Bills give Ryan heave-ho after latest loss
Fitzpatrick returns to lineup after Petty injury
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Rex Ryan’s inability to back up his boasts of building a bully — particularly on defense — in Buffalo led to the Bills firing their high-profile coach one game short of completing his second full season.
Terry Pegula, who made Ryan’s hiring his first big splash as owner, was the person who informed Ryan of his dismissal Tuesday. The decision came three days after a 34-31 overtime loss to Miami which eliminated Buffalo (7-8) from contention, and extended the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to 17 years.
“We mutually agreed that that the time to part ways is now,” Pegula said in a statement released by the team. “These decisions are never easy.”
Pegula then noted his wife in saying: “Kim and I and our entire Bills organization share in the same disappointment and frustration as our fans, but we remain committed to our goal of bringing a championship to western New York.”
Ryan had three years remaining on his contract.
General manager Doug Whaley’s job appears secure after being put in charge of the Bills coaching search, the team’s third in four years. Buffalo is also moving on to its eighth coach since the playoff drought began during Wade Phillips’ final year as coach in 2000.
Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn will coach the Bills in their season finale at the New York Jets (4-11) on Sunday.
Lynn, a long-time Ryan assistant, was promoted to coordinator in September, when Ryan fired Greg Roman after an 0-2 start.
The 54-year-old Ryan appeared emotionally drained during a 20-minute news conference Monday.
Also, the AP has learned that Buffalo intends to start backup quarterback EJ Manuel in place of Tyrod Taylor for their finale.
COWBOYS: Owner Jerry Jones hinted that defensive end Randy Gregory might be unavailable for the playoffs.
Jones isn’t worried about any rust Gregory may have after missing almost a year, rather that the NFL may issue a year-long suspension to Gregory for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy yet again.
“I don’t want to speculate,” Jones said. “I’m just saying as excited as I am about Gregory, I want to temper it a little bit.”
Gregory returned Monday night against Detroit after serving a 14-game suspension this season for violating the substance-abuse policy multiple times, and is facing another suspension for a failed drug test that is under appeal.
Jones expects Gregory to play in the regular-season finale next Sunday at Philadelphia, but seemed unsure if the Cowboys would have him available in the playoffs.
TITANS: Quarterback Marcus Mariota went on injured reserve and Tennessee promoted quarterback Alex Tanney from the practice squad.
Mariota broke his right fibula in Saturday’s 38-17 loss to Jacksonville, and Mariota is scheduled for surgery today in Charlotte, N.C. Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Mariota will need four to five months in recovery.
JETS: Coach Todd Bowles is turning back to Ryan Fitzpatrick to start at quarterback against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday rathern than give Christian Hackenberg a late-season look in a game that means nothing in the standings for the 4-11 team.
VIKINGS: Several zinc panels on Minnesota’s new $1.1 billion stadium have come loose. A spokeswoman for the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority says high winds Monday caused several panels on U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis to break loose. No one was hurt. The area has been cordoned off.
RANKINGS: First-place New England received 11 of 12 first-place votes in this week’s Pro32 poll. Dallas got the other first-place vote and remains in second place.