Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson didn't like how his former coach, Doug Marrone, handled his exit from the team. Jackson said that Marrone told the players in a mass text message after news broke of Marrone opting out of his contract, ESPN reports.
Marrone's time in Buffalo came to an end after just two seasons. Unlike most coaches, though, Marrone's departure from the team was his own choosing - reportedly after not seeing eye-to-eye with the front office. Regardless of Marrone's reason for quitting the team, Jackson didn't like how it was handled.
"Any time you get a text message saying that it's happening, you feel like you got punched in the stomach," he told WGR 550 in Buffalo, according to ESPN. "I mean, stuff could have been handled different. We don't ... we all weren't in the room and understand what went down. .. It's the unfortunate part of the business. Everybody makes decisions that best suits them. For us, we're not going to dwell on what he decided to do."
Marrone reportedly interviewed for the New York Jets' coaching vacancy on Sunday. If he were to replace Rex Ryan, Marrone would be jumping ship to a division rival. Jackson, though, didn't seem to care.
"No, he's just gonna be another guy," said Jackson, whose team plays against the Jets at least twice a year. "Obviously, we'll want to beat him when we play him. But it's not going to fuel or motivate us in any different capacity. He's just another guy now. He's not somebody that we're worried about what he's doing."
Marrone quitting the team did seemingly come out of nowhere. Tim Graham of the Buffalo News reported Marrone's relationship with general manager Doug Whaley had "fallen apart," and Marrone's decision to quit came as the result of his failed bid for more control over personnel decisions.
