Page 21 - ATD 23OCT,2015
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SPORTS A21
Friday 23 October 2015
Gilmore: Bills happy replacing
Doug Marrone with Rex Ryan
JOHN WAWROW available to reporters in to his players this week Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan gives a press conference
AP Sports Writer Jacksonville this week be- — “It’s just another oppo- after an NFL training session at the Grove Hotel in Chandler’s
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) fore the Jaguars left for nent,” he said. Cross, England, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. The Buffalo Bills play the
— In retrospect, corner- England on Thursday. Unlike Ryan’s brash, out- Jacksonville Jaguars at
back Stephon Gilmore He has previously said spoken approach, Mar-
believes Doug Marrone’s he had “two outstand- rone was mercurial. Associated Press
decision to abruptly step ing years in Buffalo,” and Marrone occasionally pro-
down as the Bills head praised the organization for vided terse, one-word an-
coach worked out for the being “outstanding.” Mar- swers following victories. He
best in Buffalo. rone also called his deci- erupted with a profanity-
“He left, so I feel like we up- sion to leave a difficult one, laced tirade at defensive
graded,” Gilmore told The and something he doesn’t end Jerry Hughes on the
Associated Press, noting want to look back upon. final day of training camp
the Bills replaced Marrone Marrone stepped down last year. Two weeks be-
by hiring Rex Ryan. “We’re on Dec. 31 after a three- fore the start of last season,
happy that it happened.” day, end-of-season opt- Marrone had a heated ex-
Gilmore went further, ques- out clause in his contract change along the sideline
tioning Marrone’s loyalty kicked in once the Bills during practice with team
for leaving after a 9-7 sea- were sold in October by president Russ Brandon.
son — Buffalo’s best finish in former owner Ralph Wil- In Jacksonville, Bradley
a decade — and with two son’s estate to Terry and credited Marrone for moti-
years remaining on his con- Kim Pegula. vating his players.
tract. The decision caught many The Jaguars gave Marrone
“When coaches come in, off guard, especially after two new starters — right
they always say ‘being the Bills took a step forward tackle Jeremy Parnell and
loyal.’ And he left unex- a year after a 6-10 finish. center Stefan Wisniewski
pectedly,” Gilmore said. “It Marrone also announced — and the line has played
was kind of a shock. I don’t he wasn’t going anywhere somewhat better this sea-
know what the reason — “You’re stuck with me son. They’ve been solid in
was for, but we’re happy fortunately or unfortunate- pass protection, with Blake
we got Rex. He’s a loyal ly,” he said — following a Bortles getting sacked 17
coach.” 26-24 loss at Oakland on times in six games, but
Gilmore was one of a num- Dec. 21. have struggled with run-
ber of Bills players who last Marrone received a multi- blocking.
week discussed Marrone’s million-dollar buyout in
departure before Buffalo leaving Buffalo. He inter- Jacksonville is the only NFL
(3-3) left for London to play viewed for several head- team without a touchdown
Jacksonville (1-5) on Sun- coaching jobs before rushing, and its running
day. It’s a game in which eventually taking a demo- backs are averaging 3.2
Marrone will be on the oth- tion on Gus Bradley’s staff yards a carry.
er sideline as the Jaguars’ in Jacksonville. “Our guys are doing a de-
assistant head coach and In Buffalo, Marrone was the cent job,” Bradley said.
offensive line coach. subject of criticism. “We just expect more.”
Center Eric Wood said he Safety Aaron Williams post- Bills quarterback EJ Man-
doesn’t hold anything per- ed a comment on Twitter uel, who was benched by
sonally against Marrone, saying, “Lost all respect!” Marrone a month into last
but can understand why Other players took offense season, said he had no
other Bills players would. to Marrone informing them hard feelings toward his
“I’d say there’s going to be of his departure in a mass former coach. By coinci-
some hard feelings in this text message. dence, Manuel will make
locker room toward him in Terry Pegula said he was his second consecutive
the manner he left,” Wood “shocked.” start on Sunday in place of
said. “I think a lot of people And without mentioning Tyrod Taylor, who’s out with
thought we had a good Marrone by name, Ryan a sprained left knee.
thing going and had a lot took a veiled swipe during “I think in this business,
to build on. And it said a his inaugural news confer- sometimes you have to do
lot about what he thought ence by saying Bills fans what’s best for yourself,”
about our situation moving “deserve a loyal coach.” Manuel said last week.
forward that he left.” On Thursday, Ryan said he “That’s what I can say
Marrone was not made hasn’t mentioned Marrone about it.”q
