Billick appreciation thread

[Sports Guy]

I know a lot of people wanted him gone and if he didn't want to hand over the reigns of OC to someone else, i think he should have been fired but let's not lose sight of what he accomplished here.

He won a SB here...Division title...Playoff games...Had a winning % well over 50%.

I loved the way he handled the media and he seemed to really enjoy himself in the "glory years".

I am both sad and excited to see him go and I hope he lands on his feet somewhere and have success elsewhere...Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the booth.

[clapdiddy]

I'm truly shocked at this announcement. I thought a new OC would be brought in and Billick would remain.

I agree with your sentiment, SG. I've always liked Billick, and his self-assuredness, and he certainly deserves to be in the Ring of Honor.

He helped put Baltimore football back on the map. I have no hard feelings toward him and wish him nothing but the best.

[The Wedge]

I know I'll miss the guy. He had the coachspeak down, but it always seemed more entertaining when he did it compared to a guy like Belicheck.

[AgentOrange]

I will always remember the playoff game against the Titans. When Mitchell ran back the punt block, they panned to Billick and he was half way out into the field pumping his fist and they showed him looking over at the Titans side and mouthing "F you!" to Fischer. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen.

The best part is, they showed it in slow motion after the play had ended. I don't think they realized what he did. they let the slow motion play through and it panned to Billick again and there was no question what he said.

I will miss him as the coach. It was sure frustrating to watch his teams play, but they did win...

[ccbird]

Billick will easily find another job if and when he wants one and will probably be able to pick from a number of job openings in the next few years.

[clapdiddy]

I will always remember the playoff game against the Titans. When Mitchell ran back the punt block, they panned to Billick and he was half way out into the field pumping his fist and they showed him looking over at the Titans side and mouthing "F you!" to Fischer. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen.

The best part is, they showed it in slow motion after the play had ended. I don't think they realized what he did. they let the slow motion play through and it panned to Billick again and there was no question what he said.

I will miss him as the coach. It was sure frustrating to watch his teams play, but they did win...
I always loved that speech he gave after that game as well...."When you go into the lion's den...."

Classic....simply a classic!

[DuffMan]

I always loved that speech he gave after that game as well...."When you go into the lion's den...."

Classic....simply a classic!

"You grab a spear and say where is that son of a B****!!!"

Yeah that was great!

[longflyball]

I like Billick and I'm sorry it had to end this way. He may go to another team and put up 500 points. But for nine years his team's offense chronically and embarassingly underperformed. At some point you have to say, "Enough is enough."

I'll be interested to hear his reaction. I hope the divorce was not too messy. I wish him well.

[The Wedge]

I like Billick and I'm sorry it had to end this way. He may go to another team and put up 500 points. But for nine years his team's offense chronically and embarassingly underperformed. At some point you have to say, "Enough is enough."

I'll be interested to hear his reaction. I hope the divorce was not too messy. I wish him well.

I got a feeling it's gonna be messy. Bischottis comment that he changed his mind kind of suggests he did tell Billick he'd be back, possibly. If that's the case, Billick is either going to be really terse or pissed when he speaks.

[Tony-OH]

I tell you what, I appreciate the fact he's gone!

I don't think Billick is as respected around the league and some on here think. He really has gotten a lot of mileage out of a magical Super bowl season and when it's all said and done, his stubbornish and arrogance cost him.

I do appreciate the fact he took a below average team and made them competitive, but my frustrations at watching his offense has made me thrilled that he's gone. I see my blood pressure dropping about 20 points during Sundays now. :)

[MikeAD]

He believed in My Perfect One and thats enough for me :D.

Brian Billick was great to watch on the sidelines, and I hope he wins another Super Bowl wherever he goes, that is if he goes somewhere.

He is a genius after all.

[Sports Guy]

His best coaching job was the year we were very young and we had just purged the roster.

Billick is very good with young players and perhaps, is best suited for the college game because of this.

[ccbird]

I tell you what, I appreciate the fact he's gone!

I don't think Billick is as respected around the league and some on here think. He really has gotten a lot of mileage out of a magical Super bowl season and when it's all said and done, his stubbornish and arrogance cost him.
I do appreciate the fact he took a below average team and made them competitive, but my frustrations at watching his offense has made me thrilled that he's gone. I see my blood pressure dropping about 20 points during Sundays now. :)

Watch how quickly he gets a job as soon as he wants one. He is a winning NFL coach and stayed with one team for 9 years. Those attributes don't grow on trees when Gms are looking to hire a new coach. He will get to somewhat choose where he goes next. I'm not saying he will be the #1 choice for every job opening in the league but he will have options.

[Mackus]

He'll get another job, and possibly very soon. He's a lot better than a good portion of the coaches in this league. He had a very good to great run in Baltimore and definitely was a major part of bringing the city back to relevance when it comes to football.

I think the change wasn't absolutely necessary, but there were certainly reasons for it to be made. Hopefully we'll make a good hire and with all the talent on the team, there is no reason we shouldn't be back in the playoffs next season.

[Tony-OH]

His best coaching job was the year we were very young and we had just purged the roster.

Billick is very good with young players and perhaps, is best suited for the college game because of this.

You know Rob, I actually agree with this. The one time I actually thought Billick did a great job was during our rebuilding year when we actually finished 7-9 with all those young players.

Maybe he should turn to college. i think he'll end up on TV though. He likes to talk too much to not be heard.

