n one hand, he did not live up to his contract, but on the other, the players didn't either…so do you fire them as well?" --Tracey Smith Hurst
"I believe that the coach is your heart and soul of the team. Billick for some reason just couldn't get that from his team this year, but you also to have to look at the players too... not just the coach. I do wish him the best of luck in the future; he will be missed." --Michelle, Churchton.
"Seems to me some of these outrageously paid players should have been fired instead of the Coach. seems they couldn't hold up their end of the bargain!!!!" --Billie Beck
"I am a Brian Billick supporter still. I think it was a mistake to fire him now. Everyone has a bad season and look at all the injuries on the team. I think that the Ravens would have had a very good year next year. But with this kind of shakeup, they probably won't due well next season. Also agree that Billick had a bad season but that he is a good coach and that he should have been given the chance of another season. Final thought, the goof on the roof thought Billick should be fired and we all see how dumb he is." --JoAnne
"Billick's Achilles Heel was his inability to come up with an effective offense, during his entire 9-year tenure as coach. While I respect his having won a Super Bowl, which was mainly won by one of the most ferocious defenses ever produced in the NFL, he could not create an effective offense to match it. He was stubborn, narrow-minded, and couldn't seem to understand the importance of creating an offense to help out the defense. You either change with the wind, or you break with it. Brian Billick chose the latter." --Tunjii
"It seems to me that it's a problem on a whole with Baltimore sports - and the easy way to solve all the problems is to fire the coach. I'm not saying that Billick was the best coach - he didn't always do the right thing - but Billick had faith in his team - there was no question. His heart was the Baltimore Ravens. You can't help that more than half of your roster is hurt and you have little to work with. The real problem lies in the roster itself and who is and isn't cut for the job. But now that we have to pay Billick for 4 years and all of his staff - we won't have the money to acquire new talent. I wish Brian Billick the best of luck in all that he does! --Jennifer, Deale
"Billick is no more to blame than Ozzie Newsome. Newsome picks the players and he sure picked some losers especially quarterbacks. Billick did not cause all the injuries and he was handed a bunch of sorry replacements." --Richard Barrow
"I think it's unfair to put all the blame on Brian Billick. Look at all the injuries the team had. As for the quarterbacks, the top 2 should go and in the off season work with the rookie. Get rid of the players that aren't producing for the team." --Mia K., Havre de Grace
"I don't think he should have been fired. You have good years and bad. Firing the coaches of the Orioles doesn't cause them to get better, so why would it work with the Ravens." --Fran
"Right or wrong, something needed to be done." --Buzz Collins
"It is about time. The team had become stale. All defense and little offense." --Timothy Manvel
"Why is it always the coach? While I haven't seen anything spectacular from Brian Billick, I haven't seen anything terrible either. After all he was the coach when they won their Super Bowl. Is it that the team is not responding to the coach or vice versa? I'd like to see someone, either players or coaches, with some excitement in there playing for the game and the fans, not just the money." --A big Maryland sports fan, Shirley Foster
"It's about time!" --Adele and Robin Brukiewa
"I remember seeing Brian Billick on the old gameshow 'The Match Game.' He told Gene Rayburn that he someday wanted to coach a football team. His dream came true and he took the Ravens to Super Bowl XXXV. Can I ask him for anymore than that? Good luck to you Brian. I'm still your fan." --Deb
"Very good. The team needs an offense. Billick hasn't done it in 9 years. Good riddance." --Paul
"I am very disappointed about Brian's firing. He put his heart and soul in coaching. Baltimore was very fortunate to have him as their coach." --Lynn B.
"If there's anyone who needs to be fired, it's some of the Ravens players. Is Brian Billick to be blamed because some of the players on the Ravens football team can't throw, catch, or run with a football?! I think for the amount of money that some of these players being paid to play the game, they can put more effort into winning instead of making excuses into why they are losing." --John
"I couldn't be happier. I have NEVER been a Ravens fan, due to Brian Billick. His arrogance was more overbearing then his coaching skills in my eyes. Bye Bye Brian! (P.S. I don't think he deserves his full contract either, he did not do his full job!) But that's just my opinion." --Robbin, Pasadena
"Coach Billick should have been fired as far back as 2003, because over the years he has never used his personnel properly. His arrogance has not allowed him to make sound on and off field decisions. His willingness to stay with QB Kyle Boller has wasted more than a few seasons in Baltimore. Billick does not possess a killer instinct that is needed in pro sports. He plays not to lose, instead of to win." --Wayne Davis, Owings Mills
"The firing of Brian Billick was long overdue. Brian didn't care if the team lost or won; he still had a job. With his smart accusations of I'll be back and throwing kisses was also enough. Then, when we were the only team in the NFL to lose against the Dolphins put the icing on the cake. He was getting too big for his britches. Our new year starts--out with the old and in with the new! Go Ravens! Hire the young offensive coordinator from New England." --Dee Underwood.
