OverDrive - Capaccio on Pegula's stunning press conference, Beane's larger role and the head coaching search

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

WGR Reporter Sal Capaccio joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around Terry Pegula and Brandon Beane's press conference, Pegula's shocking comments around the team, Pegula on Keon Coleman, the next head coaching search and more.

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Sal, what has been the overall response to the presser we saw this morning? Kind of wild, a little unexpected and some twists and turns, I guess. No doubt about that. I think the reception from the national media has been a little bit more critical. I think if you're in the room like I was, it wasn't as contentious or anything like that. There were definitely some points of like, whoa, I can't believe that was said. And we came out of it with a couple of storylines we didn't know going in. But I also think it was good and healthy to finally hear from Terry Pagula.

We haven't heard from him in seven years since 2019, really, owner of the Bills and Sabres. that was healthy and that was good, getting perspective from him and Brandon Bean, but no doubt, it was not your typical press conference, I would say. I know you said you were glad to hear from the owner, but there were some explosive comments, especially referencing the draft pick and whose decision that was. What do you think the general consensus is within the fan base, the city of the actual comments that were made by the owner who actually spoke? So I think what's interesting is that was a bit of a really detailed part of, I think, a larger picture, which is I came out of this press conference thinking one of my biggest takeaways was, boy, there was a real concerted effort here to make sure that we all knew that Brandon Bean wasn't just handing a roster to Shaw McDermott and saying go coach it.

That there was a concerted effort that we all knew that Shaw McDermott had some influence on the roster. And if Brandon Bean didn't necessarily agree, he still would acquiesce and say, okay, if that's what you want, then that's what I'm going to get you. And I think that that was a way for Terry Begoula to interject. And what happened was McDermott was, I'm sorry, Bean was asked about, you know, the roster and the construction and all that. And that's when Pagula interrupted and said, he said, let me say, the coaching staff pushed for Keon Coleman. So unfortunately, as the kids say, Keanan Coleman caught a lot of strays in this one, right? now we're talking about this all for the rest of the day. But I think the larger point was they were trying to convey,

hey, it's not like Brandon Bean just went out and did anything he wanted on the roster. The coach had a lot of say here, so we can't just pit one against the other with roster versus coaching, if that makes sense. I think what I always take out of a press conference like this is, you know, what is the next coach thinking about it? You know, what is the prospective coach thinking about this dynamic now with Bean, with the owner. You mentioned that the owner has not spoken publicly in seven seven years. He'll obviously be speaking privately with the new coach.

And we've always kind of from a far looked at this and said, how do the bill so successful, but the sabres are a disaster? And, you know, how does this work? Was it McDermid? Is it Josh Allen? What would you expect the next coach, the prospective coach, to take from this press conference? And is there more positive that he would take out of it, more negative, how might it affect the coaching search in the future? Well, look, if you had

to take anything out of it, it would be negative, but I'm going to tell you this guys. I don't think it matters a damn bit from any coach's perspective what happened today because Josh Allen is the quarterback on this team. That's what it comes down to. They have Josh Allen. And any coach who wants to be a coach in the National Football League, a head coach, I don't think there's anyone that's going to look at

today go, no, no, no, I don't want to go there because the owner in the GM had a really awkward press conference. No, they have Josh Allen and they've made it to the playoffs and won division championships and playoffs for what eight out of last nine years and five at the last six years division championships so as much as that might be something that makes you go ooh you know who am I working with and what does that look like when I get there I don't think any of that is anything compared to the fact that

someone has a chance to work with Josh Allen and these jobs as much as regular NFL jobs don't come along jobs with the best QBs in the league never come along you just mentioned Josh and there's been, it's been reported that the players were not happy with the McDermott firing. Like, is that, just Josh on board with that? Or, like, how pissed off are these guys if this guy got canned? And where does Josh stand on it? So I'll start with the first overall players. You know, we haven't heard from every player, but we have seen on social media.

A lot of guys are upset. You know, they've erred their frustration. But look, guys, I mean, there was a way I look at it. It's pretty unique here in Buffalo. We've had the same coach for nine years. Most of these players have had the same coach. He built a culture. He built a relationship.

He built to bond with all these guys. Most NFL players, professional athletes, go through their careers with multiple coaches, right? So I think that it hits a little bit different here for a lot of these guys. And it's not like they were consulted. It's not what they were told that they were told. So I understand that. I totally do. I'm sure they're upset.

But the end of the day, they have contracts to play for the Buffalo Bills, regardless of who the coach is. And that's generally the way it works in any market. But in here, because they've been with this coach for this long, it hurts because they've formed a relationship. Now, what Terry Begoula was asked about Josh Allen, like, was he on board? Did he endorse it or anything like that? He would not give that response. But he did say that Josh will be a part of the team that's involved with finding the next coach for the Buffalo Bills. So, Sal, looking ahead to the next coach, in your opinion, what would they require something different in what they had in their previous coach to get this team to where they want?

