Bills' Fewell set to meet with Giants, Bears

By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

BUFFALO, N.Y.(AP) — Perry Fewell is scheduled to interview with
the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears for their defensive
coordinator openings while his coaching future with the Buffalo
Bills remains uncertain.

Fewell finished the season as the Bills interim coach, but was
relieved of his duties along with the rest of the coaching staff
a day after Buffalo (6-10) closed its season with a 30-7 win
over Indianapolis. Fewell, though, is a candidate for the head
coaching job and had a four-hour interview with the Bills
general manager Buddy Nix on Monday.

Fewell’s interview with the Giants is scheduled for Thursday;
his visit with the Bears is next week.

The Giants are seeking a defensive coordinator after Bill
Sheridan was fired on Monday. The Bears have a vacancy after
coach Lovie Smith announced Tuesday that he is relinquishing his
defensive play-calling duties.

Fewell has connections to both Smith and Giants coach Tom
Coughlin.

Fewell broke into the NFL in 1998 as a defensive secondary coach
in Jacksonville under Coughlin. He also worked two seasons with
Smith in both St. Louis and Chicago.

Fewell spent Tuesday cleaning out his office at the Bills
headquarters. Though the coaches remain under contract, the
Bills have informed them they won’t return unless the next coach
wants them on his staff.

After his interview with the Bills, Fewell said he came away
“optimistic,” but still considers himself a long shot for the
job.

Nix has said he prefers hiring an experienced coach. The team is
focusing its attention on former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who
is currently working as an NFL broadcaster.

Fewell called Nix “a standup guy,” and was left impressed by how
extensive the interview was.

In completing his 12th NFL season, Fewell had no previous
head-coaching experience before going 3-4 after Dick Jauron was
fired in November. He did become the first of Buffalo’s five
interim coaches to win more than two games in the season he took
over, surpassing the win totals of Hank Bullough (2-10 in 1985)
and Marv Levy (2-5, 1986).

In four seasons as the Bills defensive coordinator, Fewell was
credited for getting the most out of a unit that was perennially
young and plagued by injuries.

Buffalo finished 19th in the NFL in yards allowed this past
season with a defense that ended the year with five starters on
injured reserve. It’s a banged-up group that included linebacker
Kawika Mitchell, cornerback Terrence McGee and rookie safety
Jairus Byrd, a second-round draft pick out of Oregon, who
finished with nine interceptions to tie for the NFL lead with
Saints Darren Sharper and Packers Charles Woodson.

The Bills were porous against the run, giving up 150 or more
yards rushing 10 times. Their pass defense was solid. Buffalo
had 28 interceptions to finish second behind Green Bay, and
finished second in the NFL in yards passing allowed.