What the Hell is Going On In Buffalo? | MMQB

What this episode is about

The discussion centers on the Buffalo Bills' recent decision regarding their head coach and the implications of such changes on team dynamics and management structures. It highlights the challenges of timing in coaching changes, the potential for power struggles between coaches and general managers, and parallels with other teams facing similar situations.

Key takeaways

• The Bills' coaching shakeup reflects the fine line between decisive leadership and impulsive mistakes.
• Pagula's emotional post-loss reaction reveals how pressures can cloud judgement in high-stakes decisions.
• Coaching carousel implications highlight the delicate dynamics between GMs and head coaches, often resulting in 'arranged marriages.'
• Regrettably, owner interventions can create hurdles for incoming coaches, complicating their mission from the start.
• The thrill of free stuff—whether Slurpees or Super Bowl swag—remains universally exhilarating, regardless of financial standing.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Albert Breer (Guest) · 11 min speaking
• Connor Orr (Host) · 7 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Brandon Bean, Shawn Peyton, Terry Pagula, Denver
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Brian Albert, Denver, Woody Johnson, 7-Eleven
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Brian Albert, Buffalo, Ian Brady, Anthony Lynn
4. 9:00 – 12:00: Bill Belichick, Brian Albert, Nick Saban
5. 12:00 – 15:00: Buffalo, Brian Albert, Denver
6. 15:00 – 17:48: Davis Webb, Brian Albert, Buffalo

Notable quotes from "What the Hell is Going On In Buffalo? | MMQB"

• We talked about the Bills moving on from their head coach. this is seismic. and if they would have done it, and again, you can't do it until the season's over. But then if you're Terry Paguli, you can't make that.

  about Buffalo · at 0:00

• Coach got fired, a GM didn't, and then the new coach came in and was in an arranged marriage. That was Shawn Peyton and George Payeyton in Denver. That was Mike Frabel and…

  about Shawn Peyton · at 1:27

• Oh my god, that's the best part that Brandon Bean was on board with Keon Coleman. So, and to be fair, Brandon B didn't ask Terry Pagoula to do that, like so this is the owner like sort of saying something.

  about Brandon Bean · at 2:54

• Because this has far larger ramifications, is the fact that Pagoula basically admitted that this was an emotional decision made in the aftermath of a Broncos loss.

  about Terry Pagula · at 3:51

• It long enough to get the job done. And this is what they need to do. They need to get the job done. But I don't know, Albert, like who are they going out and getting right…

  about Brian Albert · at 6:35

• Want to stir the pot here, but like I think he had I like he's got a relationship with Shawn McDerman. I think he did spend some time with them during his year out. So like do…

  about Denver · at 7:51

• I mean I honestly I like just how great that would be. You know what I mean? Like and I mean like Bill coming back up here the icy stare into the owner suite. Like it's just I…

  about Bill Belichick · at 10:47

• Davis Webb was is played with Josh Allen. He's young. He's got a lot of ups.