Yeah, I think the bills have to go one of two directions, and that's it. Number one is somebody who has a Super Bowl ring who's been there. Because I don't think you can move on from Sean McDermott, who's been as successful as you can be without making a Super Bowl, right? I mean, he is very successful. But you fired him because he didn't get there. Can you really bring someone in who's been coaching and pretty successful that hasn't been to a Super Bowl and say, yeah, we fired this guy for that guy?

I don't think it works, right? I don't think that fits at all with the fan base. That wouldn't look very good. That would be bad optics. The second option would be the brightest, probably young, offensive mind you can find because you have Josh Amel. who's turning 30 this year, who's probably got a good four or five years left of, you know, really great football in him that you're trying to win here. And I think that that's the next step.

I was listening to you guys talk about Brian Dable and you're debating, why would you do that? Well, look, if Josh is going to be involved in this, the reason why Brian Dable and Josh Allen, they were great together for two years. Brian Dable is a big reason why Josh Allen is where he is today. Josh Allen in 2018, he only had one offensive coordinator for his first four years, 18, 19, 2021. And when he really made his ascension in 2021, a lot of that credit is to Brian Daibel. They're very, very close. So I'm not saying that you should hire a guy

because Josh Allen is close with him. But Daibel actually held Josh very accountable. He wasn't like he was just his golfing or drinking buddy or anything like that. And I agree with you that Daibol's time in New York did not go that great. But if you want to know a reason why they would do it, that's why. Because if you want this quarterback

to be the best version of himself, that guy already got him to that point. Yeah, I'm just not sure who that is, like the former Super Bowl winners. Obviously, Tomlin's out there, but that's not going to happen. I don't think. I mean, he'd have to be traded, right? I don't think he wants to coach. And I'm not sure he wants to coach.

I think he wants to do a TV thing and then maybe do what Peyton did, get back in a year from now. Belichick is out there. Do you think Buffalo would even contemplate calling Bill Belichick? I do not. I just don't think that this organization would be of

the mind to bring in a guy who has that kind of ego when you're talking about a guy who just promoted to vice president of football operations a guy who by the way you just fired a man who beat down bill bellichick in the playoffs and his last couple years there right i mean shaw mcdermott that that game in buffalo so plus i mean the luster bill bellichick's kind of worn off the last couple years i think we've seen away from brady away from you know uh from that scene in new england like and after brady left so no i don't think so as far as tomlin i'm a big mike tomlin but again i'll go back to could you really fire shaw mcdermit and then bringing a guy

who McDermott, this time one hasn't won a playoff game in 10 years. You're going to fire a guy who just can't get to a Super Bowl in nine years for guys who won a playoff game in 10 years. And at top of that, you'd have to give up draft assets. And the guy who'd have to give those up is responsible for drafting and replenishing this roster. He's not going to do that.

No kidding. Well, that's what, like, once the dust settles here, and they've got to get on this coach. I mean, I'm sure the timeline, they're probably waiting for this weekend. And, you know, maybe they want to interview some coordinators on, you know, one of the four teams left. But once you hire the coach, you've got to make moves, right? Sal, like how much turnover do you expect in Buffalo?

We know Allen's coming back. We know certain players are going to be returning here. But how much turnover is even reasonable to expect they can put this team in a better position next year? Well, I think they're going to be right back in the same position next year, which is knocking on the door, but who knows if they can get a couple of breaks their way and play a little bit better in that ultimate game. And the reason I say that is because,

they have number 17, and they do have one of the best offensive lines of football, and they do have James Cook, and all those guys are coming back. But your question is great because this is unique for me. This is nine years of, the last nine years, I basically said, well, Sean really likes that guy, and I know he fits in the building, he fits in the culture. All that's kind of gone now, right? So you don't know. Now everything's on the table for guys that you don't know that you would normally say,

oh, they're totally coming back. I don't know. I can't say that anymore. They do have a lot of cap restraints because of the way the roster has been built, the way they've been going forward and trying to really go after it every year. But Brandyne is going to keep doing the same thing. He's always said, as long as he's the GM, they're not going to take a step back. Nor should they, by the way, now with Josh 30 years old and making $55 million.

That wouldn't make sense. You know, you have to keep going forward in trying that. I do expect a lot of changes because anytime a head coach has changed, so are your coordinators generally. So are your position coaches generally. If Sean McDermick gets a job, he's probably going to take guys with him. And the bills are going to have to figure out whoever they bring in as a head coach is going to have say on who his coordinators are going to be. so I expect a lot of changes coming up here. New era, man, in Buffalo.

It's going to be fun to see how it plays out. He is Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 down in Buffalo. Great seeing you, Sal. Thank you for doing this. You got it, guys. If the sabres break the drought, we'll talk again. Yes, we will. And we'll hear from Terry Pagula, I think, at that time, the Sabers do you.

He will be dying to get out and talk at that point. We will definitely talk again, sir. Thanks, Sal. Appreciate it. Sal, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. It's time to Toyota in the 2025 Prius, go up to 72 kilometers on battery alone, then seamlessly switch to hybrid mode. Check it out, Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall.

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