There is "every indication" from within the Bills organization that the club is "settled" on sticking with interim coach Anthony Lynn beyond Sunday's season finale, according to Vic Carucci of the BUFFALO NEWS. While the Bills "apparently intend to interview candidates to replace" Rex Ryan as head coach, it is "hard to imagine them putting forth an exhaustive, no-stone-left-unturned effort into finding his replacement." Bills GM Doug Whaley also is leading the search process, "which implies he is going to remain in his job." The list of those "willing to accept the conditions that go with working with him will be limited" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/29). Lynn said, "As far as the permanent head-coaching job, I'm really not thinking that far down the road because I don't want to miss anything right now. I want to stay in the now." He added, "I want to be the guy here, make no mistake about it." Carucci notes Bills Exec VP/Media & Content Mark Preisler was present for Lynn's first news conference as interim head coach and was "carefully observing how Lynn handled himself, because representing the team in such settings is an important consideration in the hiring process" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/29).
CIRCUS IS IN TOWN: In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan notes Lynn's first presser was "not exactly a public relations triumph." It was, "quite predictably, the latest installment in the Pegulas' amateur hour production as pro sports owners." The presser got off to a "rough start when he was asked who would be his starting quarterback in Sunday's finale." He blurted out Cardale Jones, then corrected himself and said it would be EJ Manuel. Initially, Lynn called it a "business decision." When questioned moments later, he said it was "our decision." However, when asked if the move was made to avoid a massive hit on the '17 salary cap in the event of a major injury to QB Tyrod Taylor, Lynn replied, "I wasn't in the meeting when that decision was made, so I don't know." Sullivan notes management "sent Lynn out there alone Wednesday for his first media session." Whaley "wasn't there to answer questions." Neither was team President Russ Brandon, who "surely had some input in the decision to whack Rex." Bills Owners Kim and Terry Pegula "weren't there, either." At this point, fans "assume the owners won't show their faces in a crisis." Sullivan: "They needed to do better than this. ... I felt sorry for Lynn." The club "didn't have the basic smarts to involve him in the decision so he wouldn't have to stumble over the question later." This is how the Bills have "conducted themselves" during a 17-year playoff drought. Club officials act with "foolish desperation and try to pass it off as visionary planning" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/29). In Rochester, Sal Maiorana writes being invisible seems to be Whaley’s "primary skill." Maiorana describes Whaley as the "ultimate Teflon man" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 12/29).
POWER IS POWER PERCEIVED: ESPN’s Joe Banner said of the Bills, “When you're going into the market to hire a head coach, which is the most important thing you'll do for the franchise for a number of years, you've got to be aware of the optics of what you're doing. ... You cannot hear that (Lynn) wasn't even in the meeting (about starting Manuel) and think that they're selling themselves in a very effective way. It's shocking to me the lack of awareness of the optics." ESPN’s Adam Caplan said, “There's a reason why this organization has not been to the playoffs for 17 years. Let's call it like it is." ESPN’s Jim Trotter added, “If you're talking to people around the league, they are scratching their heads on this. ... This is a dumpster fire from the standpoint that they have no leadership there. ... Ownership should have been out front on this" ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 12/28). CBS Sports' Brandon Tierney said, "It's already shaping up, I think, to be a colossal mess now, starting with the fact the GM Doug Whaley will have full autonomy throughout the hiring process. … That's the last thing I really want to hear if I’m a Bills fan. The only way the Bills, I think, will attract a big name that is a potential difference maker as a head coach is for the incoming coach to have complete say on all personnel decisions" ("Time to Schein," CBS Sports Net, 12/28).
MOVING ON: In Buffalo, Nick Veronica writes, "Sure, players were sad to see Ryan go." They "felt bad that it happened, and partially responsible." However, if the "vibe in Bill's locker room Wednesday had to be described in one word, it would be acceptance" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/29).
