John Thornton, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle turned agent/representative, told Lance McAlister on 700 WLW last week that he went to bed one night believing that Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson was going to be the Buffalo Bill's next head coach. Jackson has a year of head coaching experience in Oakland before his eventual dismissal and return to Cincinnati in 2012.
"I thought we were getting the Buffalo Bills jobs," said Thornton. "I would say last Friday night (Jan. 16, 2014), we went to bed thinking that we were going to be at a press conference in Buffalo... at least everything that I've heard. "But Rex Ryan got his second interview and he impressed the owners and... he's in that division and he's done well against the Patriots. The new ownership felt that was what swayed it with Rex's experience. Great hire for them. I felt like Hue would have done a great job for them as well."
Jackson, now refocusing as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator for a second season, thought that the Buffalo gig was a good fit.
"I thought it was the right fit, the right situation," Jackson said via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I had a good working knowledge of what they are trying to do, but, hey, it didn't work out."
"To me, guys who have been through the experience, and that might be why (Buffalo) hired Rex, he's done it," Jackson said. "You understand there is a premium on people that have been through that war before because it is a war. I don't care who you are. You can ask Mike Zimmer, who is a good friend of mine, the first year of doing that is difficult and different. You say, hey, you prepare for it. You prepare for it but it's never like you think."