"I think it was time for Brian to go, but I don't think it will help the team much. Some of the players like Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden need to go, also. Remember, Brian Billick only coaches. He doesn't play." --Steve Moreland
"Lest we all forget, Mr. Billick was given a stern lecture by new owner, Bischotti, 2 years ago, when he lost control of his team and had a poor record. He was told to get it together, and Billick took over the offense. He heard that and made a few changes. In last year's 13-3 `success,' the offense was opportunistic, but quite poor by all standards. The defense gave the offense constant propping up. The schedule was weak, the team won with Steve McNair, and little of this (from my viewpoint) had to do with `new magic' from Billick; the players clearly rallied around Steve McNair, who optimized on wobbly limbs. They lost in playoff game number one. This year, the defense got old and less effective, particularly the secondary. The offense was typically predictable and pathetic, particularly when McNair got hurt. Injuries riddled the offense and defense, but, somehow, this team of overhyped primadonnas embraced injuries more than most. Boller proved once again he can throw an occasional good pass, but will fail in most situations (didn't Billick hand-pick him?). Happy feet and fear of mechanics. The last 2 months were pathetic, with the players showing no respect for Billick, and playing with as much passion as a bunch of Trappist monks. Steve Bischotti did well by firing Brian Billick. He should have been gone after 2005. No respect around the league, and none from his team. Predictable and increasingly incompetent. Too bad they can't spend his $15 million on players." --Al Snyder
"I am really outraged over the firing of Brian Billick. Brian brought heart and soul back to Baltimore after all those years we were without a football team. I do not think he is arrogant whatsoever. I think he has done an outstanding job. What coach does call all the right plays?? He did not have much of a team to work with, considering all the injuries. I am sorry but a grave mistake was acquiring Steve McNair as our quaterback. He may have been a great player in his younger years but he is much older and more prone to injuries as you can see. I think Kyle Boller plays a better game but yes he is missing something. Kyle has potential and should be held onto for a backup. We need a starting quarteback who can step up and do the job. Maybe Troy Smith can?? All I know is many things are out of Brian Billick's hands and he should not take the fall for other's decisions or the lack thereof. He cannot control if a player performs the way he shoud on the field. Hey they get paid the big bucks too and when they do not follow through on their plays, they are not being fired or traded. Brian deserves another chance. Realistically, we will not be Super Bowl champs every year and though it is nice to be able to make it there, as well as the playoffs, it takes more than a coach to get us there. Management, players, and all coaches are all factors in making it come together. Following through on plays helps as well. Isn't it bad enough our baseball team, the Orioles are where they are becuase of constant turnovers in management and players. I think we are making a big mistake letting Brian go. Patience is the key. One more year would not hurt to see what could change. Too much change is not good. How can us fans be fans if every time we turn around we have new players and managers. Just when we warm up to the ones we have and start having some faith in them even during the tough times, someone comes along and rips it away. Though I will always be an Orioles and Ravens fan, I will miss Brian Billick. I have great respect for him and has character. Good luck Brian, not all of us look down on you. Kudos for a job well done over the years." --Sharon
"There were many 50-50 situations where Mr. Billick made the wrong decision, resulting in a loss. Percentage situations are not dismissable, but the entire season was turned ugly by a time-out that Mr. Billick delegated to one of his staff. That should be enough for a dismissal, considering the big money he's pulling down. The replacement for Mr. Billick will take as much time as the interview process. The recovery of the team to Super Bowl quality will take a lot longer. Josh McDaniels should stay with Tom Brady. Ravens need a football coach who can motivate both sides of the line. None of the Baltimore coaches taught the fundamentals of tackling to Ray Lewis; he learned it old school, by experience. Rex Ryan works well with this scheme and should be rehired as the defensive coach, as long as Mr. Lewis wants him. Washington Redskins are hot right now. Why not look at their coaches for a model? Bring someone back who has been out of the pro game for a while to get a more down-to-earth apporach." --Dennis
"If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with verbiage." --Wayne Monroe, Sparrows Point
"You have a Heismann Trophy winner who was sitting on the bench the whole season never being given the chance to prove himself. We kept hearing from Billick that `McNair's the man' or `Boller's the man.' When both of those get injured Billick is forced to turn to said Heismann Trophy winner only to see that the truth is, `SMITH is the man.'" --Tony Hall, Pasadena
