 | CONNELL GRANGE SUPPLY WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS STILL THE COMPANY |
|
Printable Page
01/21 09:52 CST Bills owner feels team hit 'proverbial wall' after latest
playoff loss
Bills owner feels team hit 'proverbial wall' after latest playoff loss
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) --- Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula felt his team hit
what he called "the proverbial wall" in leading to his decision to abruptly
fire coach Sean McDermott this week.
Speaking at a season-ending news conference on Wednesday, Pegula said he made
up his mind immediately following a 33-30 overtime loss to Denver in a
divisional playoff on Saturday. He based his decision in part on seeing how
distraught many Bills players, including quarterback Josh Allen, appeared in
the locker room in the aftermath of the loss.
"I saw the pain in Josh's face at his (press conference). And I felt his pain,"
Pegula said. "I know we can can do better. And I know we will get better."
Pegula then listed off many of Buffalo's more memorable playoff defeats over
the nine seasons under McDermott.
"It was where does the leadership of the team on the field and in the locker
room, where do we go from that moment --- another playoff failure," Pegula
said. "That's why I decided Sean had to leave."
Pegula spoke at the podium alongside general manager Brandon Beane, who was
promoted in adding the title of president of football operations. And it's now
on Beane to lead Buffalo's first coaching search since McDermott took over in
2017 after two seasons under Rex Ryan.
The coaching search process has already begun, with the Bills already set to
interview several candidates including former Giants coach and Buffalo's
offensive coordinator Brian Daboll; Commanders running backs coach Anthony
Lynn, who finished the 2016 season as Buffalo's interim coach; and Bills
current offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Pegula said Allen had no input in McDermott's firing, but added the quarterback
will play a role in the coaching search.
Pegula opened the news conference by crediting McDermott for transforming a
franchise that had endured a 17-season playoff drought into a perennial winner.
"We all remember the playoff drought before Sean got here," Pegula said. "Sean
has definitely left the Buffalo Bills in a better place than when he arrived in
2017. He gave his heart and soul trying to win a championship."
Despite a 98-50 regular-season record, and seven straight double-digit-win
seasons, McDermott dropped to 8-8 in the playoffs. Each of Buffalo's past three
postseason losses were decided by three points.
Buffalo ended the drought in 2017 and reached the playoffs in eight of nine
seasons. What was missing was a Super Bowl berth, with the Bills losing the AFC
title game twice, both times to Kansas City.
The Bills became the NFL's first team to win a playoff round in six straight
years but not reach the Super Bowl.
The lack of playoff success wore on Pegula.
"It was one year after another. I just couldn't see us doing that with Sean,"
Pegula said. "It's not an easy decision trust me with that success. But what is
success? Is it being in the playoffs seven years in a row with no Super Bowl."
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
