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When I heard Rex Ryan was working on an autobiography, I wondered what he could put on those pages that we didn't already know.

Ryan has been an open, nearly unabridged book his entire life. It's one of the main reasons he's so beloved by his players and fans. Since he became head coach of the New York Jets two years ago, seemingly every aspect of his life has been reported.

But it turns out Ryan's entertaining style makes "Play Like You Mean It" a page-turner with fresh ideas and revelations.

About the only aspect of his life not illuminated was last year's foot-fetish storyline, but he did comment on the Jets' other prominent scandals that drew league investigations: the Ines Sainz sexual harassment claim and the Sal Alosi sideline trip of Miami Dolphins gunner Nolan Carroll.

ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini previewed the book and shared some of the sexier passages.

Ryan gave details about the transition away from Brett Favre, revealed his disgust over Tony Dungy's criticism of his language and knocked former players such as safety Kerry Rhodes and defensive draft bust Vernon Gholston.

Ryan called Rhodes "a selfish-ass guy. He wouldn't work and he was a Hollywood type, flashing and needing attention."

While still defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, Ryan said he warned then-Jets head coach Eric Mangini not to draft Gholston.

"Truth be told, I didn't like the kid coming out of college," Ryan said. "He's a good athlete and a smart guy, but I thought he was a phony."

Ryan also took a dig at New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who last year spat how much he hated the Jets.

"I really don't know Tom Brady, but who wouldn't hate him?" Ryan said. "Look at his life. Actually, look at his wife. Every man in America hates Tom Brady, and he should be proud of that."

I once heard Tom Donahoe, the former Buffalo Bills president and general manager, call quarterback Drew Bledsoe a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Then again, Donahoe used to say a lot of things.

I was reminded of this when taking a glance at players who will make their first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot for 2012.

Buffalo News reporter Mark Gaughan, who's on the Hall of Fame selection committee and last weekend was elected president of the Pro Football Writers Association, blogged the top newcomers to consider the next few years.

The lists are helpful in speculating when fan favorites such as Andre Reed and Curtis Martin will get their Canton calls. They both were finalists this year -- Reed for the fifth time, Martin for the first -- but weren't added to the 2011 induction class Saturday.

Perhaps that development was fitting for Martin because his coach with the New England Patriots and New York Jets will be on the ballot again. They could get in together in 2012.

Bill Parcells has been a finalist twice, but not since 2002 because rules for coaches changed. They now must wait five years from their last game to be eligible for induction, and Parcells returned to the sidelines with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003.

Is Parcells a Hall of Famer? I know Miami Dolphins fans aren't too thrilled with him these days, but he did add to an already remarkable legacy -- two championships, different teams to the Super Bowl, a few organizational turnarounds -- by guiding the Dolphins from 1-15 to the AFC East title as their football operations boss.

Also on the ballot next year will be Bledsoe, running backs Corey Dillon and Tiki Barber, fullback Mike Alstott, guard Will Shields and coaches Bill Cowher and Marty Schottenheimer.

Bledsoe had a fine career with the Patriots, Bills and Cowboys and ranks eighth all-time in passing yards. But he was a Pro Bowler only four times and never was first-team All-Pro. Bledsoe was helpful in getting the Patriots their first championship, so he does have a ring. But that was Tom Brady's team.

Dillon also was a four-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl with the Patriots. He ranks 17th in rushing yards and never led the league in a major rushing category.

Schottenheimer played for the Bills and Patriots before winning 61 percent of his regular-season games as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. His 200 victories rank sixth all-time, but his 5-23 playoff record will hurt.

That group of first-time candidates -- plus the newcomers for 2013 -- bodes well for Reed. There won't be any new receivers for him to box out. He already has jockeyed ahead of contemporaries Cris Carter and Tim Brown by making the cut from 15 to 10 in the selection process the past two years. Carter and Brown haven't.

Gaughan highlighted first-year players for next few classes.

