The Bills made changes at coach and General Manager this offseason and, as you’d expect, the team’s owner expects some other changes to come as a result of those moves.
Owner Terry Pegula’s team ended the 2016 season, their 17th straight without a postseason bid, with reports of organizational dysfunction surrounding their decision to fire head coach Rex Ryan and then fired General Manager Doug Whaley right after the draft. That didn’t do much to generate respect around the league and Pegula said Wednesday that he expects that to change under new coach Sean McDermott and General Manager Brandon Beane.
“My expectation is that we earn some respect on the field,” Pegula said, via NewYorkUpstate.com. “I believe that that’s important. Then wherever it falls, it falls. I really believe that. . . . Earning respect and working hard and that will translate into wins.”
Pegula’s expectation for getting respect appears to be a more pressing one than those wins. He praised McDermott for being a “diligent planner” and that the coach has found “a good way to start” by bringing in players who share his beliefs.
Until those wins come and come consistently, however, the respect level for the Bills will always have space to grow.