"Brian seems like such a nice person. Perhaps just not aggressive enough for what Ravens need. He had a lot of patience with Kyle Boller and I don't think Boller was worth it. Best of luck to Billick, he was never one of those coaches that made you embarassed by acting like an idiot on the sidelines or belittling the players." --Sharon Clark
"I feel it is wrong to fire a man based on one messed up year. Most of our starters were out due to injuries, Last year we were 13-3! Brian is a wonderful man, and he will be missed greatly!" --Karon Chaffman, Glen Burnie
"New year, fresh start! May not be a bad idea to get new strengthening and conditioning coaches as well. So many injuries to key players, makes you wonder what kind of people are getting the guys ready to play and how focused are they in keeping them healthy. I think Coach B. did what he could with what he had. It would've been great if the Ravens organization could've concentrated on football and not how many years `key players' might get in prison off the field. I say get a QB the franchise can be rebuilt upon and we could very well have a football dynasty in Baltimore also!" --Sonnie Kelly, Kent Island
"Billick used to have a fiery spirit that led the Ravens to the Super Bowl. In recent years, that spirit has dissolved." --Mark
"To fire the coach is a big mistake it's not always the coach . Hey, I know let's blame the owner and all the injuries and players that did not believe in the team! A new coach won't change a thing .Yes,we need new blood. Clean some dead wood out. KEEP OUR COACH BALTIMORE!" --Barbara Olsen
"It's never a good feeling when you have to let someone go, but it was time for a change. Thank you Brian for taking us to Super Bowl XXXV & winning. I will always be grateful for that. Good luck to you in your future." --Mary Foehrkolb
"Fire the non-working non-performing players. Let the Ravens run the team, not the media experts. Fire the overpaid players who want the money, but do not want to play," --Frank Bradford
"It's sad for anyone to lose a job, but he had to go. Looking at his record it should have happened two years ago but the owner gave him another chance. Baltimore is long overdue for another Super Bowl championship and now it is our turn to go to the playoffs and bring the trophy home. Go Ravens!!" --Rochelle Turner
"If Brian was noted to have lost control, respect and discipline of the team he should be gone. Like any management position you have to have all of the above in order to get the most out of his team. However that said he could also be fighting a lot of strong egos that are out of control at the same time. Best wishes to Billick. I think he has done a fine job creating a reason to get excited for pre-season, training camp and football." --Darren from Pasadena
"As I look back on the Ravens season, I predicted the Ravens were going to lose 7 possibly 8 straight games....I said then, as I believe now, the philosophy Brian Billick used was "Playing not to lose" and instead of "Playing to win." I also believed that Billick's ego choked this team to death. In my opinion his ego and pride came before what was in the best interest of making changes that could have put the team in a better chance to win. In the 2005 pre-season, Billick created dissension in the locker room by creating an environment of elitism by holding different players to different standards. Billick cuddled and spoiled players when discipline was needed, as was displayed in the record setting penalty free-for-all in the Detroit game. I have always felt some fans and the media in this town have not placed ownership and accountability where it belongs. For example in the Kyle Boller experiment, some fans and the media have made excuse after excuse for Boller being rushed, and not being given support. The truth of the matter is his inconsistent play, fumbling and tripping over his own feet are the results of a quarterback only having the ability of being a back-up. Whatever opinion people hold about Boller's ability as a quarterback... Boller has EARNED IT. The same is true for Brian Billick. His poor play-calling, poor clock management and inability to produce a productive offense resulted in his losing his job and believe it or not... Billick EARNED IT." --Bruce
"I have always thought that for a man with the reputation of being an offensive genius he did not show much. The defense had always carried the team and the offense just kept the ball and you would hope they wouldn't turn it over. I think it was the right move to release Billick and move on. But I am still a Baltimore Colts fan." --Dennis Sturgill
"Brian Billick was hired to fix the Ravens offense. He was considered a genius by owner Art Modell. He was unsuccessful in improving the Ravens offense. I salute him for winning a Super Bowl in 2000. I wish him well." --Gary Hardy
"I think they should have fired McNair. He has got to be the worst person on the team. I am sure the Ravens will continue to do bad even with Brian not here." --Shannon Gillis
"I don't think Brian should have been fired." --Bo, Glen Burnie
"Maybe it is just time to re-group the whole team. One man cannot make or break a team. So let's look at starting over with more than just a head coach. You can not lay it all on Billick. Yes, some on him, but not all! --Walt, Ellicott City