2013: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde, offensive linemen Larry Allen and Jonathan Ogden, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, defensive end Michael Strahan.

2014: Running back Shaun Alexander, receiver Marvin Harrison, linebacker Derrick Brooks, safety Rodney Harrison and coaches Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren -- if they don't return to sideline work.

2015: Quarterback Kurt Warner, receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, tackles Orlando Pace and Walter Jones and linebacker Junior Seau.

The NFL has announced 28 finalists for the inaugural Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year Award.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell created the award a year ago "to honor exemplary football coaches at all levels of the sport that display the integrity, achievement, and leadership demonstrated by the winningest coach in NFL history."

Candidates must be active coaches at the youth, high school, college or pro levels.

Those nominated from AFC East clubs:

• Buffalo Bills: Tom Goddard from Clarence High in suburban Buffalo.
• Miami Dolphins: George Smith from St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• New England Patriots: Ian Cotterell, a youth league coach from Brookline-Jamaica Plain.
• New York Jets: Clayton Kendrick-Holmes from SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx.

Five teams nominated their own head coaches: the Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

The Tennessee Titans nominated assistant Mike Heimerdinger, who was diagnosed with cancer in November but kept coaching while undergoing chemotherapy.

The judging panel includes Shula, Goodell, former Oakland Raiders coach John Madden, former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Gen. Raymond Odierno (commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command), IBM boss Sam Palmisano and Aplington-Parkersburg athletic director Aaron Thomas (son of legendary prep coach Ed Thomas).

The winner of the national Shula Award will receive $25,000 and will be invited to the Super Bowl.

The Tennessee Titans are parting ways with quarterback Vince Young, a Heisman Trophy finalist, rookie of the year and two-time Pro Bowler who apparently lost a battle of wills with head coach Jeff Fisher.

The Titans announced they will either trade or waive Young before next season. They must wait until Feb. 7 to waive him. He can't be traded until March 4. Young reportedly has a $4.25 million roster bonus due March 10.

Young won't be unemployed next season. Could he find a home in the AFC East?

We can rule out the New England Patriots and probably the New York Jets, too.

Young could be considered an upgrade over Mark Sanchez, but Sanchez is the Jets' franchise quarterback. The Jets also have a wildly uncertain offseason ahead with so many soon-to-be free agents and high-priced older players.

But the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills look like possible landing spots.

The Dolphins are down on Chad Henne, their supposed quarterback of the future who was benched during the season and never generated faith within the organization. In a radio interview Tuesday, star receiver Brandon Marshall criticized Henne's unwillingness to challenge defenses.

Young would provide the Dolphins with a totally new dynamic -- a mobile quarterback with a winning track record. Young not only would stimulate Miami's disenchanted fans, but also a stagnant team that ranked 30th in points, 21st in total offense, 21st in rushing offense and 16th in passing offense.

But the Dolphins can't make any decisions about whether Young would be a fit until they determine what to do with head coach Tony Sparano. He's still in place, but owner Stephen Ross reportedly has been flirting with Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh and former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher.

The Bills would be another intriguing possibility. Head coach Chan Gailey is a big fan of incumbent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, but Gailey has had success in the past with running quarterbacks.

Gailey was the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator when Kordell Stewart was there and impressively used Tyler Thigpen while the Kansas City Chiefs' play-caller.

Plus, Bills owner Ralph Wilson isn't averse to chasing a big name. The Bills pursued Michael Vick before the 2009 season, according to Vick's adviser, Tony Dungy.

Then again, with the third pick in April's draft, the Bills almost certainly will have the option to select Auburn quarterback Cam Newton if they wanted him badly enough.

Would you like to see Young wearing your team's colors in 2011?

The NFL's latest videotaping scandal has drawn out the New England Patriots, much to their annoyance.

As I wrote Saturday when the NFL announced it was punishing the Denver Broncos for filming a San Francisco 49ers walk-through prior to their game in London last month, Spygate has re-emerged as a hot topic.

Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was the Patriots' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick when the Spygate story unfolded in 2007 and 2008.

Steve Scarnecchia, the Broncos videographer who was fired for shooting the 49ers walk-through, was on the Patriots' video staff from 2001 through 2004, when some of those infamous violations were committed. He's also the son of Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

"Fox NFL Sunday" insider Jay Glazer reported McDaniels told his coaching staff in a Friday meeting that what the Broncos did in London wasn't as bad as what the Patriots did for years.

Glazer on McDaniels' description of what happened in New England: "That was practiced. That was coached. That was worked on."

The Broncos' transgression was a popular subject on Sunday's various NFL shows.

NBC Sports analyst Tony Dungy on McDaniels reportedly making the Patriots admission: "That is really a violation of honor code of coaches. You talk to your staff, 'Here's what we do at our place. We don't talk about what anybody else does. What happened in the past.' I don’t think he should have talked about that."

Dungy on severity of Denver's violation compared to New England's: "If he’s referring to videotaping, that's a completely different story than stealing signals. If you're videotaping walk-throughs, opponents' practices, that is really, really a serious allegation."

NBC Sports analyst and former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison on whether this scandal will dog the Patriots: "First of all, it won't be a distraction. This team is 9-2 and Belichick is a mastermind, absolutely a mastermind of keeping guys focused on the task at hand. In 2007 this similar situation happened to us, and as players we said 'Someone's attacking our coach. We're going to protect him.' We went out there, went 16-0, 18-1 overall, and we blew everybody out by 20, 25 points."

Harrison on McDaniels talking about Patriots practices: "Josh is a good guy, and I felt like he was a loyal guy. He was a guy that Bill Belichick gave an opportunity to, and it really surprised me that he would come out and say something like this."

CBS Sports analyst Bill Cowher: "As far as the punishment, no, it's not enough. The precedent was set when the New England Patriots were fined, Bill Belichick himself over $100,000, and draft picks should be taken away. I know they say [Steve Scarnecchia] acted independently. I don't agree with that because I think in every room, in every building, the dynamics, you always have to answer to a superior. I have a hard time believing this was done independently. It was not heavily fined enough. Draft picks should have been taken away."

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress on Monday accused the New England Patriots of stealing defensive signals back in 2006 and relaying them to Tom Brady.

The Patriots won the Monday night game 31-7 in what Childress called "a surgical procedure."

"These were some of the all-time great signal-stealers," Childress said. "In fact, that's what was going on. They were holding, holding, holding. We were signaling from the sideline. They were good at it. It's like stealing signals from a catcher."

Brady paid his weekly visit to Boston sports-radio station WEEI on Tuesday and responded with a non-denial.

"We've been called a lot worse than that," Brady said in a transcript produced by ESPNBoston.com. "That game was so long ago. ... I remember us executing pretty well that night."

Brady noted while signal-stealing was common in the NFL at the time, that has been eliminated by defensive coordinators radioing their calls through helmet headsets.

"That's come and gone," Brady said. "That's been not a part of football here for a long time, and we've still won a lot of games. In '07, they changed the rule and so forth. I don't buy a whole lot into that. The team that's going to win this weekend is the team that plays better. I can promise you that."

Brady also reacted to the stinging comments Childress made about Brett Favre after Sunday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Brady suggested Bill Belichick wouldn't speak publicly about Patriots players like that.

"I think every head coach has different styles to motivate their players.," Brady said. "Coach, he doesn't ever do that to anybody. It doesn't matter if I threw seven interceptions. He would never do that. But there's no doubt that he's going to bring that up to me at some point, probably right away, to say in front of the team, as well. He's going to make the point that he needs to make in order to try to get his players to play better.

"Coach Belichick does that. Tony Dungy did that. Everyone does that in different ways. We're all big boys. We can handle the criticism. If we don't do something well, we know that we didn't do something well.

