Dan Reeves joining Chan Gailey in Buffalo? ‘It’s news to me’
Dan Reeves said he has no plans to shuffle off to Buffalo
Chan Gailey and Dan Reeves: The Sunshine Boys hit Buffalo?
Not so fast.
Reeves was at home in Atlanta Friday and not house hunting under a snowdrift in Buffalo. “I haven’t even been contacted,” the former Falcons’ coach said when asked about reports that he might be headed north to work with Gailey, the new Bills’ and former Georgia Tech coach. “It’s news to me.”
This apparently all stemmed from an interview Reeves did with a Buffalo television station Thursday. He was asked if he would be open to working with Gailey, and responded, “I tell you, if I could help Chan Gailey out, I would certainly be interested in that.”
Several media outlets ran with it, including even a blogger on the Bills’ official website. So I figured I would just call Reeves this morning and ask him. He said he hasn’t spoken to Gailey since “several days before” he was named Buffalo coach, and wasn’t even aware at that time if he had interviewed for the position.
Reeves, 66, said he still would like to get back into the NFL. But he conceded that that the fire “is fading out. The big thing about the NFL is somebody has to want you. All of the young guys are having success, so they’re not that interested [in somebody older].”
He has worked as a consultant with Dallas and Houston, but a deal for a permanent position with the Cowboys fell apart in early 2009.
Reeves and Gailey go way back. Reeves actually coached Gailey in Little League.
When was that?
“The turn of the century,” he cracked.
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89 comments Add your comment
Pepe Frias played here.
January 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
Enter your comments here
mexdawg
January 22nd, 2010
12:23 pm
Dan Reeves is a class act.I had the pleasure of meeting him once when he was coaching the Denver Broncos.Lee one of my fraternity brothers and a relative of Dan’s took me to see the Falcons play Denver in a pre season game.We got to eat with the team and later got to go up to meet with coach Reeves and his family at his suite in the hotel.It was quite a thrill for me and something I will never forget.If he does go to Buffalo I’m sure he’ll do a great job there.
Sumter, GA
January 22nd, 2010
12:28 pm
Dan, you can come back home to Americus and take the Americus-Sumter job.
gt
January 22nd, 2010
12:38 pm
I too am glad Reeves gets some credit. This was a great study in personnel. You see it in college personal too. You get a talented group of selfish players that seem to be retarded in their socialization and purpose ,no coach, especially one with a grandstanding owner like Blanks, can control them. I watch these college kids and I truly don’t think they have the enthusiasm for the school, it’s tradition, they are just there to get to the next level. When they get to the next assigned level they are assigned a team they don’t choice one so there is even less enthusiasm and more selfishness because now they have made it they are rich and many have never heard of a Johnny Unitas or anything traditional in the background they came from. You think the Manning boys are like that, you think maybe their work ethic comes from their respect for the game. Watch how the New England Pats draft. You see a different character than what was showing up in Atlanta in those day. We are very fortunate to have their influence in Atlanta now. With this group Reeves would have finally won that Super Bowl, and the Falcons will take home with Smith some day. All sports are going in this direction from the trouble makers mailing it in to the player that appreciates where he is and performs like it is a priviledge to be there. This is not these players fault as such that don’t care, it would be like us suddenly finding we have the right shoe size to be a great soccer player. We have done nothing but be born with this talent but suddenly we are thrusted into European soccer where we have no glue of what anything is. We would show up take our paycheck but chances are we would not really get into it, probably think all around us are fools and we would constantly be seeking to rejoin our pass instead of our European future. That is the same cultural exposure that has effected American football and old school like Dan Reeves is sorely handicapped as any man of a real football background would be.
wxwax
January 22nd, 2010
12:41 pm
I too believe that Reeves was thrown under the bus for Vick’s injury. I disagreed with his being fired.
To those who think the Raiders job is a primo opportunity because there are only 32 such jobs in the world… if that’s the case, why are they having such a hard time finding an interested candidate? Why did the Biils also have a hard time? And why did so many candidates turn down ‘lil Danny Snyder before he finally hired Jim Zorn?
