‘Tis the season for firings and hirings. And the first head coaching vacancy is now upon us. It didn’t matter that the Baltimore Ravens won their final game of the 2007 season. In finishing 5-11, eight games worse than last year’s 13-3 mark, the Ravens fired head coach Brian Billick today. This news comes less than a year after Coach Billick signed a contract extension through 2010 and just a couple weeks after he made an announcement that he would return to coach the Ravens in 2008. So this comes as quite a shock in that sense, but I’m not at all surprised when you look at what became of the team this season. There seemed to be a lot of dissension between the players and the coaching staff. One example was back in October when I was working the Ravens/Bills game. A distraught Ray Lewis called out Coach Billick’s play calling after Buffalo won 19-14.

Coach B. led the Ravens to a Super Bowl XXXV win in 2000, but never got the team back to the big game. He did manage an 85-67 record in nine seasons, though.

I believe he’ll return to the sidelines as an offensive coordinator next season. He had an impressive stint as the Minnesota Vikings OC prior to taking the Ravens job. In fact, his 1998 Vikings were the NFL’s highest scoring offense in NFL history until the New England Patriots broke that record this season. Maybe a team like the Buffalo Bills, who are looking for an innovative OC to replace Steve Fairchild, would be interested.

I think Brian Billick is still a good coach. For an offensive guy, he never really had a lot to work with in Baltimore. If you look at his quarterbacks alone, he never had a marquee QB until Steve McNair arrived last season. And Steve was in the twilight of his career. He always had good defenses in Baltimore, but the offense never seemed to do its part. I think he can do good things with the proper weaponry and dedicated attention to just an offensive game plan.

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Brian Billick Fired as Coach of Ravens

Four Baltimore Ravens players have been fined for violating league rules prohibiting the abuse of game officials, the NFL announced today. Linebacker Bart Scott was fined $25,000 for verbally abusing game officials and throwing an official’s flag into the stands during last Monday night’s Baltimore-New England game. Cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister, and wide receiver Derrick Mason were fined $15,000 each for publicly questioning the integrity of the officiating in last Monday night’s game against the New England Patriots. The Ravens lost the game 27-24. NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said:

“This is about the importance of sportsmanship and respecting the integrity of our game. We do not tolerate inappropriate conduct between teams and game officials. This includes reminding game officials that they are to conduct themselves at all times as professionals in their dealings with players, coaches, and other club personnel. Last Monday night’s game was well officiated and it is the obligation of both players and coaches to maintain proper respect for game officials at all times.”

Ray Anderson went to Baltimore this week to speak directly with Bart and Samari before issuing the fines today. And I think he was right in his decision to issue these fines. I understand the players are passionate about their profession and they want very badly to win. That’s a good thing. But if the NFL doesn’t put their foot down firmly on situations like these, more outbursts would occur and the next thing you know, you’ve got a league-wide outbreak of chaotic, complaining crybabies.

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Four Baltimore Ravens Fined For Improper Conduct Relating To Game Officials

The San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens each selected a player in today’s seven-round supplemental draft. The Chargers, picking 28th, chose cornerback Paul Oliver of Georgia in the 4th round. The Ravens, selecting 31st, picked Maryland tackle Jared Gaither in the 5th round.

Paul Oliver (6′0′ 208) was among Georgia leaders in tackles last season (5th with 57) and had two sacks. He limited Calvin Johnson (Lions), to two catches for 13 yards in the Bulldogs’ season-finale win last year. In 2005, Paul won Georgia’s Most Improved Defensive Player Award.

The 6-9, 350-pound Jared Gaither started 17 of Maryland’s last 21 games at either left or right tackle. As a freshman in 2005, he did not allow a sack from his left tackle position. Jared was rated as the No. 3 prep-school prospect in the nation by a scouting service while at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.

With today’s selections, San Diego and Baltimore thus forgo the corresponding picks in the 2008 NFL Draft. There were no other players selected today. The supplemental draft was conducted by computer from NFL headquarters in New York.

Photo by Philip Williams, georgiadogs.com

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Paul Oliver, Jared Gaither Taken in NFL Supplemental Draft