  about Davis Webb · at 15:44

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Terry Pagula — Person · Referenced decision-maker (team owner) · 1 mention · first at 2:40
  Discussed as the Bills owner whose press-conference comments and decision-making style could affect the coaching search and organizational stability.
• Brandon Bean — Person · Referenced executive (GM under scrutiny/defended) · 2 mentions · first at 0:53
  Central to the discussion because the owner publicly defended him and (per the speakers) awkwardly shifted blame regarding a roster decision involving Keon Coleman.
• Brian Albert — Person · Co-host / on-air analyst (addressed directly) · 5 mentions · first at 5:32
  A primary speaker/participant in the back-and-forth, asked for opinions and reacting to the Bills’ situation; likely the journalist Albert Breer based on the football-insider framing and conversational address.
• Bill Belichick — Person · Referenced high-profile hypothetical hire · 2 mentions · first at 9:26
  Discussed as the ultimate 'theater' hire—viral, attention-grabbing—used to illustrate how far speculation can go after organizational turmoil.
• Shawn Peyton — Person · Referenced coach (example of 'arranged marriage') · 2 mentions · first at 1:32
  Cited as an example of a coach/GM pairing dynamic (“arranged marriage”) to contextualize Bills leadership structure and hiring outcomes.
• Davis Webb — Person · Referenced young coaching option (speculative) · 2 mentions · first at 15:36
  Proposed as a risky-but-intriguing young head-coach idea, paired with a veteran offensive mind (Daboll) to reduce risk.
• Woody Johnson — Person · Referenced owner (comparison point) · 1 mention · first at 5:40
  Used as a cautionary example of an owner learning to stay quiet after public missteps; contrasted with Pagula’s press-conference moment.
  Woody Johnson learned from it. What have we heard from Woody Johnson all year?
• Ian Brady — Person · Referenced coaching candidate / staff member · 1 mention · first at 6:49
  Named as part of the Bills’ interview/candidate set, indicating the team’s search process and preference for familiar coaching ties.
  Familiarity [snorts] bent there and that like they had Lynn, they had Brady or they still have Brady, they had Dable.
• John Schneider — Person · Referenced executive (counterexample in comparison) · 1 mention · first at 1:47
  Mentioned to distinguish a more stable/earned GM situation (won a Super Bowl) from other coach/GM 'arranged marriage' scenarios.
  In 2017 in Los Angeles. The only one that was a little different was I wouldn't categorize John Schneider as the same, because John Schneider won a Super Bowl and like it was just time with Pete, you know? So that one's that one's.
• Anthony Lynn — Person · Referenced coaching candidate · 1 mention · first at 6:52
  Listed among candidates/requests, reinforcing the theme that Buffalo is interviewing familiar names and gathering information.
  Anthony Lynn is on their list. So, there is like a I'd say like a they've requested Grant Yinsky. like there's a like a little bit of a familiarity [snorts].
• Josh McDaniels — Person · Referenced coaching candidate (speculative inquiry) · 1 mention · first at 7:46
  Mentioned as someone with relationships in the Bills’ orbit who could be asked about during the search, though not seriously endorsed as a likely hire.
  I mean? That would be an interesting one. Josh McDaniels getting a third head coaching job after the season would I'm not I'm not I'm not s I'm not suggesting I know you're not but I but I think like okay like.
• Nick Saban — Person · Referenced aspirational candidate (joking/illustrative) · 1 mention · first at 9:16
  Raised as a tongue-in-cheek big-name option to emphasize the stakes and the 'theater' around high-profile coaching speculation.
  Nick Sabin's too busy complaining about the exact college landscape that he created.

Companies & orgs

• 7-Eleven — Company · Incidental · 1 mention · first at 4:23
  Mentioned in passing during a light-hearted conversation about free Slurpee day.
  It's on July 11th. 7-Eleven. You go Oh, is that right? So free slurpie. Oh my man. It must be mayhem on 7-Eleven. Yeah, it's great. It's you just like I mean just the thrill of walking into a place now. I used to.

Places & events

• Buffalo — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 8:26
  Mentioned in the context of the Buffalo Bills football team and their organizational decisions.
• Denver — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at 1:32
  Mentioned in the context of the Denver Broncos football team and their organizational decisions.
• Cincinnati — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 7:29
  Mentioned in the context of a football coach's performance against Josh Allen.
  Yeah. It's hey, well, so like Lou Anaruma is going to go in there because he like did a really good job against Josh Allen when he was in Cincinnati and give them hey, here's what we were looking.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 We talked about the Bills moving on uh from their head coach. I mean, this is seismic. Uh and if they would have done it, you know, and again, you can't do it until the season's over. But then if you're Terry Paguli, you can't make that rash decision because now you're so far behind the eightball in terms of the rest of the carousel and you've already had Harbaugh and Stfansky take jobs. We don't know what that would have looked like if that job came open when the two of them were available. Um, but they had a press conference yesterday that was I mean honestly I mean probably Well, here's the thing.

0:37 It was it was it was why a lot of people don't want their owners talking. Yeah. And I think what Pagoula tried to do I think that there was a

0:49 I think his heart was in the right place. His heart was in the right place. Correct. That's what I was trying to say.

0:53 He was trying to he was trying to stick up for Brandon Bean. He was trying to defend his GM who for better or for worse he has decided is the one that he wants to move forward with. And I don't know if there was a power struggle or whatever you want to dictate it or term it as, but these things happen a lot with coaches and general managers over time. And

1:15 well, I mean, just look in this round of the playoffs you have. I mean, all three of those situations where coaches inher like and in three of the four it was a coach got fired, a GM didn't, and then the new coach came in and was in an arranged marriage. That was Shawn Peyton and George Payeyton in Denver. That was Mike Frabel and Elliot Wolf in New England. And that was um that was Lesne Sneed and Shawn McVey all the way back in 2017 in Los Angeles. The only one that was a little different was I I wouldn't categorize John Schneider as the same, you know, because John Schneider John Schneider won a Super Bowl and like it was just time with Pete, you know? So that one's that one's not the same as the other three, but that was another arranged marriage, you know what I mean? So like I think you can see in the conference championship round

2:05 this happened. This this is not rare that this happens, right? Yeah. Um, I I don't

2:13 I think like Well, yeah, I'll just take the mantle from me there for a second, Connor.

