Gas2No99 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Bills owner Terry Pegula fired Rex Ryan when asked about future 7:04 PM ET Mike RodakESPN Staff Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula decided to fire Rex Ryan when the coach asked about his future beyond this season after a weekly conference call last Tuesday. "I was asked a point-blank question, and based on the discussions we've been having all year, I felt it was better to tell Rex we were going in a different direction," Pegula told The Associated Press in an interview Monday. In his season-ending news conference Monday, Bills general manager Doug Whaley denied having any involvement in Ryan's firing last week, insisting he was not aware of why Ryan was fired. "We just finished our weekly phone conversation with Terry, myself and Rex," Whaley said of Ryan's firing last Tuesday. "Rex asked to speak to [Pegula] privately. After that, I was informed that Rex would no longer be our coach. I wasn't privy to the conversation so I cannot get into those details. "I look at it this way: I'm the GM of the football operation. I was told by my boss that I would no longer be working with a certain person. My role is not to figure out why. My role is to take that information and go forward and put this organization in the best possible way to win football games. So for me, I did not ask." Pegula told the AP that Whaley had input throughout the season on the Bills' problems but never had a conversation with ownership about whether Ryan would be fired. The Bills' owner also disputed any idea of dysfunction within the organization, saying everybody was "on the same page. We're busy busting our asses." Pegula has not answered questions from local reporters since Ryan's introductory news conference in January 2015. He issued a five-sentence statement when Ryan was fired, wishing Ryan well and expressing disappointment in a season that ended Sunday with a 7-9 record. Whaley, however, said Monday he "speak for the ownership and the team president" in holding his NFL-mandated season-ending news conference. Asked how he can speak for ownership about Ryan's firing if he did not know why Ryan was fired by ownership, Whaley said, "I can't give you the particulars of what happened in that conversation; I can just tell you that I was informed that he was not going to be our coach going forward." Both Ryan and Whaley reported directly to Pegula under the Bills' organizational structure last season. Whaley said he does not know if that structure will remain in place when the Bills hire their next coach. The Bills announced last week that Whaley, who will enter his fifth season as Bills general manager in 2017, will lead the team's coaching search. Whaley was assistant general manager in 2013 when the Bills hired Doug Marrone, and Whaley said Monday he was part of a "committee approach" when Ryan was hired in 2015. "This one will fall squarely on my shoulders, with the help of [player personnel director] Jim Monos," he said. "So we're going to approach it that way and I have full confidence in myself and the plan that we have in place that we're going to go out and get the best guy for the Buffalo Bills." Despite leading the search, Whaley said the Pegulas will have final say over who becomes the Bills' next coach. Team president Russ Brandon will not be involved, a decision Whaley attributed to Brandon's "expanding role" with the Pegulas' other businesses. Whaley disagreed with speculation that he did not cooperate well with Ryan or Marrone during their tenures as Bills coaches. He also brushed off the idea that him remaining as general manager will deter candidates who would want final say over the Bills' roster. "I have full confidence in my reputation in the league circles," Whaley said. "Not, obviously, in media circles, but in league circles, that would not be prohibitive." The Bills have requested permission to interview Arizona Cardinalsoffensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, sources told ESPN. Interim coach Anthony Lynn will interview with the Los Angeles Ramsand the San Francisco 49ers, sources said, and is expected to keep his options open outside of Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen X Jet Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 You wonder how Pegula earned all that money when a Jet fan with an IQ of 80 could tell him Rex would be an utter failure two years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas2No99 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 So it seems the Bills, with their Football novice owners, seem to have the same structure as Woody has with the Jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas2No99 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 1 minute ago, Gen X Jet said: You wonder how Pegula earned all that money when a Jet fan with an IQ of 80 could tell him Rex would be an utter failure two years ago. Energy and Real Estate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanatic Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 1 hour ago, Gas2No99 said: So it seems the Bills, with their Football novice owners, seem to have the same structure as Woody has with the Jets. More teams than you think have this setup, as a matter of fact the Giants also have this setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 the owners make 95% of the decisions, or at the very least approve them, at the GM/HC/QB level Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas2No99 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 13 minutes ago, JetsFanatic said: More teams than you think have this setup, as a matter of fact the Giants also have this setup. I'm VERY well aware of that. I just think it's interesting since the argument made 'round these parts is that BECAUSE Woody has this set-up and BECAUSE he's NOT named Rooney, Mara, Jerry Jones, Spanos, etc. than this specific type of structure is the setup for failure because you have "football idiot" owners dictating the hiring and firing - as opposed to vetted "football people". So, by that rationale, the Bills are even MORE Fanooked than the Jets since the Pegulas (yes plural, b/c the Mrs. has a say as well in deciding matters) are not a football family dynasty (but do own other Pro teams). At least Woody has 16 NFL years experience over them in ownership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thadude Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 1 hour ago, Gen X Jet said: You wonder how Pegula earned all that money when a Jet fan with an IQ of 80 could tell him Rex would be an utter failure two years ago. Terry Pegula is billionaire in the energy industry. His big thing is fracking. And btw, it's not Terry Pegula who is making the decisions it's his hot Korean Wife Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thadude Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 17 minutes ago, JetsFanatic said: More teams than you think have this setup, as a matter of fact the Giants also have this setup. The Owners pay for everything ofcourse they make 90% of the decisions. Which is why the Jets won't make the playoffs again until Woody decides to sell the team to someone with a brain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanatic Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 9 minutes ago, Gas2No99 said: I'm VERY well aware of that. I just think it's interesting since the argument made 'round these parts is that BECAUSE Woody has this set-up and BECAUSE he's NOT named Rooney, Mara, Jerry Jones, Spanos, etc. than this specific type of structure is the setup for failure because you have "football idiot" owners dictating the hiring and firing. So, by that rationale, the Bills are even MORE Fanooked than the Jets since the Pegulas (yes plural, b/c the Mrs. has a say as well in deciding matters) are not a football family dynasty (but do own other Pro teams). At least Woody has 16 NFL years experience over them in ownership. Nobody was complaining about this setup coming off a 10-6 season last year. We have a bad season and now the sky is falling. I'm glad Woody didn't do a knee-jerk and fire Bowles. Bowles/Mac inherited a bad 4-12 team and it's going to take time to build. I like Mac as I think he has added some nice young talent to this team and has drafted reasonably well. I thought Bowles could have done a better job this year, but he was only in his 2nd year and I believe he deserved a 3rd especiailly since he won 10 games in his first season. That said, I guarantee they sign a vet QB as they have to show inmprovement next season and although I think Mac still feels Hackenberg can develop he is not going to trust his job security on him in 2017. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SayNoToDMC Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 At least he fired his sh*tty coach. He seems to be ahead of Woody on the learning curve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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