Bills’ Situation Unfolds Amid Criticism
The aftermath of the blame game in Buffalo keeps unfolding.
In a heated press conference on Wednesday, Bills owner Terry Pegula criticized receiver Keon Coleman and the coaching staff, prompting former center Eric Wood to discuss Coleman’s recent struggles. Fans are curious about how the young player, just 22, will recover from this situation.
“He knows he’s in a tough spot right now. He’s been late to meetings so often that he ended up benched. Being late isn’t a small issue. Honestly, his effort has been lacking too. He’s faced this criticism himself, and now it’s time for him to own it. There’s still a chance for him, you know…” Wood mentioned. He had a solid nine-year career with the Bills, beginning in 2009.
Despite the support from some Bills fans for Coleman, Wood emphasized that the responsibility lies with Coleman himself.
“If he doesn’t show up on time and keeps facing the same issues, he’ll keep getting criticized. Maybe if he feels too young for this, he could’ve stayed in college,” he tweeted on Thursday.
Coleman, drafted in the second round of 2024, had a decent season, although it ended with a tough playoff loss. Two days later, head coach Sean McDermott was let go.
During the recent press conference, Pegula took a moment to defend general manager Brandon Beane, who was promoted to president of football operations around the same time McDermott was released.
“Can I jump in?” Pegula said. “Here’s where we are with Keon. The coaching staff really wanted him in the draft. I’m not saying Brandon didn’t have a say, but he wasn’t necessarily the top option. Brandon was being a team player, following the coaches’ strong recommendations.”
Coleman finished the season with only 38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns across 13 games.
Beane took the blame for drafting Coleman, saying, “The problem isn’t about his on-field performance.”
“It’s more about maturity, and that’s something he has to acknowledge,” Beane commented. “I respect that he’s facing the issue head-on without making excuses. It’s curious, because this time last year, we thought he was on an upward path. Then he got injured, and honestly, we were a bit let down by his comeback.”
This week, disappointment loomed large in Buffalo after yet another early playoff departure.
The somber atmosphere in the Bills’ locker room following a 33-30 overtime loss to the Broncos was enough for Pegula to decide a coaching change was needed.
The team has started looking for a replacement for McDermott, including discussions with current offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former OC Brian Daboll.
Anthony Lynn, the Commanders’ run game coordinator and running backs coach with ties to the Bills, is set to meet with the organization on Saturday.