The hot coaching prospects in the NFL look for the right job, not just any job.
Left out
January 22nd, 2010
12:43 pm
Hey Schultzie……How come you never respond to my comments?
The Truth About Reeves
January 22nd, 2010
1:00 pm
Dan Reeves? Really? Oh Lord, Chan is already screwing up.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked Reeves. I met him personally and he’s a nice guy. But he wasn’t exactly an offensive mastermind! He had one if not the greatest QB in NFL history, John Elway, playing for him in Denver. And Jamal Anderson carried his offense in 1998. But other than that his offenses were VERY bland.
Reeves did an alright job in Atlanta. 1998 will always be a special season for Falcons fans. But his overall record with the Falcons was 54-62-1. His teams in 1999 and 2000 were 5-11 and 4-12, and his last year they were 5-11. Reeves was also the GM and his draft picks were horrible. The QB situation was always a dicey situation during Reeves tenure. When Chandler would get hurt( which was often) his backups were Tony Graziani, Danny Kannell, and 80 year Steve DeBerg! That’s horrible!!
I know we Falcons fans like to romantize things, but when you lose more games than you win, you don’t stay a head coach for too long. Reeves should have been thankful that he lasted as long as he did, because usually you don’t get to keep your job when you go 5-11 and 4-12 in back to back seasons.
bigstack19
January 22nd, 2010
1:16 pm
Why would Gailey hire Reeves. When Gailey gets fired and he will get fired within 2 years, Reeves would likely replace him.
Left out
January 22nd, 2010
1:28 pm
Why do people start their argument with the phrase “Don’t get me wrong but…” Why would we get you wrong unless you are already wrong?
dan
January 22nd, 2010
1:33 pm
gt,
Interesting points:
On traditon in college: I agree with you about kids not buying into the tradition aspect of college. But I really think tradition is an abstract concept. Besides, I think most kids play because they like the town, want to get their NFL draft status up, or want to win etc. I’ve never felt that tradition has been a great selling point unless the program is also currently successful you know? Be that as it may, I think a lot of these kids are spoiled lazy nowadays. They have talent, but come from a generation of helicopter parents who don’t give them objective feedback and coddle them. And these kids go to college, and feel like they can turn their talent ” on and off” like the guys in the NFL do, and then they get blown out by a lesser team. I think laziness is the problem, not socialization.
As for the climate in the NFL: yes there is a definate mercernary mentality among players and yeah it kind of sucks. That’s why I don’t watch NFL football the last 4 games of the season, because the division winners tend to mail it it until the playoffs, the teams in the playoff hunt play harder and above their talent level, and the bad teams either totally quit on their coach or play for pride if it’s a contract year. But you can’t totally blame players for this mentality. It’s a business, and if owners and coaches can cut a player on a whim, then you can’t blame a player for looking out for their best interest. Even in places like New England, which is a great organization; they treat players like commodities. They totally shafted Richard Seymour this year, sending him to Oakland. Seymour had been a quality guy for their organization, was instrumental in helping them win 3 Super Bowls, and the Patriots dumped him like yesterdays garbage. I mean Seymour is still getting paid millions of dollars going to Oakland, so it’s hard to feel too sorry for him. But the Patriots showed ZERO loyalty and appreciation for all the hard work Seymour gave them, and that’s not right. So again, if NFL owners are going to show players any loyalty, then they can’t be hypocritical when a player looks out for their best interests. It’s just how life in Free-Agency NFL is, for better and worse.
gdg73
January 22nd, 2010
1:39 pm
Blank made a major mistake in firing Dan Reeves. He compounded the mistake by hiring Mr. Snake Oil Salesman him self in Mora. Blank just had to put his official stamp on the team. What he should have down was strip Reeves of the personnel duties and hired a competant GM not named Rich McKay. Blank set the team back when he overreated during the 2003 season. If we made it to the NFC Championship game with Mora and Knapp’s pop gun offense in 2004, we probably could have won it all with Vick in another year in Reeves’ offense.
