Among the first series of roster cuts this week, one of the most surprising moves around the NFL was the Bills’ decision to part ways with running Fred Jackson, who had been a key contributor for the club since 2007. As he tells Bucky Gleason of The Buffalo News, Jackson was shocked by the move, which he called “a tough pill to swallow,” since conversations with GM Doug Whaley had led him to believe he’d have a major role on the team in 2015.
“Doug Whaley was behind it, to my knowledge,” Jackson said. “He wasn’t honest with me the entire time that I’ve known him. I have the utmost respect for the organization. There’s only one person in that organization that I haven’t gotten honesty from, and that was him.”
While head coach Rex Ryan decides who plays on Sundays, making decisions like the one to name Tyrod Taylor the Bills’ starting quarterback, Whaley has the final say on the team’s 53-man roster. And according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter), the GM “went rogue” when it came to Jackson’s release.
As Graham explains (via Twitter), Whaley spoke with Terry and Kim Pegula before he cut Jackson, and the Bills’ owners were surprised, but supported the GM’s call. However, many key people within the football operations department and on the coaching staff didn’t know the move was coming, tweets Graham. It’s not clear if Ryan was among that group.
While Jackson may not be pleased with how his time in Buffalo ended, it appears he won’t have to wait long to find a new NFL home. He didn’t immediately sign with the Seahawks after visiting the team on Tuesday, but Seattle has interest, and so does Baltimore.