2:16 I I think it's I had two thoughts coming out of this, right? Number one, and why this looks so bad. Number one is the obvious. The dude's still on your roster. I'm talking about Keon Coleman, right?

2:31 Yeah. So, set the table for those who didn't see it. Um, so basically, somebody asked about Keon Coleman. Brandon Bean started to answer the question and then Terry Pagula jumped in and basically said that Brand that that was the coaching staff's call. Brandon Bean was being a good team player since video evidence has come out.

2:54 Oh my god, that's the best part that that Brandon Bean was on board with with Keon Coleman. So, and and to be fair, Brandon B didn't ask Terry Pagoula to do that, you know, like so this is the owner like sort of saying something he shouldn't have said and now Brandon Beans, I think, holding the bag for it. Um, but like that. So, regardless, now you got this player on your roster who the new coaching staff might come in and love him and want to work with him and everything else,

3:26 but you've got a hurdle to overcome. That was they that you you built that hurdle yourself, right? You know what I mean? Like like you put that hurdle there. So that's number one.

3:35 And then number two, I just think it's it just felt like kicking a guy when he's down, didn't it? Well, I I think my number two is that the Keon Coleman thing was bad, but I think almost as as bad, if not worse, because this has far larger ramifications,

3:54 is the fact that Pagoula basically admitted that this was an emotional decision made in the aftermath of a Broncos loss.

4:00 And and what did the Broncos loss come down to? A call from an official that we've been arguing about in perpetuity for the last week. You know what I mean? And so it's like if you're the new head coach coming in and and and I'll just tell you this like you know people are bumrushing the door like it's you know free uh fro what is it a free slurpee day at 7-Eleven you know like everybody's coming.

4:26 Never been to free slurpie day at 7-Eleven. Oh it's great. I take my kids there. My kids my kids love slurpies.

4:32 It's on July 11th. 7-Eleven. You go Oh, is that right? So free slurpie. Oh my man. It must be mayhem

4:38 on 7-Eleven. Yeah, it's great. It's uh you just like I mean just the the thrill of walking into a place now. I used to steal stuff uh from like CVS when I was younger and there's like gets you jacked up. But the closest thing that you can get to as an adult is to walk in there with all your kids, fill the cups, and just nod at the guy at the register and just walk right out of there. It's great man.

5:02 It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how much money you you have. The thrill of free stuff is always like never expires.

5:10 Unbeatable. It's unbeatable. It's like when I do shows at the Super Bowl and I get that like free like that that little gift bag.

5:18 Oh yeah. It's like you may only like two of the six things that are in the gift bag,

5:23 but man does it feel good to have those two things for free. It does. You just I like I like not paying for stuff. Um but yeah, I mean listen, Albert, this is one of those things that a coach is going to look at that. coming in and say, "Okay, and now Pagoula is going to learn from this." Woody Johnson learned from it. What have we heard from Woody Johnson all year?

5:44 Squat after the Robert Solah thing and how that ended, right? He had one kind of unforced error with Justin Fields and kind of throwing him under the bus um at owners meetings, but other than that, we've heard nothing from Woody Johnson after Woody Johnson became an unmititigated disaster. And Bul is not Woody Johnson. I'm not comparing the two. But he had a bad moment. And then what happens after you have a bad moment? You course correct and you become the poster child of patience, of pragmatism, and of staying out of the Basically, you know, this is what owners do, right? Owners go from bad to good to good to bad to bad to good.

6:19 They're always going to be mealsome and ridiculous. Like, I bet if I had to make a prediction, we probably have a David Ter moment coming at some point. Like, cuz that guy can't help himself because he's a billionaire, right? And all these guys are rich beyond their wildest imagination. so they can put the lid on it long enough to get the job done. And this is what they need to do. They need to get the job done. But I don't know, Albert, like who are they going out and getting right now? I mean, I

6:44 And that's the question. So, I believe Dayball and Lua Anorumo are in there today. Yep.

6:49 Um Joe Brady was there yesterday. Um Anthony Lynn is on their list. So, there is like a I'd say like a they they've requested Grant Yinsky. like there's a like a little bit of a familiarity [snorts] bent there and that like they had Lynn, they had Brady or they still have Brady, they had Dable.

7:11 Do you think that they're a lot they're having a lot of those old guys in though to basically tell them the truth about themselves a little bit? Like I mean I know

7:19 could be I guess information gathering. Yeah. It's like, hey, well, like, so like Lou Anaruma is going to go in there because he like did a really good job against Josh Allen when he was in Cincinnati and and give them like, hey, here's what we were looking at. It could be.

