Bills receiver Coleman draws attention in aftermath of McDermott's firing

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — As if Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman didn’t attract enough negative attention for showing up late to meetings during an underperforming season.

On Wednesday, the second-year player was drawn into the conversation involving team owner Terry Pegula’s abrupt decision to fire coach Sean McDermott on Monday.

Pegula shared the podium with general manager Brandon Beane during an end-of-season news conference. And the owner interjected when questions turned to Beane's failure to improve the team’s group of receivers last offseason and Coleman’s lack of development.

“Can I interrupt?” the owner said. “I’ll address the Keon situation.”

Pegula then explained it was the coaching staff that pushed for Coleman being the Bills' second-round pick in the 2024 draft.

“I’m not saying Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him. But he wasn’t his next choice,” Pegula said.

“That was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player,” he added. “He’s taken, for some reason, heat over it, and not saying a word about it. But I’m here to tell you the true story.”

Pegula later clarified to The Associated Press he was not referring to McDermott, but rather another coach, whom he declined to name.

Beane somewhat contradicted Pegula by saying Coleman was “my pick,” before suggesting what Pegula meant is Buffalo could have considered addressing another position with the selection.

“Ultimately, I’m not turning a pick for a player that I don’t think we can succeed with. So, don’t misunderstand that,” Beane added.

Buffalo twice traded back in the draft order before selecting Coleman with the first pick of the second round.

What’s not up for debate is the Florida State product’s inconsistencies in Buffalo.

After a promising start to his rookie season, a hand injury limited Coleman to finishing with 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns.

Coleman then showed promising signs of development during training camp, and opened the season with an eight-catch, 112-yard, one-TD outing in a 41-40 win over Baltimore. Very little went right since.

Coleman was disciplined by having to sit out the opening series of a loss to New England in Week 5. A month later, the 22-year-old was a healthy scratch in a game against Tampa Bay. It marked the third time he had been disciplined after also being late for a meeting during his rookie season.

Each time Coleman vowed to do better, and finished the season with 38 catches for 404 yards and four TDs.

“It’s up to us to work with him and develop him,” Beane said of Coleman.

“His issues have not been on the field. They’ve just been maturity things that he owns,” he added. “I give him credit. He doesn’t make excuses, which I appreciate.”

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