"Often times, players are their harshest critics. When I don't play well, I know it. Sometimes it does hurt your ego a bit when somebody tells you you've got to do it better. But that's the truth. If that's what you need as a player, then in the end you'll be pretty happy that someone actually came out and said it because maybe that will motivate you a little bit more to get it improved."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The headline of a Sporting News preseason yearbook feature on Rodney Harrison once called him "The Last Assassin" for the way he ruthlessly hammered ball carriers. He walloped a defenseless receiver or two in his day.

But the former New England Patriots safety claims the only way to rid the NFL of players delivering helmet shots is to skip the fines and dole out suspensions.

"You didn't get my attention when you fined me five grand, 10 grand, 15 grand," Harrison said on NBC's "Football Night in America" set Sunday. "You got my attention when I got suspended, and I had to get away from my teammates, and I disappointed my teammates from not being there."

In the NFL culture, some ultra-aggressive defenders view fines merely as investments or necessary employment fees. Many wouldn't be on a roster if they weren't capable of delivering the big hit. So when they get flagged for a helmet-to-helmet blast or for nailing a receiver who's watching the ball, an occasional fine is part and parcel.

"But you have to suspend these guys," Harrison said. "These guys are making millions of dollars."

Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather was flagged for launching himself at Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap, one of multiple dubious head shots around the league Sunday. Heap was defenseless. Meriweather went helmet-to-helmet.

New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard also was called for unnecessary roughness for drilling Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd along the sideline on a long third-quarter completion. The 15 yards helped the Broncos score a touchdown on the drive. But replays showed Leonhard used his shoulder.

Meriweather likely will be fined. He wasn't ejected, but Patriots coach Bill Belichick, clearly upset, yanked him. Meriweather eventually returned because safety Jarrad Page hurt his left calf.

"It's not the fine that's going to do it," NBC studio analyst Tony Dungy said. "These guys are not doing this on purpose, but they've got to lower their strike zone, change it. We had this with the quarterbacks a few years ago, and we got the defenders to change. You have to protect these receivers. Some of these guys may be out two or three weeks, and the only way to make it fair is have these defenders sit out if they damage someone."

Harrison explained his target area was "right on the chest. You're taught to separate the guy from the ball. ... Now all of a sudden, as you're coming, you start raising up a couple inches. Now it's helmet to helmet. Now they're going to have to reprogram these players to start hitting lower, by the waist."

After some back and forth through the media, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy spoke directly to each other about their differences.

"I wanted him to know how I felt," Ryan said. "We talked man-to-man. He told me his position, and I definitely told him my position. It was good."

Dungy was critical of Ryan's prolific use of profanity in last week's season premiere of HBO's "Hard Knocks." Dungy even suggested commissioner Roger Goodell get involved because Ryan's behavior shined a bad light on the NFL.

Ryan on Wednesday expressed disappointment in Dungy's public comments, saying Dungy "unfairly judged" him. Ryan phoned Dungy and left a message to talk about the situation and to invite him to Jets camp.

"He knows some people I know," Ryan said. "There are a lot of positive things being said about me ... We'll leave it at that. We look forward to having him come up and see what we're all about."

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan called Tony Dungy and left a message to invite him to training camp.

That was Ryan's response upon learning Dungy had publicly scolded him for foul language. Dungy, making an appearance Monday on the "Dan Patrick Show," claimed he wouldn't hire Ryan because of the way he spoke in last week's season premiere of "Hard Knocks."

"I've been a big admirer of Tony Dungy, and I'm sure a lot of people are," Ryan told reporters Wednesday, "but he unfairly judged me, and that was disappointing to me."

Ryan said he invited Dungy to camp to "spend some time with me and the organization, and maybe he'll have a different take on it."

Dungy was offended enough by Ryan's colorful use of various four-letter words that he advocated NFL commissioner Roger Goodell get involved to protect the league's image. Dungy also said he wouldn't hire Ryan to coach his players.

