ESPN: Bills talking with Shanahan

ORCHARD PARK, NY (ESPN) - ESPN is reporting that the Buffalo Bills are speaking with former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan to replace Dick Jauron.

Full story below, from EPSN:

One day after firing Dick Jauron, the Bills wasted no time identifying a potential replacement.

Buffalo contacted, and is in the process of arranging a meeting with, former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, according to two NFL sources.

The fact that Buffalo already is targeting and courting Shanahan, and trying to meet with him, is an indication of how strong its interest in him is.

Shanahan is said to be willing to listen to the Bills and has said in the past that he is determined to return to the NFL next season.

But there are other candidates at or near the top of the Bills wish list. For now, the Bills have appointed their former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as their interim head coach. Fewell is well respected within the organization and will be given every opportunity to change his interim title to full-time head coach.

The Bills also will investigate other attractive potential head coaching options that are expected to include Florida Tuskers head coach Jim Haslett and New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, each of whom has ties to the Bills.

Haslett played linebacker for Buffalo from 1979 to 1985, and Gilbride served as the Bills offensive coordinator during 2002-’03, when quarterback Drew Bledsoe had his most productive seasons.

Another candidate on the Bills radar is Marc Trestman, head coach of the Canandian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes, which now have a 15-3 record. Ironically, Trestman once succeeded Shanahan as the offensive coordinator of the 49ers.

At the age of 91, Bills owner Ralph Wilson’s sole focus is on bringing a Super Bowl title to Western New York. Landing Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Broncos, is now viewed within the Bills organization as a major step toward doing it.

But for now, those other candidates will have to wait. Shanahan is free to talk with any team he wants, and the Bills want to – and have – spoken to him, according to sources. There are more conversations, and intrigue, ahead.