Former Ravens coach Brian Billick refused to criticize any members of the team who fired him during a three-hourradio interview on Monday, but heaped plenty of praise on the squad?s key decision makers.
Billick had plenty of accolades for general manager Ozzie Newsome, owner Steve Bisciotti and his replacement, John Harbaugh. Billick, who has never been at a loss for words, took calls from listeners as he spent more than three hours being interviewed on ESPN 1300 AM.
One of the highlights of the show, which was hosted by Mark Viviano and Damon Yaffe, was when Billick discussed a recent trip to Iraq with San Francisco radio personality Ron Barr and CBS broadcasters Spencer Tillman and Randy Cross.
Billick told listeners about a conversation he had with a young soldier and Ravens fan from Hagerstown stationed with the Maryland National Guard in Iraq, which he said puts everything into perspective.
The young man?s job was to find ? and destroy ? roadside bombs. Billick understood the danger involved with the soldier?s duty, saying he figured when the soldier returned home, he just wanted to relax and have a beer.
Replied the soldier: “I am not old enough.”
Near the end of the show, Billick discussed his termination shortly after earning a vote of confidence by team management. Billick said he was shocked by the firing, but he saw in Bisciotti?s eyes the Ravens owner needed to do what he thought was right for the team. Billick claimed he did not question Bisciotti about his decision to replace him as coach ? and he still does not know the exact reason why he was fired.
But since he still considers the Bisciotti and other members of the front office friends, he never asked.
Billick said he plans on writing a book on football and working with NFL Films, and may be interested in pursuing a career as a football analyst.
He did not rule out returning to the NFL as a head coach, but he if returns to the sideline, it will only be with a team that he sees as a good fit.
But for now, Billick will continue to live in the home he had built on the Eastern Shore, close enough to a city that followed his every move for a decade.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.
