Bills fire general manager Doug Whaley
Bills fire General Manager Doug Whaley one day removed from NFL Draft
The Buffalo Bills announced early Sunday morning that feneral manager Doug Whaley has been relieved of his duties.
Oddly enough, Whaley signed a contract extension with the team in January of 2016. Whaley still had three years left on his contract, but following the hire of Sean McDermott, the organization looks to be moving in a different direction. The decision comes a few months removed from the firing of head coach Rex Ryan, whom Whaley hired.
Statement from Bills Owner Terry Pegula. pic.twitter.com/k6WwmuyM3L
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 30, 2017
Ultimately, Whaley possessed a 30-34 record over four seasons as general manager. The team’s best record under Whaley’s guidance came in 2014, a year in which Buffalo went 9-7. Despite a winning record, the Bills missed the playoffs.
Whaley failed to reach the postseason during his tenure. The Bills saw the franchise’s playoff drought extend to 17 consecutive seasons.
Whaley’s tenure with the Bills has been coated with controversies. Following his hiring in Buffalo from Pittsburgh in 2010, inappropriate emails between he and Steelers assistant Larry Zierlein were brought to the surface. Whaley forwarded a sexually explicit video to Zierlein, who sent the email to Steelers and league officials.
Neither coach was disciplined, but Whaley gained a tarnished reputation regardless. In May 2016, Whaley came under question again following remarks on player safety in a radio interview.
As a result, Whaley issued a public apology and noted his poor word choice on the matter. Most recently, Whaley became subject to questioning following the benching of quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor, who signed a six-year deal with Buffalo in 2016, was benched due to an injury clause in his contract. Furthermore, Whaley has been silent on all matters January.
Newly appointed head coach Sean McDermott has conducted all interviews formerly done by Whaley in recent months.
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Whaley’s firing comes as no surprise to those in Buffalo. However, Buffalo will now be pressed to find a general manager before the start of training camp.