7:34 Yeah. You know, I think that could be a part of the equation. I I just can't shake the And look, like there's a couple guys I'm sure that they're going to put in for with the teams that are still in it, right?

7:44 Um, it's kind of interesting. I I believe Josh McDaniel spent some time with them during their their uh I don't want to stir the pot here, but like I think he had I like he's got a relationship with with Shawn McDerman. I think he did spend some time with them during his year out. So like do they do they like ask about Josh? You know what I mean? That would be an interesting one. Um,

8:05 Josh McDaniels getting a third head coaching job after the season would I'm not I'm not I'm not s I'm not suggesting I know you're not but but but I but I but I think like like okay like so like there's one Nathan Shielh with the Rams is still in the playoffs. Davis Web is one

8:19 that's been you know that's been bandied about like he's still in the playoffs. So, I think like the bottom line is what I'm trying to say here is like Clint Kubak, they're going to I think they're going to look at guys who are still in the playoffs that and maybe out of respect to those teams they didn't put in for them yet, but I would expect that like come Sunday night, Monday morning, we'll probably hear about a couple of those. Listen, like we talked about this earlier in the week, right? I mean, call the Colts about Shane Stiken. Call the call the Vikings about Kevin Oll. just ressigned Brian F. How much of a Yeah,

8:54 I mean all you can do all you all they can do is say no. All they can do is say no. And like I I just I think this is too important not to do those things. You know, it's crazy because when I I I tweeted the Okonnell thing because I think

9:09 Call Signetti. What's that? Call Kirk signetti. He's out he's out having a beer right now. He's unavailable. Uh that's what he said.

9:16 How about Nick Sabin? Nick Sabin. That would be That would be great. God, would that be great?

9:21 Nick Sabin's too busy complaining about the exact college landscape that he created.

9:26 I mean I mean for the theater, would Bellich check be the best hire? [snorts] So it was funny because you know you

9:34 for the theater of it like you I go around Yes. for there's no question. I mean there's absolutely no question. Um and so in the aftermath of this I mean you know how it is Albert you're calling everybody that might know something, right? And you're going through every possible scenario and it's like, okay, well, one person, oh yeah, they they could, you know, they could trade for him. One person, yeah, I like this guy. I like this guy. This guy fits. And then I I think it was about five or six calls in post McDermott that someone said, you know, what about Bill Bich? And I said, stop.

10:09 Stop. We've like that's how you know like it's like oh on season three now it's like instead of just being like a normal person the FBI is breaking it. It's like we're too far past the we're too we're too far through the looking glass right now.

10:23 I don't want this to happen because I love my alma mater and I love our defensive coordinator. But what about Bill with Dal and Patricia as his coordinators?

10:36 [gasps] What about Dable with Bill as his coordinator? Here's Oh my god. Here's the other thing. Just sort of a peak behind

10:47 I mean I I honestly I like just how great that would be. You know what I mean? Like and I mean like Bill coming back up here the icy stare into the owner suite. Like it's just

11:02 I mean if you were bean and you said you know like you go to Pagoul and you say I don't know if this is going to work but what I can tell you is that no one would talk about us more like like in the first two years of our stadium like we would probably be sold out. We'd be on first take. We'd be the lead item on First Take every morning. And uh it would be like

11:26 the It would be incredible. The CBS News equivalent of being if if we can't be serious, let's be viral kind of thing, you know?

11:34 That that that would be my guess. Um I mean, I consider myself kind of an agent of chaos anyway because I I I I like I I I like covering things like that, you know? So, uh I I mean it would be I mean like it's just incredible.

11:52 I mean that would be I don't know if it'd be the right hire, but it would be incredible.

11:58 This is this is not unlike last year Western New York would get a new queen. Oh, stop it. That's talk about like just the worst case scenario. Just the worst case. You know, here's the thing that I I I and I got like upset about it last year when the whole Deion Sanders discourse was taking over and it's like, "Oh, Deion Sanders is gonna be the head coach of the Cowboys."

12:34 We're already so dumb as a society. We're so dumb. And football is one of the last bastions of like meritocracy, intelligence, like game planning, genius, grit. And I feel like just having like that side chill. And I'm not saying that Belich isn't smart. It's just like making that decision would probably just be like, "Okay, then I'm going to go to Stamford and cover World Wrestling Entertainment at this point because it's all the same." That that would be my [snorts] I I would give up. I would throw my

13:09 Denver's sort of driving distance for you. You could do that. Yeah. I mean, I've I've been there before. Um

13:14 I've Have you been in the building? I've driven by it a million times. I've always sort of wanted to go in.