"I personally don't want my players to be around that," Dungy said. "I don't want to be around that. It's hard for me to be around that, and if I were in charge, no, I wouldn't hire someone like that.

"Now, I've been around F-bombs, so it's not like it's new. But I just don't think that has to be part of your every-minute, everyday vocabulary to get your points across."

Ryan was dismayed with Dungy's reaction.

"I'm always going to be myself, and I'm a good person," Ryan said. "Just because somebody cusses doesn't make him a bad person. Just because a guy doesn't cuss doesn't make him a good person. I'll stand by my merits."

Tony Dungy wouldn't have qualms with Michael Vick running his huddle.

But Dungy asserted he wouldn't want Rex Ryan to coach his players.

Dungy, while visiting the "Dan Patrick Show," was asked what he thought of Ryan's proclivity for profanity. Ryan delivered a stream of expletives in a speech to the New York Jets in last week's season premiere of "Hard Knocks" on HBO.

Dungy expressed dismay over the blue language. Patrick asked if Dungy would hire Ryan for his staff.

"I would not," Dungy said. "I personally don't want my players to be around that. I don't want to be around that.

"It's hard for me to be around that, and if I were in charge, no, I wouldn't hire someone like that. Now, I've been around F-bombs, so it's not like it's new. But I just don't think that has to be part of your every-minute, everyday vocabulary to get your points across."

The NFL Network produced a "Back to the Future" segment in which host Rich Eisen and analysts Warren Sapp and Jamie Dukes wondered how one reversed event from way back would've altered the course of history.

The first two scenarios referred to AFC East teams.

What if the New England Patriots didn't benefit from the tuck rule against the Oakland Raiders in the 2001 playoffs?

Facts or possibilities to consider:

• Patriots don't win their first Super Bowl.
• Patriots don't win any Super Bowls.
• Pittsburgh Steelers go to Super Bowl XXXVI.
• Jon Gruden takes Oakland to the Super Bowl.
• Gruden stays in Oakland, doesn't go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Buccaneers don't win Super Bowl XXXVII.
• St. Louis Rams win two Super Bowls in three years.

What if the Miami Dolphins signed Drew Brees in 2006?

Facts or possibilities to consider:

• Dolphins don't sign Daunte Culpepper.
• Nick Saban stays and doesn't go to Alabama.
• Owner Wayne Huizenga doesn't hire Bill Parcells to run football operations.
• Dolphins don't draft Ted Ginn
• Dolphins don't draft Chad Henne.
• New Orleans Saints don't win Super Bowl XLIV.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Jim Caldwell quietly eased into his promotion as Indianapolis Colts head coach. The transition was virtually seamless when Tony Dungy retired, abdicating to his designated heir.

Then there's Rex Ryan, the New York Jets coach who arrived with an eruption and set about an upheaval of an entire organization's persona.

This was no caretaker of successes past. Ryan, with a magnetism as large as his physique, a gravitational pull as it were, quickly became the center of the Jets' universe.

Ryan and Caldwell will intersect orbits Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. Rookie head coaches never have squared off for a conference title. One of them will be the fifth rookie coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky wrote about Caldwell's straightforward and succinct approach to coaching the Colts. He won 14 regular-season games, an eye-popping amount, yet only two more than the year before.

Ryan, meanwhile, finished the regular season 9-7, the same record as the Jets did last year under Eric Mangini. But their versions couldn't have been more different.

"This wasn't about Eric," Ryan said this week at the Jets' facility. "This was about me coming in. I was going to be true to myself. I never really needed to get advice from anybody else. I was coming here, open minded. I just wanted to put our plan in place, and that was what I focused on. It wasn't about things were done this way or that way. That meant nothing.

"I could have followed anybody here, but I was going to try to put together what I thought was a vision for our team and building a winner."

