JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — George Wilson made the shift from wide receiver to defensive back after Dick Jauron took over the Bills. Jauron gave Wilson a viable position, a professional identity. He identified him as a leader. So it was especially difficult for Wilson to see his coach sent packing last week.

"I was on my way out of the league," Wilson said Wednesday. "He saw something in me

throughout our first season together [2006]."

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It's jarring when your protector is taken away. For the Bills' players, it's as if a cover

has been peeled away. Suddenly, in a sport where few contracts are guaranteed and job security

can be razor-thin, a player feels a sudden vulnerability when his coach gets fired.

There will almost surely be a new man in charge, a fresh set of eyes watching films and

judging your place in the NFL. The average player gets a renewed sense of gratitude for his

very job, and maybe a healthy stab of fear, too.

"It's definitely fragile," Wilson said. "That's the nature of this business. Change is

coming. It came today. And it's going to come again in the future, for each and every guy in

this locker room. We have to be very mindful that this is our livelihood.

"A new coach is going to come to be very critical of the tape," he said. "He'll be looking

for ballers. He'll be looking for guys who show the right attitude, the team attitude, the

willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done."

There was an inevitability to Jauron's departure. But every player must feel some measure

of responsibility.

"I can't speak for everybody, but I feel like I had a lot to do with it," said Fred

Jackson, an undrafted running back who got his chance under Jauron. "I feel if I had made more

plays here and there, and got us more wins, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

For now and the next seven weeks, however, Perry Fewell will be making the evaluations.

Starting today against the Jaguars, Fewell gets to live the dream of every NFL assistant

coach. He makes that short but gargantuan move from underling to king.

Like many players, Fewell will be auditioning for his job. You never know with this Bills

organization. Last year, the Bills preached the value of continuity. If Fewell looks like the

second coming of George Halas, maybe Ralph Wilson hands him the job and saves himself the

trouble of blowing up the whole staff.

The chances are extremely remote, however. It's more likely Fewell will be polishing his

resume and making his case to get on the short list for future head jobs elsewhere. I've

always thought he had the makings of a good head coach. Fewell is bright and engaging; he has

an edge and understands defense.

Fewell wasted no time putting his stamp on things. He talked about playing and practicing

with a purpose. He had the Bills in pads Wednesday and Thursday. He said he wouldn't accept

repeated mistakes, and he suggested that the team could use a more passionate demeanor.

"I'm probably a little bit more fired up," Fewell said. "I'm a little bit more emotional,

or a lot more emotional, I would say. Whether they take over those characteristics or not, I

don't know, but I just know that I'm going to get the team to try to focus on one game:

Jacksonville."

Fewell got his start in the NFL here as Jaguars secondary coach in 1998. That will heighten

the emotion even more. The question is whether the players will show up with an equivalent

passion. They ought to be worried. There are few Bills who should feel secure in their

position. Many are overpaid for their production. Others haven't lived up to their draft

status. Several are borderline NFL players who wouldn't play on better teams.

A new coach or GM might notice that Terrell Owens doesn't always go all-out. Some new boss

might wonder how Donte Whitner ever got drafted eighth overall, or why this team has such a

fascination with undersized linebackers, or why Aaron Maybin can't get on the field for a bad

team.

Fewell needs to separate himself from his predecessor and make his mark on a foundering

team. He has a basic dilemma: Does he do everything he can to win now and put the best

possible number on his resume? Or does Fewell do what's in the best long-term interest of a

bad team?

I'd be more impressed if Fewell chose the latter. Improbable as it sounds, he should act

as if he's going to be here next year and play the young guys. The Bills need to find out

about Maybin. They need to see more of James Hardy and Steve Johnson.

Fewell should give Alex Van Pelt the freedom to be more creative. Why not? Play more three-

and four-wideout sets and take your chances with the pass rush. Play more wildcat. Have Ryan

Fitzpatrick run around more. Throw some screens.

And make Jackson the featured back. Splitting carries with Marshawn Lynch isn't working.

Neither back is getting into any sort of rhythm. Jackson earned the right to be the No. 1 guy

early in the season. Find out if he can get back to that level.

These are desperate times for the Bills. A lot of fans have probably written off the last

seven games. But it matters. Good football men will be watching to see if Buffalo is a

worthwhile destination. It'll help if they see players who act as if their careers are at

stake, and a team that cares.