It shocked much of the NFL world when Doug Marrone opted out of his contract to be head coach of the Buffalo Bills on last New Year's Eve. Bills fans and the organization's newly-minted owners, the Pegulas, likely viewed it as something of an embarrassing development for a franchise that hasn't had much to smile about since the team last made the playoffs in 1999.
The Bills and their legions of faithful fans may not have much about which to feel embarrassed though, as the latest reportsuggests Buffalo may have dodged a bullet where Marrone is concerned.
"Some league sources think Marrone is aiming for Gus Bradley's job as the Jaguars' head coach and is hoping to be the choice to replace Bradley if there is a change during or after the 2015 season," Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball reports. "According to sources, Bradley seems to be on more firm footing in Jacksonville, but needs to show improvement with the Jaguars, though he isn't expected to make a push into the post-season. Thus, it wouldn't be surprising if Marrone is jockeying to land a different head-coaching job next offseason."
While it's probably not great for fans in Jacksonville to hear that a key member of Bradley's staff is reportedly angling for his job, it's probably more concerning to hear that team-owner Shahid Khan and GM David Caldwell feel their current head coach "needs to show improvement" in order to secure his position. Still, Bradley seems to have amassed a good base of talent and the Jags look to be headed in the right direction. Of course, turning the moribund Jacksonville franchise around will be a tough task for Bradley, especially if his offensive line coach is more concerned with taking over the team once he's gone.
Per Campbell, Marrone, who went 15-17 in two seasons at the helm of the Bills, expected to hop right into a head coaching gig with the New York Jets after unexpecedtly and unceremoniously departing northern New York.
"According to multiple sources, Marrone resigned from the Bills because he believed that he would be named the New York Jets' head coach to replace Rex Ryan, who ironically took Marrone's former position as the Bills' head coach," Campbell writes.
Marrone apparently assumed that his long-time relationship with new Jets GM Mike Maccagnan meant that he was a "shoe-in" for their top spot. Campbell also indicates that he coveted the Jets job over the Bills because of concerns over "organizational direction" in Buffalo.
After his unsuccessful bid for the Jets job - Maccagnan and Woody Johnson eventually settled on Todd Bowles - Marrone reportedly sought both the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears jobs, but failed in those endeavors as well.
In the end, it may be a long time before Marrone gets another shot at a head coaching gig in the NFL as his decision-making with the Bills and his reported approach as something less than a fully committed assistant on Bradley's staff in Jacksonville are likely to ruffle more than a few feathers.