FUZZUP
January 22nd, 2010
2:07 pm
62th
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 22nd, 2010
2:28 pm
Mike Smith can’t hold water compared to Dan Reeves!
- Dan Reeves won playoff games (1998, 2002)
- Dan Reeves never put his hands on players
- Dan Reeves is more “Substance” than “Hype”
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 22nd, 2010
2:40 pm
It’s no accident that the Bills are hiring and interviewing Vick links:
- Chan Gailey (background with mobile qbs)
- Dan Reeves (Vick’s former Head Coach)
- Hugh Jackson (Vick’s former qb coach)
About the Falcons, it really doesn’t matter if the Falcons had drafted Chris Johnson, Jake Long, Matt Forte, Clay Matthews, etc., if they don’t know how to develop talent.
Dan Reeves knew how to develop talent. Other than Curtis Lofton, the entire 2008 & 2009 draft class has been a big BUST, in particular Baker & CHOKE.
The Falcons need to do what they did during the former franchise quarterback’s tenure and that is draft a high draft pick at quarterback (Matt Schaub) and put pressure on the starting quarterback.
There is nobody on the current roster that is pushing the CHOKE for the starting position and that’s one of the reasons he doesn’t have any urgency to fight for his position, because he knows the starting job is his.
It’s time to put a fire in his sorry butt.
KM
January 22nd, 2010
2:42 pm
Shoulda, coulda….Reeves has been let go from every job he has held as a head coach. Isn’t that a disturbing pattern? He hit magic that Super Bowl year when Jamal was on a role, and Gary Anderson missed what was I think his first field goal that year.
Dan Reeves, Tubby Smith, nice guys who have had long careers but their best days are behind them as a leader.
DePlane
January 22nd, 2010
3:23 pm
Dan Reeves is a great coach and a class human being. He brought us our only SB and for that I am eternally grateful. Shame how he was treated.
shankit
January 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Dan Reeves, another good ol’ South Georgia boy
How bout it DAWG whatever your name is.
Dr Richard Handler
January 22nd, 2010
3:53 pm
I didn’t know Chan played Little League baseball in 2000! That’s the turn of the century, right?
Lloyd Christmas
January 22nd, 2010
4:02 pm
Choke really knows what he’s talking about. In fact, he lost his voice after last night.
Brian
January 22nd, 2010
4:06 pm
“But he conceded that that the fire “is fading out.” Do Do you you proof proof read read.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 22nd, 2010
4:06 pm
Lloyd Christmas
January 22nd, 2010
4:02 pm
Choke really knows what he’s talking about. In fact, he lost his voice after last night.
“Lloyd you so crazy”
Book em Dano
January 22nd, 2010
4:45 pm
Oh my Gosh, Johnny’s dead?
Book em Dano
January 22nd, 2010
4:50 pm
Dan don’t want to go to a place where you have to use a bulldozier instead of a snowblower to clear the snow from your driveway.
f da bills
January 22nd, 2010
4:55 pm
@Bill Backer your sorry a$$ bills will never win in your lifetime. remember the choke job of scotty norwood you can meet in the A and i will whoop your a$$. Dan Reeves and Mike Vick can go start a dog fighting ring in cold a$$ buffaloe.
itpdude
January 22nd, 2010
5:11 pm
I’d love to see what Reeves could do with college ball, but him in Buffalo? I wouldn’t wish that on such a good guy.
Now Chan? Well, he can have the Bills. . . .
JMar
January 22nd, 2010
5:25 pm
Head coach Reeves, OC Gailey makes a heck of a lot more sense than head coach Gailey, OC Reeves, but then it’s been clear that Buffalo doesn’t know what it’s doing.
Tweets that mention Dan Reeves joining Chan Gailey in Buffalo? 'It's news to me' | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
January 22nd, 2010
6:34 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Schultz, Helen . Helen said: Dan Reeves joining Chan Gailey in Buffalo? 'It's news to me': Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) Reeves was at ho… http://bit.ly/7lvXaK [...]
