On Monday, the Buffalo Bills announced that they were letting veteran running back Fred Jackson go as part of cuts for the 75-man roster. Jackson had been with the Bills for all of his nine seasons in the NFL, but wasn’t seeing significant reps now that LeSean McCoy is in Buffalo.
Well according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News, Buffalo’s general manager Doug Whaley “went rogue” in cutting Jackson — apparently going against the wishes of the rest of the front office.
https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/638888444421382144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Although Whaley didn’t specify why exactly Jackson got cut, he did indicate in a press conference on Monday per ESPN that no one was opposed to the decision.
“We also let everybody know that everybody was on board. Reluctantly, because of the magnitude of this player and what he means, not only to the Buffalo Bills, but to the community of Buffalo — him and his family. So we talked to [owners] Terry [Pegula] and Kim [Pegula] and conversed with them and decided that this was the best time to make that decision.”
Whaley also added Monday that he and head coach Rex Ryan had a “very emotional” conversation with Jackson upon giving him the news. Then on Tuesday, Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News suggested there was some bad blood between Whaley and Jackson, with the implication that Jackson was somewhat blindsided by getting cut.
@Fred22Jackson on GM Doug Whaley: "There’s only one person in that organization that I haven’t gotten honesty from, and that was him.”
— Bucky Gleason (@ByBuckyGleason) September 2, 2015
The Bills will save close to $2.5 million of their salary cap with Jackson’s release — he reportedly was never asked to take a pay cut, he was just simply released from his contract. Jackson is expected to sign with the Seattle Seahawks in the coming days — it’ll be interesting dynamic for the 34-year-old veteran with Marshawn Lynch already in Seattle’s backfield. Jackson has accounted for over 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career.