Ryan has transformed the culture in Florham Park. The Jets toiled under the austere watch of Mangini, who was fired after falling short of the playoffs with Brett Favre slinging interceptions about.

Now the Jets are all about fun and smack talk. The players are free to speak their minds, and with Ryan in charge their minds entertain fanciful thoughts. He talks them up like they're superstars. He makes bold predictions about meeting Barack Obama in the White House and being Super Bowl favorites after barely qualifying for the playoffs.

"You've got to prove him right," Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said. "If he has that much confidence in you to say that you're the best, you've got to go out there and prove it for him.

"When he says stuff, he's not just saying it to say it. At the end of the day, he's held accountable for what he says. If you don't live up to what he said, it kind of gives him a slap in the face."

NBC Sports has distributed a transcript from Sunday's edition of "Football Night in America" pregame show.

Studio analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison and host Dan Patrick discussed New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss' dubious performance in a 20-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Gillette Stadium.

Moss had one catch for 16 yards and a lost fumble four days after coach Bill Belichick ejected him and three teammates from the facility for showing up late to a team meeting.

Harrison: "I don't think he quit, but I don't think he played as hard as he could have played. I saw him quit on one route in particular. He had more drops than he had catches. He had a penalty. Uncharacteristic of Moss and what we've seen from him this year."

Dungy: "I don't think he quit either. I think Randy Moss played a poor game. It probably started earlier in the week. ... I never sent a guy home from practice. That had to impact Moss."

Harrison: "It really affected him. He's clearly worked so hard to repair his image and reputation. For him to get sent home and bring negativity to the New England Patriots, it really affected him. He didn't play with the type of confidence he normally plays with."

Dungy: "Randy is a guy who needs confidence."

Patrick: "Is he fragile?"

Dungy: "That might be a good word."

Harrison: "Randy Moss is a captain of the New England Patriots. He has to continue to go out there and play because he has younger receivers, younger guys looking up to him. ... He has to be the leader."

MIAMI -- So what's with Bill Belichick's fourth-down fetish?

Three-card monte games have had better payoffs.

The New England Patriots head coach seems to be making it a point to go for it on fourth down to prove some sort of point, but the results this year have been destructive.

Belichick on Sunday squandered three points in a game that was decided by one because he opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Miami Dolphins' 6-yard line and failed to convert late in the second quarter.

The Dolphins crammed a Sammy Morris run and took over the ball on downs. They eventually won 22-21 in Land Shark Stadium and made a mess of the AFC East standings.

"Bad football can also be coaching decisions," NBC Sports analyst Tony Dungy said. "They had the chance to kick a field goal. They went for it on fourth down. Taking points when it's going to be a tight game is the way to go. I would have kicked the field goal, knowing it's going to be a low-scoring game."

The Patriots have gone for it on fourth down 16 times this year, tied for sixth in the NFL. They've converted eight.

All of clubs that have gone for it more often are lousy -- Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins -- and often need to convert fourth downs late in a game out of desperation. Those teams have only three more wins combined than the Patriots.

So logic would dictate the Patriots are going for it on fourth down unnecessarily compared to other good teams.

A field goal against the Dolphins would have made the difference, although you never can be sure what the butterfly effect would have been.

The Patriots' most infamous fourth-down case, of course, is when Belichick decided to go for it on fourth down from his own 28-yard line with 2:08 to go against the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots, ahead by six points, failed to pick up the 2 yards and handed Peyton Manning possession on the doorstep.

Has Belichick tried to prove a point since then? Counting that failed attempt, he has run an offensive play on fourth down six times in the past four games. The Patriots converted three of them, which is their season average.

And that's way off their recent success rate.

The Patriots converted 77.3 of their fourth downs last year. Their 22 attempts were fourth in the NFL.

They converted 71.4 percent in 2007. Their 15 attempts were tied for sixth.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With a number of well-credentialed coaches, including Super Bowl winners Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren and Brian Billick seemingly available if you meet their price, there is some optimism surrounding the Buffalo Bills’ future direction.

