ICYMI: Happy New Year: Doug Marrone Walks Away from Bills

Raise your hand if you thought the Buffalo Bills would be looking for a new coach after their 1st winning season since 2004?

Yeah, nobody else did either.

Now former Bills head coach Doug Marrone took advantage of a 4-day window to opt out of his contract with his team Wednesday night and walked away. He...or his agent had the clause put in his original contract in case the team was sold. Which happened this fall.

It surprised his players, observers and others. But don't expect Marrone, who has been very successful in rebuilding the Bills team in his two seasons as head coach. He'd been trying to negotiate a contract extension with new owner Terry Pegula, but apparently that discussion was not getting very far.

And, despite his choice to walk away, Marrone will still get his $4 million dollar payday from Buffalo whether he coaches or not. And most think that is exactly what will happen. Speculation has already begun he will interview in New York with the Jets, a team he spent time with as an offensive line coach.

As for the Bills, they have plenty of options as well. Already we'd say the leader in the clubhouse would be former Bills QB Frank Reich, currently a quarterbacks coach in San Diego.

But we could be wrong.

Here's coverage from our surprised friends at WIVB-TV

Bills Fight Again At Camp, Marrone Upset At Bills Fighting Again At Camp

((HT: The Fumble Sports))

Another day, another fight at Bills camp...

At least, they're feisty...

This time, center Eric Wood and rookie defensive end Bryan Johnson exchanged punches at the end of a play during goal line drills.
Here's Crystal Marie with a look


Head coach Doug Marrone said he has no place for fighting in camp and on his team. He ripped into the team after the Wood-Johnson fight and had them run sprints as a reminder how much Marrone didn't like what was going on.

Bills Look To Hire Marrone

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

Here's an interesting one that is also quite economical...

The Buffalo Bills are bringing in Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone to take over for the dismissed Chan Gailey...

Commence chin rub...

New Bills CEO Russ Brandon texted reporter Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper late Sunday morning saying that the deal was "mostly done but not complete."

Whatever that means...

Marrone leaves Syracuse University where he's spent the last four years as head coach- going 25-25. He does have an NFL pedigree. He was the Offensive Coordinator for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-08. Before that, he was the New York Jets O-Line coach for four years.

Okay, here's what that looks like...

The Bills still aren't saying anything official, though...