Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan said publicly that it was his decision to fire offensive coordinator Greg Roman after Thursday night’s loss to the New York Jets. But is that what happened privately?
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula met with several key offensive players on Friday to get an idea of how they felt about Roman and the direction of the offense. Ryan was not present for any of the meetings, and he was reportedly “not pleased” when he learned the nature of them.
Ryan claims he made the decision to fire Roman and then informed the Pegulas about it. One source told Rapoport the Pegulas met with players, including quarterback Tyrod Taylor, to confirm that Ryan was considering firing Roman after Buffalo’s Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Another source claimed the owners brought the idea to Ryan after the meetings.
What does it all mean? At the very least, the supposed lack of communication between Ryan and the Pegulas could indicate that there is trouble in paradise. It’s well known that Ryan is on the hot seat, and he can’t be feeling like he has much support from his bosses if they’re holding secret meetings with the players.
For the time being, Roman was merely a scapegoat. The Bills are off to an 0-2 start, and one of the team’s most beloved legends indicated before the season that Ryan could be on the chopping block. If Buffalo misses the playoffs, Ryan is almost certain to be fired. If the losing streak continues, the move could come sooner rather than later.