As for the Bills' immediate future, that falls on the broad shoulders of interim head coach Perry Fewell, who replaced Dick Jauron Tuesday.

Clearly, Fewell has his work cut out for him.

He inherits a Buffalo team that shares the longest current playoff drought in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, dating back to 1999. On Day 1 as head coach, Fewell said he wants his team to “play like hell and win.” On Day 2, he made his first big decision, naming Ryan Fitzpatrick his starting quarterback over Trent Edwards for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.

“We just felt like Ryan gives us the best opportunity to go into Jacksonville and win this week,” Fewell said.

The decision to start Fitzpatrick was initiated by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and approved by Fewell, who described the Bills' quarterbacking situation as “week-to-week and day-to-day.”

In summarizing how the Bills' offense might look different with Fewell running the show, the 26-year-old Fitzpatrick said, “not a ton will change.” But, he added, "Perry brings a different attitude and coaching style."

Fewell agreed that his style differed from Jauron's.

“I’m more fired up, I’m much more emotional," he said. "Whether the team takes on these characteristics, I don’t know.”

The switch from Edwards to Fitzpatrick was fully endorsed by wide receiver Terrell Owens.

“He’s (Fitzpatrick’s) a veteran and has more experience," Owens said. “He will bide time, assess the defense and take shots downfield.”

Fitzpatrick went 2-1 while Edwards was sidelined with a concussion. Edwards returned last Sunday in a loss at the Tennessee Titans.

“I thought it was his (Fitzpatrick’s) job to lose,” Owens said.

For Fewell, choosing between Edwards and Fitzpatrick must have seemed like picking between root canal and shock therapy. Both quarterbacks have struggled all season moving the ball and finding deep threats Owens and Lee Evans.

In his last four games, Edwards has thrown just one touchdown pass to go with five interceptions. Fitzpatrick has been similarly ineffective with just two touchdown passes and four interceptions in four games this season.

The affable Fewell has spent his entire 12-year NFL coaching career working on the defensive side of the ball. He’s had to deal with a number of key injuries over the last two years.

On the other side of the ball, the Bills reside near the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive category: 28th in points scored, 29th in total offense, 29th in passing yards per game.

Buffalo’s scoring woes were clearly evident during the exhibition season when their first-team offense scored exactly three points -- total -- in four games. This led to the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert 10 days before their first regular-season game. The Bills' lackluster no-huddle offense was also scrapped after six games.

“You never envision things would have transpired to this point,” Owens said. “It’s tough. I haven’t been in a losing situation like this before. I haven’t been as productive as I would like. All I can do is work hard.”

All season, Jauron stressed the Bills need to stretch the field and make big plays -- to no avail.

Owens, who arrived in Buffalo this offseason amidst considerable fanfare, has been at best a non-factor, at worst a complete bust. Nine games into his one-year, $6.5 million dollar deal, Owens has caught just one touchdown pass. Owens, 35, has yet to have a 100-yard receiving game this season and seven times has caught three balls or fewer, stats reminiscent of a No. 4 receiver, not a future Hall of Famer.

“I’m not in a system I’m accustomed to,” Owens said. “I haven’t been utilized like I have been in years past. In San Francisco and Philadelphia, we had great offensive minds that utilized my abilities.”

The Bills' inability to get T.O. the ball has been a sobering experience for him. As a Pro Bowler on winning teams, Owens became as notorious for his public feuds with quarterbacks Jeff Garcia at San Francisco, Donovan McNabb at Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys’ management as for his elaborate touchdown celebrations.

Since his arrival in Buffalo, T.O. has been by all accounts a boy scout from a public relations perspective, an eerie silence for Bills fans who at this point would gladly take all the drama that Owens brings as long as it came with some touchdowns and wins.

David Amber is an ESPN TV correspondent based in Toronto.