Buffalo Bills: Is There Actually Friction In the Front Office?
Just how real are the reports that there is friction between the Buffalo Bills front office and the sidelines?
The Buffalo Bills have been off to a quiet start to their offseason, with their biggest notable addition being that of first year head coach Sean McDermott replacing the fired Rex Ryan. But some have speculated that the tepid approach the Bills have taken this offseason has been the result of friction between McDermott and Bills general manager, Doug Whaley.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported last week that the relationship between Whaley and McDermott “likely isn’t built to last” and that McDermott could hire his own front office personnel at some point in the near future depending on how everything works out.
But speaking at the NFL owner’s meeting this week, Bills owner Terry Pegula assured Bills fans that the rumors were nothing more than that—rumors (per ESPN.com):
"“We just spent the afternoon working together, the three of us,” Pegula told reporters. “Those guys get along great. They’ve been making some key decisions, and they work well together.”"
When Pegula was asked specifically about the CBS Sports story, he said the he “didn’t know where that report came from. It’s erroneous.”
McDermott was also surprised by the reports as well. Speaking at the AFC coaches breakfast on Tuesday, McDermott dismissed the reports as merely false rumors, also per ESPN:
"“Like I said at my opening press conference, I’m comfortable with the situation. That hasn’t changed at all. I look forward to working together,” McDermott said."
The trio of Pegula, McDermott, and Whaley will have to work well together soon. The draft is coming up in four weeks and Pegula has said that the decision on who the Bills select at No. 10 overall will be a group decision, again from the comments per ESPN.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft: Ideal Fits for 30 Top Prospects
This will be the last time the Bills front office speaks to the media until after the draft. Doug Whaley was not available to reporters this week and won’t be until the draft concludes, which is something he has done in recent years.