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Sometimes, you don’t get what you expected.

For myself, it was sitting on a runway for two hours Monday morning, only to be told that my Airtran (I told you guys I would mention it publicly, and there’s more to come!) flight was not going to take off due to engine troubles. I further didn’t get what I expected when I was told that my choice was to fly immediately to Atlanta and wait until midnight to fly to Phoenix, or to stay in Baltimore an extra day. That choice was not particularly difficult, as the only reason I was going back to Phoenix yesterday was for the Insight Bowl. Thank you to my assistant Tracey for covering the game in my stead; no thanks to Airtran in your attempt to “help” someone who had work to do.

Having got no sleep last night, I came back to the greater White Marsh/Perry Hall metropolitan area to catch some rest. Instead, I was interrupted by an oft-ringing cell phone, which I could only ignore so many times. Apparently the rumor I got from Arizona was real (and my friend Jay Glazer-kudos to a fellow Arizonan-had warned me), and Brian Billick was fired. I didn’t expect that either.

I REALLY didn’t expect to spend my New Year’s Eve sitting at my parents’ house writing a blog with no clothes to wear even if I wanted to go out (I assume they’re in Phoenix.) But here I am, returning slightly early.

For those of you who are interested, the Ravens will NOT be holding a press conference on Wednesday, and I might not be able to post due to the Fiesta Bowl. But I’ll try.

We can debate the merits of Brian Billick’s firing all day. In the end, Billick had OBVIOUSLY lost the locker room, and didn’t put enough lines in the ‘W’ column to cover that. That’s why he’s gone.

Much like others have stated today, the way the firing was handled SERIOUSLY scares me. Steve Bisciotti should never have allowed this organization to report that Billick was coming back if he wasn’t willing to publicly say it himself. Hopefully he will learn.

What is Ozzie Newsome’s role with this team? If Bisciotti is making the calls; and if the personnel moves have basically all been dictated by the personnel ALREADY on the team, then what is the need for a GM?

Is Steve Bisciotti qualified to make football decisions? Is anyone concerned that Biscotti could become Daniel Snyder in the future?

I guess I’m all over the place here. Trust me, this is NOT what I expected. I DID however expect WNST to lead the way in coverage, and boy was I right about that. It’s good to see that the lead story on the website of another station in town is AP Video about the Redskins and a Rose Bowl Preview. What a joke.

Let’s see what everyone else has to say…

Best of Monday’s WNST Blogs:

Nestor Aparicio not thrilled with Bisciotti’s handling of firing

Nestor Aparicio says staff ‘blindsided’ by firings

Nestor Aparicio says Ravens looking for ‘future Hall of Famer’

Nestor Aparicio ’shocked’ by firing

Drew Forrester thinks Bisciotti threw Byrne under bus

Drew Forrester says (before Billick firing) Ravens might look for Mularkey

Casey Willett wonders why Bisciotti was talking about Cowher unprovoked

Casey Willett wonders why Ozzie gets free pass

Russ Letra thinks Billick deserved chance to rebuild

Ken Zalis not rushing to judge move

Thom Mattson says players’ feelings on Billick swerved Bisciotti

Pete Kerzel thinks Ravens will ‘act swiftly’ in hiring new coach

Mark Suchy credits Bisciotti for making ‘gutsy’ move

Chris Pika says days like today aren’t fun

RAVENS:

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy announces firing of Billick

The Official Site offers Billick’s statement, saying ‘it has been a great ride’

The AP’s David Ginsburg says Bisciotti ‘believed it was time for a change’

The AP’s David Ginsburg says Ravens must get on same page before beginning offseason

ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli doesn’t ‘trust’ Billick’s QB knowledge

ESPN.com Scouts Inc.’s Jeremy Green names Rex Ryan most eligible coordinator bachelor

SI’s Don Banks says Billick got ‘too comfortable’ in Baltimore

Sporting News says Ravens will play Raiders and ‘Phins in ‘08

Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon has Ravens 26th in final Power Rankings

CBS Sports’ Ray Ratto thinks Billick NFL Network-bound

CBS Sports’ Charley Casserly blames Ravens’ failures on injuries

CBS Sports’ Clark Judge thinks Ryan should be next Head Coach

Pro Football Weekly’s Mike Wilkening likes future for Billick, Ravens

Pro Football Talk says Ravens will have 8th pick in Draft (Longs will be gone. Maybe Cason?)

