Doug Marrone won't coach a down for the Buffalo Bills in 2015, but he will maintain at least one connection with the team. The team will pay its ex-coach his $4 million salary for the year ahead, no matter what he ends up doing for work in 2015, according to Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.
Doug Marrone got $4 million to voluntarily leave the Bills
The Bills will be paying their former head coach $4 million next season no matter what he does next.
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Marrone opted out of his contract with the Bills Wednesday, invoking his right to do so within the three-day window written into the deal. His contract also included language that guaranteed his 2015 salary if he opted out with no offset language, meaning the $4 million due to him will not be counted toward any coaching contract he signs for 2015.
So why did his contract include such a lucrative clause allowing him to opt out and keep paying his salary for the year? The Buffalo News reported in 2013, when the Bills hired him, that the op-out clause was included to give him some protection in case the team was sold during his tenure. Owner Ralph Wilson died in March 2014, and the team was sold to Terry and Kim Pegula this fall.
But team officials never expected him to use the clause, at least not as anything more than a device to leverage a richer contract, an extension, more control over the roster, etc.
That’s reportedly what caused Marrone to take flight from Buffalo.
League source: Marrone asked Pegulas for an extension and was told no. He then asked for extensions for his assistants and was told no.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) December 31, 2014 Marrone's name was popping up in the rumor mill minutes after the news broke about his decision. He's already considered a "favorite" for the New York Jets' head coaching position. With an extra $4 million from the Pegulas coming in no matter what the Jets, or any other team, pays him, Marrone will join Bill Belichick, Sean Payton and the rest of the NFL's highest paid coaches.
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