ASHEVILLE DAWG
January 22nd, 2010
7:00 pm
Hey Dan, thanks for being short and to the point.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 22nd, 2010
7:05 pm
Let’s take a look at these current & former rookie coaches:
- Mike Smith “ZERO” playoff wins “ZERO” Championship Game appearances
- John Harbaugh “ONE” Championship Game appearance
- Rex Ryan “ONE” Championship Game appearance
- Jim Caldwell “ONE” Championship Game appearance
What’s wrong with this picture?
Recent rookie quarterbacks:
- CHOKE “ZERO” Championship Game appearances
- Joe Cool “ONE” Championship Game appearances
- Mark Sanchize “ONE” Championship Game appearances
What’s wrong with this picture?
dan
January 22nd, 2010
7:26 pm
ASHVILLE DAWG: eat a tubesteak sandwich
Matt “Choke” Ryan-you’re clearly a moron, but I’ll try to smarten you up.
It’s WAY too early to be judging Mike Smith or Matt Ryan. Are you seriously going to imply that Joe Flacco is better than Matt Ryan? The guy threw for under 100 yards in a WIN and looked dreadful in a loss to Indy. And Mark Sanchez isn’t better than Ryan either. The Jets and the Ravens have defenses that can carry them deep into the playoffs, something the Falcons lack. Ryan was also injured this year.That’s what’s wrong with this picture.
Mike Smith also took over a team that was in absolute turmoil before he arrived. Rex Ryan, John Harbaugh, and Jim Caldwell all stepped into better situations. Considering where the Falcons were 2 years ago, I think they’re in a good position right now.
Jim007
January 22nd, 2010
8:40 pm
Reeves went to South Carolina and is from Americus.
He will simply freeze his keester off in Buffalo
Life is too short
Dan, stay in Atlanta
jesse james
January 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
Dan Reeves needs to be coaching somewhere. He is one of the Greats!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
dan
January 22nd, 2010
7:26 pm
ASHVILLE DAWG: eat a tubesteak sandwich
Matt “Choke” Ryan-you’re clearly a moron, but I’ll try to smarten you up.
“Want some Whine with that cheese”
Excuses Excuses Excuses
HA HA HA
The Jets didn’t have that defense last season and Mike Smith has had 2 seasons to build a defense – Rex Ryan did it in one season
Next excuse?????
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 22nd, 2010
8:59 pm
2004 & countingggggggggggggg
Steven Wright
January 22nd, 2010
10:02 pm
Life is short,,,,,And wide.
DangerousDan87
January 22nd, 2010
11:50 pm
Vick’s best year in the NFL came under Reeves. Vick was on auto-pilot because Reeves worled well with him. Vick broke his leg, Reeves gets fired and we get lil Jimmy Mora and Knapp who tried to shove the worst west coast offense down Vick’s throat( and kept him from running). Firing Reeves was a bone head move but hopefully we are on the right track now that Blank doesn’t make draft choices ( T.J. Duckett)
and let’s football people run the show…. now if he’d stay in his box after the game….
dagnabit
January 23rd, 2010
5:46 am
Blank fired a hall-of-fame coach with three games left in the season.
tjhook
January 23rd, 2010
11:36 am
Dan Reeves requested we draft T.J. Duckett. I loved Dan as a coach, but he was too conservative on offense. Vick’s rise was because Reeves gave him a good template to work from and Vick’s talent level surpassed the game plan. We scored a lot during the Vick-Reeves era because of broken plays (remember the spectacular Vick runs vs. Minnesota and Carolina?) I wanted to keep Reeves as our coach not because of his record but because Vick was maturing in an offense that suited his talents (traditional seven-step drop – which aided Vick’s ability to see the field better . . . he isn’t that tall)
niece
March 5th, 2010
11:36 am
tjhook…..you just stated what Reeves’ real talent was…knowing how to coach each player as an individual and how to make the plays work for individual who ran them. He developed plays AND players. Unfortunately, you can’t make a HOTDOG into a steak.