Calling it “clearly one of the most difficult decisions I?ve ever had to make,” Ravens head coach Brian Billick fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel Tuesday and said that he would assume the play-calling duties of the team.
“I?ve removed Jim Fassel from the coordinator?s position,” Billick said. “I?ve stood up here many times when a question of this nature has been brought up ? other teams, other situations, when moves need to be made. It?s not an easy thing to do.”
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Billick refused to elaborate on why he fired his longtime friend, who had overseen the 28th-ranked offense through six weeks of the season. He also declined to talk about Fassel?s reaction.
“I have an obligation to this organization to do what is in the best interest of this team, regardless of how it affects you personally and how difficult those decisions are,” Billick said. “Jim Fassel?s been a valuable and loyal coach to me, one that I?ve relied on his counsel.”
Despite the team?s offensive woes, the announcement came as a surprise as the team heads into a bye week after scoring 21 points in a loss to Carolina last Sunday.
Recently, players have become frustrated with the lack of offensive production. Receiver Derrick Mason was the most vocal critic.
“You?re not going to get me to point the finger at the offensive coordinator,” Mason said last week. “As a team, we?ve just got to get better. If it means the players playing harder, then we have to play harder ? then whatever.”
In addition, running back Jamal Lewis had expressed displeasure with his lack of carries.
“Itwas my opinion, going forward, to bring about the level of production offensively, to get where we want to go, that I needed to step back in on a day-to-day basis,” Billick said.
The team made dramatic moves in the last two seasons to bolster an offense that has been under heavy criticism during much of Billick?s first six years. In addition to drafting receiver Mark Clayton in 2005, the team also signed Mason, a Pro Bowler, to join an offense that featured Lewis, the 2003 NFL offensive player of the year. The team made a splash during the offseason by trading for quarterback Steve McNair, a move many thought could transform the team into a Super Bowl contender.
Fassel joined the organization in 2004 as senior consultant/offense, working with then-starting quarterback Kyle Boller and as an advisor to then-coordinator Matt Cavanaugh.
Fassel?s son, John, is in his second year as an assistant special-teams coach. One Ravens employee said his status with the team is expected to remain unchanged.
