

Based on their columns this morning, one (Roth) gets it. He understands the give and take that must exist between the media and management. Roth dishes it out, but his column shows he is able to take it as well. Sullivan, on the other hand, shows the third grade mentality he has always had. Quote:

His comments came off as a condescending swipe at the people who matter most in this town, the people who filled Ralph Wilson Stadium for all eight home games this year in a crippled economy - the fans.

No. That's not it Jerry...in fact, it's the cowards way out. In attempting to deflect the issue in to a Donohoe vs. Buffalo arguement he avoids the point Donohoe was attempting to clumsily make. That being, if you call someone an idiot, or an egomaniac, or bring things in to a discussion on football that are not related to football (ie: the coaches son) then someone may call you on it. And as a columnist you have to be able to take some criticism back, or you shouldn't be dishing out the blows to begin with.

That being said, Donohoe's remarks came across poorly. I get what he was trying to say, and I see where he got bogged down in syntax. Heck, it happens to me here, and I have hours to ponder what to write. In fact, this column resembles nothing like the one I drafted last night, because I took some time to think about what Donohoe was saying instead of attacking him back. But in the end, he needs to apologize to no one because (a) he has every right to fire some back and (b) he's right.

All that aside, where are the Bills this morning? Based on Donohoe's press conference yesterday we learned a few things:

Bledsoe's return next year is not a sure thing. Donohoe stated he would not "force" Bledsoe on a new coach, and the coach would have the final say in who is quarterback next year. Still, I see Bledsoe back next year.

There is no way Gilbride returns next year. "NFL coaches who can't adjust can't survive..." said Donohoe when asked about his coaches. His glowing praise of Jerry Gray (he stated Gray would be interviewed for head coach. Definitely a hat tip to the NFL's hiring policy) and Dick LeBeau stood in stark contrast to his thoughts on Gilbride ("He's under contract"). And things like this don't help his case either.

The next head coach will definitely be someone with head coaching experience.
Donohoe will not be taken in again by a young gun "hot" assistant. Expect someone with experience and a track record to be in here next.

But we'll save that discussion for another day...