Doug Marrone opts out of Bills contract

The Buffalo Bills join the ranks of the teams in search for a new head coach this evening when Doug Marrone used an opt out clause in his contract to leave the team. The availability of the clause was triggered when the Bills changed ownership from the late Ralph Wilson, Jr., and Marrone had three days from the end of the season to exercise the clause.

Today was the third day.

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Marrone, according to The Buffalo News' Tim Graham, attempted to work with the Pegulas, the new owners of the Bills, to reach a contract extension for himself and his assistants. When the answer was not, he used the opt out to leave the team. He will receive his $4 million salary for the 2015 season, with no offset language, meaning he gets the full salary from the Bills, no matter if he signs with another team, and regardless of what his salary is from that franchise.

Marrone leave the Bills after two seasons, going 6-10 and finishing in last place in the AFC East in 2013 before turning the team around to a 9-7 record this year, good enough for second place in the division and the franchise's first winning record since 2004, only the second winning season since the turn of the century.

Speculation has Marrone heading to the New York Jets, who are said to have interest in signing him as their replacement for Rex Ryan. Marrone is from New York City.

Check out Buffalo Rumblings for more on Marrone's departure.