[Boy Howdy]

I am only a casual football fan, but I will say this:

Exactly two men have coached Baltimore teams to Super Bowl championships, and Billick is one of them. The positive memories of that accomplishment will grow stronger and deeper with time. It's not an easy thing to do, no matter how good or great of a coach you are. Thanks BB! I loved rubbing it in the faces of all the Giants fans living around me just months after I moved to NY.

My mom snapped a picture of Billick inside Memorial Stadium when it was open to the public shortly before it was torn down. Amongst the tall blades of grass and utter look of decay, Billick appears to be trying to summon the ghosts of Unitas, et al out of "The World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum" to deliver another winner to Baltimore. History will have no choice but to remember him as a success on that note.

[Mackus]

Billick's statement about his dismissal was nothing but classy. Praised the organization and the city/area.

[Sonny76]

He'll go down in my book as a damn good coach. He gets alot of credit for having a 85-67 coaching record here without benefit of having a great quarterback for any of his 9 years. Unfortunately he "lost" the team and that always spells curtains.

[Fist Bump]

I am only a casual football fan, but I will say this:

Exactly two men have coached Baltimore teams to Super Bowl championships, and Billick is one of them. The positive memories of that accomplishment will grow stronger and deeper with time. It's not an easy thing to do, no matter how good or great of a coach you are. Thanks BB! I loved rubbing it in the faces of all the Giants fans living around me just months after I moved to NY.



Same here. That Super Bowl victory is my #1 sports memory. When the O's won the WS in 83 I was young and probably took for granted that they would do it again soon. I lived in NJ at the the time of the Ravens Super Bowl and all throughout the mid to late 90's when the Yanks were winning their World Series I (being an O's fan) took a lot crap from Yankee fans. So when the Ravens not only won the Super Bowl but against a New York team it was like a big weight lifted off my shoulders.

Thanks Brian Billick! I wish you well.

[Objectivity]

It's tough to have a team that's good on both sides of the ball in the NFL. Billick came to the team with a reputation for offense but he quickly realized the team had an incredible defense. Despite all the personal hits he's taken over the years he never tried to change this team's personality to be what he wanted it to be. Instead of trying to build a top offense that would result in years of both units being mediocre he let the defense shine.

For several years, the Ravens became a team you wanted to watch on defense. They always attacked and always made big plays. They were more exciting about our offense, which isn't saying much, but they were also more exciting than the Indy offense over the same time period, which is saying something.

Billick always covered for his players, even when they didn't deserve it. A lesser coach would have cut Orlando Brown after he single handedly cost us a playoff game against the Titans and a likely trip to the Super Bowl. Instead, Billick took the heat for a player that was too stupid to be in professional sports.

Of course, the downside to being someone who always takes the heat is that people confuse you for someone who can be walked all over.

I'll miss Brian Billick, but it's time to move on. I hope he finds success with another team and I hope we find success with another coach. And, I hope the players who have worked to undermine him over the past few years remember that you get what you deserve when they're doing two-a-days in full pads because Camp Cupcake has left the state.

[OriolesFan1991]

Thanks Brian! We've had a great time watching the Ravens during your tenure. You turned this franchise around, and you'll be remembered as one of the best coaches in Baltimore history because of that.

A great nine years, but it was time for a change. :o

[NewMarketSean]

I said in another thread that after calling for his head for most of the season I am somewhat shocked and saddened to see Billick go. He really was a class act and helped make this organization well respected. I hope he has success in the future (just not against the Ravens). He will always be remembered fondly by me.

[66-70-83-??]

I said in another thread that after calling for his head for most of the season I am somewhat shocked and saddened to see Billick go. He really was a class act and helped make this organization well respected. I hope he has success in the future (just not against the Ravens). He will always be remembered fondly by me.

I am saddened because it is so...............final.

He is the guy that brought the swagger to Baltimore and kept it through all nine years.

The only thing that disgusts me is the need for so many to gloat and to shoot arrows (hurl insults) into his back while he is on his way out of town.

It isn't black (he sucked, was worthless, needed to go yesterday) or white (he was the greatest, terrible move by Bisciotti). It was gray- maybe he is a damn good coach (not perfect, who is ?) whose shelf life was expired and it was time for a change.

Two things i am confident of- 1) The new coach will not turn this offense around over night. In fact- the offensive overhaul will likely be at the expense of some of our defense. So, perhaps the new guy will be skewered for "ruining" the defense. 2) Billick will be successful in the NFL again.

[NewMarketSean]

Do you think Billick is a HC in the NFL in 2008?

[66-70-83-??]

Do you think Billick is a HC in the NFL in 2008?

I have no idea.

The one possibility is Miami.

If Parcells hires Billick- that would be speak volumes about what the NFL really thinks of Billick, imo.

[The Wedge]

Do you think Billick is a HC in the NFL in 2008?

He doesn't need to, so he might take some time off. But if someone offers him a job out of the gate, I think he might take it.

[Tony-OH]

I have no idea.

The one possibility is Miami.

If Parcells hires Billick- that would be speak volumes about what the NFL really thinks of Billick, imo.

Those two egos would last about two seconds in the same room before the world would implode. :D

[66-70-83-??]

Those two egos would last about two seconds in the same room before the world would implode. :D

LOL.

They would probably get into a fistfight in the first interview.

I wonder how "hands off" Parcells can be with a GM or a HC.

[orayole]

Billick is a great guy.