NFL.com’s Adam Schefter says Ryan may interview with Atlanta as well

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Bisciotti ‘changed his mind’

The Sun’s Rick Maese says Ravens ‘had no choice’ but to fire Billick

The Sun’s Rick Maese says Billick peaked early, fell apart recently

The Sun’s Mike Preston says J-O will decide after getting info from new Coach

The Sun’s Mike Preston says Billick’s faults couldn’t be covered anymore

The Sun’s David Steele also supports Ryan to be next Coach

The Sun’s David Steele says Bisciotti should ‘take chance’ on Ryan

The Sun profiles Cowher, other candidates

The Sun’s Ray Frager thinks Billick could replace Parcells or Cowher on TV

The Sun’s Bill Ordine says firing makes Ravens first at SOMETHING

The Sun’s Bill Ordine thinks J-O’s actions yesterday hint retirement

The Sun’s Edward Lee says players want Ryan to be next Coach

The Examiner’s Matt Palmer (who is amongst the best at his craft) says players don’t want to lose Ryan

The Examiner’s Matt Palmer says only RB’s and LB’s performed particularly well this season

The Examiner’s Matt Palmer says Bisciotti not overwhelmingly confident that Billick firing was right move

The Examnier’s Jon Gallo says not all fans celebrating Billick firing

The Examiner’s Gary Lambrecht says Ravens ‘had to’ fire Billick

Aaron Wilson says entire staff fired as well

Aaron Wilson says Billick’s tenure ‘tired and repetitive’ in Baltimore

Aaron Wilson says Ravens will hire ‘best guy’, whether Ryan or not

Carroll County Times’ Bob Blubaugh says fans excited over Billick firing

Frederick News Post’s Stan Goldberg says Bisciotti went with gut in surprise move

Washington Post’s Camille Powell says Bisciotti believes ‘team has nucleus to get back to Super Bowl’

Extreme Ravens’ Danielle Peterson says Bisciotti thinks firing ‘toughest decision’ he’s ever made

Baltimore Beatdown’s “Rexx” can’t remember winning feeling

Blogimore Ravens’ “Dewey” not upset over Billick firing

Blogimore Ravens’ “Dewey” says not many highlights for Ravens fans in ‘07

Blogimore Ravens’ “Dewey” says everyone was duped-even Kevin Byrne

Fanhouse’s Ryan Wilson thinks Billick could end up in Detroit

Squibkick’s “James” says Billick taking fall

TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:

The Official Site previews Wednesday’s first ever Maryland-Savannah State showdown

Terrapin Times’ Chris King says Gary keeping expectations simple (must subscribe)

TERRAPINS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

The Official Site announces Coleman league Player of the Week for 2nd time

TERRAPINS FOOTBALL:

Washington Post’s Marc Carig says WR Coach Bossard out after three years

NAVY FOOTBALL:

Go Mids’ Ahmard Vital says recruit Epstein won’t ‘rush’ commitment (must subscribe)

NAVY BASKETBALL:

The Official Site announces Sprink league Player of the Week

TOWSON BASKETBALL:

The Official Site previews Towson-Northeastern conference showdown Wednesday

ORIOLES:

Oriole Central longs for days of ‘96

Dempsey’s Army’s “hrb” doesn’t want Bedard traded to Mariners unless Jones in deal

SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:

-What in God’s name has Steve Bisciotti seen to make him think that the Ravens have a Super Bowl-caliber nucleus? They certainly have a nucleus that could well find themselves hanging around GBMC, but the Super Bowl? I think not.

What this means is that Bisciotti is not looking for a coach to build for the future; but rather someone who can win now. I don’t think that lends well to the idea that Rex Ryan will be the team’s next Head Coach. However, that’s not definite either. Just a hunch based on what he said. He will attempt to meet with Cowher soon for sure, but would have to offer at least the $5 mil per season he’s paying Billick. Can the Ravens afford to pay Head Coaches well over $10 mil for the next 3 seasons?

Jason Garrett is not ready yet, no matter what Len Pasquarelli says. He may be ready for other jobs, but not for a locker room that looks like the Ravens’ does. Josh McDaniels falls into the same category. Marty Schottenheimer fits the bill, but do you really think Marty-ball is the best idea right now?

Rex Ryan MIGHT be the one assistant coach out there who is actually ready to lead a veteran team. I don’t know that for sure, but he MAY be. There certainly aren’t many other assistants out there in the same boat-maybe Jim Haslett and Mike Martz.

I mentioned it over the weekend, but if there was one person who I’d like to see interviewed…it would be Mike Tice. I know many of you are thinking “isn’t that just another Coach who proved he was better with Randy Moss than without?” Well yes, that’s true. I also think that he’s a Coach that players would like, and he has local ties. I don’t want him hired, I just want him interviewed.

-Nice ribbon to tie onto the 2007 calendar year for Baltimore Sports fans, huh?

-Root for me to actually get to Phoenix today. I CAN’T miss the Fiesta Bowl tomorrow like I missed the Insight Bowl. There could be serious problems.

Talk to you tomorrow I hope, but soon I promise.

-G