13:18 I'm not going to lie. I think one time I got You can see it right there from 95. You see it right? Yeah.

13:24 I I think I know someone who works there. Anyway, um I bet you it's sweet. It's got to be sweet inside. It's got to be fantastic.

13:30 You just walk around and people are just elbowing people and like pushing people. Um,

13:35 stir steel chairs just like lying like up against the wall all over the place in case you need one.

13:41 Um, before we get out of here, what are you thinking uh very early on with Buffalo? Like where's

13:47 I think they're going to I I think I think they have like the same sort of because their job's attractive, they have the same sort of leeway that the Steelers and Bron or the Steelers and uh and Ravens do to take their time. And so like I think that that's an empowering thing. Um being able to approach things that way and it allows you to go through a full process and get to know people and all that different stuff. It's a little unlike you know and the Giants obviously you know were very aggressive and rightfully so to get John Harbaugh.

14:14 The Falcons you know rushed their process a bit at the end because they did plan to get Halfley and Mter in for second interviews to get Stfansky and that was about not letting Steph Stfansky get on a plane to go to Tennessee.

14:27 Yeah. And then the same thing with the Titans and Dolphins, you know what I mean? Like I mean all four of the hires so far were a do not let the guy get on the plane scenario, right? Like so with Halfley um yeah he had planned to go from Miami um to Tennessee the next day. The Dolphins got him um locked in. Same thing with Salah. Salah had played plan to go to Arizona the next day for a second interview and the Titans get him locked in. So, um, I think what the team teams like Buffalo and Pittsburgh and and Baltimore have is the flexibility and the leeway not to have to do that, right?

15:02 Which I think is an empowering thing. My money's But I would say but I would say like who would you hire if you were them?

15:09 I mean I dayball starting like I've heard I've heard from people it probably won't be Dball. I I the idea of Dball is growing on me though. Here's here's what I would say and I got shouted down when I suggested this to someone and someone else told me it was a good idea. Can you talk Dable who is an alpha into coming back and being your head coach Emmerdis and just your wise sage offensive coordinator and hiring a 30-year-old Davis Webb because Davis Webb played for Dball. Davis Webb was is played with Josh Allen. He's young. He's got a lot of ups.

15:50 I know, you know, I know if Webb wound up with Vegas, which is still, I think, a possibility, like Dayball and Cliff were the ideas for coordinator he has. Dball is on his list

16:00 for sure. And so, what about that? You bring in Davis Webb because here's it's a risk.

16:07 It's a It's a huge risk. But isn't it less so when you have Dable and then let's say I don't know Albert

16:16 I mean I have to take your veteran DC of choice that's out there right like so maybe for web and I'm trying to think like would it be Wink Martindale

16:28 I don't I don't know if him and Dave would get back into a room together but that's right I forgot about that

16:37 All All right. All right. All right. All right. Wink. Brian, you go to this room. We're going to lock the door for two hours.

16:42 If you guys both come out alive, then you both have the job. Um, that's a great call. Um, I'm just like looking at his history and who he would have.

16:54 I mean, maybe that would be like bringing a Leslie Frasier back if he would do it, you know, who was who was in Buffalo with Davis.

17:00 Um, I'm just trying to think like, you know, you don't see too many that line up. I mean, so he Yeah,

17:10 you need your own ver you need your own version of Wade Phillips if you're right. Like what Sean had and Wade Phillips, which I mean I I think that could be a timing thing, too. You know what I mean? Like that's why I mean Wank Wood makes some sense. You know what I mean? Like so he runs the offense, the defense everybody's looking to run.

17:29 Um you know, could it be like a Dinard Wilson, somebody like that, you know, like who was in Tennessee the last couple of years? If you can get him not to go um with with uh with John Harbaugh in New York, which I think Zack O, Dinard Wilson, like all those guys are in play in New Four.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "What the Hell is Going On In Buffalo? | MMQB"?

Albert Breer (Guest), Connor Orr (Host).

What is "What the Hell is Going On In Buffalo? | MMQB" about?

The discussion centers on the Buffalo Bills' recent decision regarding their head coach and the implications of such changes on team dynamics and management structures. It highlights the challenges of timing in coaching changes, the potential for power struggles between coaches and general managers, and parallels with other teams facing similar situations.

What is mentioned in this Sports Illustrated episode?

16 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Terry Pagula, Brandon Bean, Brian Albert, Buffalo, Bill Belichick, Denver. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "What the Hell is Going On In Buffalo? | MMQB"?

The episode runs 18 min; the transcript is about 3,516 words in 70 timestamped sections.

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