Brian Billick said yesterday that he still has never been given an explanation for why he was fired as Ravens coach by owner Steve Bisciotti on Dec. 31, a day after the Ravens finished their 5-11 season.
In his first expansive local interviews since being fired, Billick told two Baltimore radio stations - WBAL and ESPN 1300 - "it was a shock" to be dismissed because he got a commitment from the team that he would return for the 2008 season.
"It did change, and it changed in a day," Billick said. "Don't know why. Haven't had that conversation, and don't know that I ever will. But I certainly respect that Steve Bisciotti has that right, and it did catch me off-guard because of what had been said before both privately and publicly. But I will very much understand that that is the right of an owner, and he's doing what he thinks is in the best interest of the organization."
The Ravens gave him indications he would come back even during the days leading up to the final game, Billick said.
But a day after the season ended, Billick said he recognized "what was going on." His final meeting with Bisciotti was "relatively short."
"Once I saw the resolve in Steve's mind - and he knows what he wants - there was no use in going round and round," Billick said. "Steve has been a good partner and will be someone that I'll want to interact with going forward. I have no hesitation about that whatsoever."
In the midst of the Ravens' nine-game losing streak last season, a high-ranking team official told The Sun that Bisciotti had informed Billick he would return, saying the owner understood injuries and poor quarterback play were the reasons for the dismal season.
Asked whether he specifically told Billick he would come back, Bisciotti said after firing his coach: "There were indications but no promises."
In speaking for five hours yesterday, Billick laid out a busy future.
He is co-writing a book about the state of the NFL. He is looking at television and radio opportunities. And he just returned from visiting U.S. troops in Iraq.
Billick also seems inclined to return to coaching in 2009, though he doesn't need to do so financially. After signing a new contract with the Ravens before last season, he has three years remaining on his deal that will pay him $15 million to $18 million.
"The instinct is to say I'm not done coaching," said Billick, reiterating that he will stay in Maryland, where he is building a home on the Eastern Shore. "Whether I'll be sought after, whether someone will think my abilities warrant looking at or whether there's the right match for me out there, we don't know. I've got to take the approach going forward to find something that can engage my background as a teacher. I'm going to be around the game in one form or fashion."
In nine seasons with the Ravens, Billick finished as Baltimore's all-time winningest NFL coach, leaving with an 80-64 record. He guided the Ravens to their first Super Bowl title in January 2001.
But recent problems - struggles on offense, two losing seasons in three years, an upset loss this season to the winless Miami Dolphins and rumored discontent in the locker room - seemed to lead to Billick's firing.
Asked about reports that disgruntled players talked to management to force him out, Billick said: "That's typical when you go through some of the difficulties. It's part of the game. It's not something I'm going to dwell on."
Billick disputed the notion that the Ravens needed a new voice.
"The 13-3 voice seemed to work out OK," Billick said, referring to the Ravens' 2006 record. "I'm very proud how this team always competed every Sunday."
Billick said he waited to speak publicly until yesterday because he wanted to give the Ravens time to make their transition.
The Ravens replaced Billick with John Harbaugh, a coach endorsed by his predecessor.
"John Harbaugh is a good man," Billick said. "He will do well here."
Billick also wouldn't rule out seeing the Ravens rebound to become a playoff team in 2008.
"If those guys can come back healthy as compared to last year, I see no reason why they can't continue to be that good," he said. "If they go through a rash of injuries like we did, then it's going to be bit of an uphill battle."
Though he made his rounds on radio yesterday, Billick has turned down repeated requests for interviews from The Sun.
"[The Sun] took a very clear-cut approach - which is their right, and I understand that - that we're going to make that uncomfortable for him, and my picture was on the front of that sports page just about every day," he said. "That was what they chose to pursue, and that's their right. Why I would interact with them now, I don't know why I would do that."
jamison.hensley@baltsun.com
Sun reporter Edward Lee contributed to this article.