Phillips: Lots To Do To Bring the Bills Back

Wade Phillips succeeded retired Marv Levy as coach of the Buffalo Bills on Monday and made it clear the team has a long road back to the Super Bowl.

“This isn’t a Super Bowl team,” Phillips said. “We have a big job to do, and we know that.”

The Bills were 6-10 this season.

Sources said Phillips signed a four-year contract at $750,000-$800,000 a season.

He immediately made linebacker coach Ted Cottrell his defensive coordinator.

*

Oakland has received permission from the New York Jets to talk to defensive coordinator Bill Belichick about replacing Coach Joe Bugel, the Contra Costa Times reported.

Bugel has not been fired, though he led Oakland to a 4-12 record.

*

Doctors have cleared Garrison Hearst, San Francisco’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 1992, for practice after he missed four games because of a broken collarbone. . . . The NFL fined the Miami Dolphins $40,000 after officials suspected guard Jeff Buckey had silicone on his jersey during a game Dec. 7. . . . Denver defensive tackle Keith Traylor played in Sunday’s playoff win over Kansas City less than 48 hours after his mother, Vernistine, died of heart failure. . . . Minnesota receiver Chris Walsh was charged with drunken driving Saturday when he was stopped only an hour after returning from a playoff loss in San Francisco.