In the event of an ownership change, Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone was given three days to decide whether he wanted to opt out of his four-year contract.
Wednesday, he took that out.
The second-year coach bailed on the team just three days after posting their best record since 2004, according to Adam Schefter, Adam Caplan and Chris Mortensen. The 50-year-old is now free to sign with any team, unpleasant news to at least a couple Bills players Wednesday.
"Lost all respect! Completely pissed off, but not gonna let it ruin my New Years," safety Aaron Williams said of the news via Twitter.
"Wow ... that caught me off guard for sure," center Eric Wood said.
New owner Terry Pegula, whose purchase of the team made Marrone's move possible, expressed his own displeasure with the news and thanked him for his service.
"We are disappointed that Coach Marrone will no longer be an important part of our organization," Pegula said. "We thank him for all of his hard work and leadership during his tenure and wish him and his family the best with the next chapter in their lives."
Within minutes of the new being broken, reports had already surfaced that the New York Jets, who fired coach Rex Ryan Monday, have expressed interest in Marrone. Marrone was an assistant with Gang Green from 2002-05 for the offensive line.
Other teams with open jobs include the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.
