1:19pm: Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News has contradicted his colleague’s report, citing a source who says Pegula did not issue a one-year ultimatum to Ryan and Whaley. The Bills and Whaley are reportedly working on an extension.
As I noted below, even if the Bills eventually do consider making changes a year from now, it would be unusual for such an ultimatum to be issued and reported at this point.
10:08am: Bills owner Terry Pegula announced last week that head coach Rex Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley would be returning to the team for the 2016 season. However, the duo shouldn’t get too comfortable in Buffalo just yet.
According to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, Pegula has issued an ultimatum of sorts to Ryan and Whaley: If they can’t make the necessary improvements to the Bills to get the club into the postseason, they’ll be let go after the 2016 season.
The fact that Ryan and Whaley will enter the 2016 season in playoffs-or-bust mode perhaps doesn’t come as a real surprise, especially since Whaley has just one year left on his contract. The club had expected to make it into the postseason this year, and neither the head coach nor the GM was considered safe until Pegula’s announcement last week, so it makes sense that the Bills would explore other options if the team underachieves again in 2016. Still, it’s rare that this sort of ultimatum is reported so early, and so definitively.
While Ryan, who has four years remaining on the contract he signed last January with the Bills, will get at least one more season in Buffalo, the same can’t be said for all of his assistant coaches. A source tells Carucci that at least two changes will be made to Ryan’s coaching staff, though there are “strong indications” that defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman is safe.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
While I respect the decision to give them another season I have to wonder how this will play out and potentially impact the Bills future. Will they draft the best player in round one or do they take a guy who can help immediately. Do they overpay for players and mortgage the future just to make the playoffs?
Unless it’s a QB (which it won’t be), round 1 draft picks always play right away.
Whaley shouldn’t be on the hot seat. Besides Manuel, which was a Nicks pick, e has done well with the draft. Then, he signed Taylor to cover up for the Manuel miss. So I don’t know why any ultimatum and not an extension hasn’t been handed to him. It’s not like people are falling over themselves to get to Buffalo and take that job.
Ryan was a bad choice to begin with. The strength of the Bills had been on defense. Ryan comes in, defense tumbles, offense is horrid.
When has Rex Ryan ever won as a head coach?