Brian Billick Speaks

For the first time since he was fired as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, Brian Billick broached the topic with local media earlier today, saying the he respected the decision of Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, but that it was a totally different message then he had been given earlier in the season.

On being fired: “It did change, and it changed in a day. Don’t know why. [I] haven’t had that conversation, and don’t know that I ever will. But I certainly respect that Steve Bisciotti has that right, and it did catch me off-guard because of what had been said before both privately and publicly. But I very much understand that that is the right of an owner, and he’s doing what he thinks is in the best interest of the organization, and that has to be respected.”

On losing the locker room: “I think the players as a whole — regardless of what their particular perspective was to a man — will tell you that I treated them like men, that I had their best interest in mind both professionally and individually,” he said. “It’s understood and it’s predictable that there are going to be some players that see that differently and may very well voice that.”

On his future in coaching:
“Whether I’ll be sought after, whether someone will think my abilities warrant looking at or whether there’s the right match for me out there, we don’t know,” Billick said. “I’ve got to take the approach going forward to find something that can engage my background as a teacher. I’m going to be around the game in one form or fashion.”

I don’t think it was a surprise to anyone that Billick was fired, but the manner was a little odd. In the press conference, Bisciotti admitted that his decision was one that was a sudden change of heart. It needed to happen, but it’s interesting that confirmation has come on the team’s hesitance pull the trigger.