Polian informs Bills he’s staying in broadcasting
Bill Polian told the Buffalo Bills thanks, but no thanks: He’s taking himself out of the running for a proposed front-office job with his former team.
Polian told the Associated Press he has elected to stay in broadcasting after informing Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula of his decision on Thursday. His decision followed several discussions with the Pegulas, who had gauged Polian’s interest in filling a newly created role overseeing the team’s football operations.
ESPN, for whom Polian works, first reported the development.
Polian’s announcement comes a day after Bills head coach Doug Marrone left the team by exercising the opt-out clause in his contract.
The Bills are coming off a 9-7 season, their best finish in 10 years. Yet, they still missed the playoffs to extend the NFL’s longest active postseason drought to 15 years.
The Pegulas, who also own the NHL Buffalo Sabres, are new to the NFL. They bought the Bills for a league-record $1.4 billion in October after Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson died in March.
With Polian out of the picture, their top priority is finding a coach, in what becomes the Bills’ sixth head-coaching search since Wade Phillips was fired after the 2000 season.
Lindlay to start for Arizona: Coach Bruce Arians says Ryan Lindley will start at quarterback for Arizona when the Cardinals play at Carolina in a wild-card playoff game Saturday.
Arians said after Thursday’s practice that Drew Stanton will miss his third straight game with a sprained right knee. Stanton had the knee scoped last week after developing an infection.
Austin receiving interest: Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin says the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers have asked permission to talk to him about their coaching vacancies.
Austin, who played at Pitt from 1984-87 and was a graduate assistant at Penn State from 1991-92, has helped turn the Lions into one of the league’s top defensive teams in his first season as their coordinator.
Jets to interview coaches: Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and former Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone are on the New York Jets’ early list of candidates owner Woody Johnson will interview to replace the fired Rex Ryan.
Johnson was set to fly to Seattle Thursday night, along with consultants Ron Wolf and Charley Casserly, to meet this weekend with Quinn and Seahawks assistant head coach/offensive line coach Tom Cable for the Jets’ vacant head coaching position.