Buffalo fires GM, scout staff

Whether it was sitting together in a golf cart watching training camp or sharing dinner and drinks at a nearby restaurant, Bills owner Terry Pegula and general manager Doug Whaley were nearly inseparable last summer.

Some nine months later, their professional relationship soured to such an extent that Pegula fired Whaley and his entire scouting staff Sunday.

The decision was reached shortly after the two met at 8 a.m., a day following the NFL draft, and it completed a frontoffice purge that began with head coach Rex Ryan being fired in the final week of last season.

Pegula’s voice cracked briefly with emotion when discussing the latest move, saying: “There were a few tears around the building, to be honest with you. He’s a good guy.”

But not good enough to keep his job, with Pegula saying he reached the conclusion following a lengthy offseason review.

The shakeup further solidifies the influence that rookie head coach Sean McDermott has gained in the three months since being hired.

Pegula said the timing coincided with the end of the draft, but he declined to detail the reasons why the overhaul was necessary. Nor would Pegula explain his reasoning for showing Whaley the door while praising the collaborative approach that took place between the GM and McDermott in the draft room. It’s a deal: Stanford wide receiver Francis Owusu, passed over in the NFL draft, reportedly has agreed to a free-agent contract with the Dolphins. He had 34 catches over four seasons with the Cardinal . ... Former Cal linebacker Hardy Nickerson, who played at Illinois last season after three seasons with the Bears, reportedly agreed to a free-agent deal with the Bengals . ... Former Bellarmine Prep standout Kenneth Olugbode, a Colorado linebacker, reportedly agreed to terms with the Browns.