The Bills in-season coaching search took another turn tonight, this time in the wrong direction, as former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher rebuffed Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson and his overtures to bring Cowher in for an interview with the club.

This comes on the heels of reports that indicated a push by the Bills to bring in former Denver head coach Mike Shanahan, along with several intriguing rumors surrounding Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis and a potential fit for him in Buffalo. For the time being, the Bills are remaining tight lipped on their search, but given all the leaks springing up across the board, there’s no doubt that something big is afoot in western New York.

Cowher has repeatedly declined offers to return to the NFL as a head coach, preferring instead to focus on his family and his position with CBS’ The NFL Today on Sunday afternoon. That said, those close to the coach have said that the desire to coach again still burns deep within Cowher, and it’s simply a matter of him wanting to find the best opportunity possible for himself and his family.

One such locale would be Carolina, as Panthers head coach John Fox certainly isn’t out of the woods as of yet in terms of retaining his job. If he is removed from the position, you can bet that the first person to be called will be Cowher, who holds strong ties to the area with his permanent home being located reasonably close to Charlotte in Raleigh, NC.

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