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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Turns out the Buffalo Bills arent stuck with coach Doug Marrone, after all.Two weeks after informing reporters youre stuck with me, fortunately or unfortunately, Marrone made the surprise decision to step down Wednesday after the teams best finish in a decade.In a statement released by the team, Bills owner Terry Pegula announced the second-year coach exercised the opt-out clause in his contract.We are disappointed that Coach Marrone will no longer be an important part of our organization, Pegula said. We thank him for all of his hard work and leadership during his tenure, and wish him and his family the best with the next chapter in their lives.Pegula said the team will immediately begin searching for a coach. One candidate might already be on the staff in defensive co-ordinator Jim Schwartz. He was hired a year ago after previously spending five seasons coaching the Detroit Lions.The Bills have gone through six head coaches since Wade Phillips was fired following the 2000 season.Marrones decision to step down was a stunning one, coming after he led the Bills to a 9-7 finish. It was the Bills first winning season since a 9-7 finish in 2004. Buffalo, however, missed the playoffs to extend the NFLs longest active post-season drought to 15 seasons.Surprised me. Didnt see it coming, centre Eric Wood said in a text message to The Associated Press.Starting safety Aaron Williams blasted Marrone in a tweet.Lost all respect!! Williams said.The opt-out clause in Marrones contract went into effect after Pegula and wife Kim bought the team in October. Marrone had until Wednesday to make his decision.The team was sold after Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson died in March.The timing of Marrones departure comes as the Pegulas consider hiring a veteran presence to oversee the football operation. Former Bills GM turned broadcaster Bill Polian is considered a candidate to fill what would be a newly created position.Marrones status was still considered secure.On Monday, Marrone sidestepped a question about his future when asked whether he would consider opting out of his contract.I do not discuss my contract. Thats my rule. I never have and never will, he said.Marrone is now free to explore other job openings.Before stepping down, he had the backing of his players. That included veteran defensive tackle Kyle Williams who, on Monday, called it important for the team to maintain continuity after years of shuffling coaches and general managers.Weve got an opportunity to be a good football team going forward, Williams said. It would always be kind of a setback or something if you have a massive, massive overhaul.Marrone went 15-17 in Buffalo. He was hired after four seasons at Syracuse, where Marrone helped revive his alma maters struggling program.A former NFL offensive lineman, Marrone was brought in because of his offensive expertise. That, however, never materialized with the Bills who were instead led by a dominating defence over the past two years.The Bills offence finished 19th in yards gained in 2013, and regressed this year by finishing 26th. And Buffalos running attack was particularly pedestrian this year in finishing with 1,482 yards rushing, the teams fewest in a 16-game season.The offensive struggles were in part the result of a continuing revolving door at quarterback.EJ Manuel, the teams first-round pick in the 2013 draft, proved injury prone in missing six games during his rookie season. This year, Manuel was benched following a 2-2 start.He was replaced by 10-year journeyman Kyle Orton who finished the season as the starter. Orton, however, surprised the team Monday when he announced his intention to retire rather than return for another season.Marrone had several eruptions this past season. He blew up at defensive end Jerry Hughes on the final day of training camp in August. Two weeks before the start of the season, Marrone had a heated exchange along the sideline with team president Russ Brandon.Marrone, at times, was also terse with reporters in providing one-word answers.Hes not the first Bills coach to step down while still under contract.Mike Mularkey quit the team for undisclosed reasons following the 2005 season after Tom Donahoe was fired as president and general manager.Marrone was supposed to be part of a new era in Buffalo that began with Russ Brandon being elevated to president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2013.Brandon hired Marrone. That spring, Doug Whaley was promoted to general manager after Buddy Nix stepped down.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Axel Tuanzebe Jersey . Onyshko, from Minnedosa, Man., will compete in artistic gymnastics while Hanet, from Kelowna, B.C., will compete in lawn bowling as a para-athlete. "It is exciting that our Canadian athletes are starting to arrive at the Games Village," said Chantal Petitclerc, Canadas Chef de Mission. Marcos Rojo Jersey . You can watch the game on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt and listen to the game on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. After starting the month of November on an 0-3-1 slide, the Canadiens have recorded wins in three of their last five outings (3-1-1). http://www.manunitedfcpro.com/Kids-Michael-Carrick-Jersey/ . -- Derek Jeter spoke for 25 minutes, 44 seconds and answered 26 questions about his decision to retire at the end of this season. David Beckham Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Brodeurs agent Pat Brisson has spoken to six teams so far regarding the veteran goaltender. Luke Shaw Jersey . -- Jake Paterson made 39 saves as the Saginaw Spirit halted the Guelph Storms seven-game win streak with a 6-3 victory on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action.NEW YORK -- The Raptors ended their regular season by blowing a 21-point lead in a 95-92 loss to the New York Knicks Wednesday. But with playoffs on the horizon, Toronto is looking toward its next game. With a Chicago Bulls loss to the Charlotte Bobcats in overtime, the Raptors still landed the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Theyll open up their first post-season series since 2008 by hosting the sixth-seeded Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. "We know we can beat them. We beat them twice this year, and we beat em once without me playing. Were all excited," said all-star DeMar DeRozan, who played just 22 minutes in Wednesdays loss. New York (37-45) finished its disappointing season on a high note, with Cole Aldrich making the tie-breaking dunk with 1:23 left to cap off a four-game winning streak. J.R. Smith scored 30 points, and Aldrich finished with 13 points and 16 rebounds. "We held ourselves to huge expectations, had big shoes to fill. Unfortunately we didnt fill them like we wanted to," Smith said. "We just take that on the chin and use that for preparation for next year." Kyle Lowry scored 22 points in 26 minutes for the Raptors, who finished 48-34. "The mindset going in was to make sure our guys didnt get hurt and get some rest and we did that," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. The Knicks charged back to tie at 74 entering the fourth by outscoring the Raptors 30-17 in the third. The game became meaningless during the period when Charlotte finished off an overtime victory over Chicago, meaning the Raptors could do no worse than finish tied with the Bulls. Toronto owned the tiebreaker as a division champion. The Raptors were a team that wasnt expected to be in the playoffs. Instead, they replaced the Knicks as Atlantic Division champions. "This is huge. When I first got here that was one of my biggest goals, to get this team back to the playoffs and Im happy to be there," Lowry said. ";But, Im not satisfied.dddddddddddd I want to make some noise and show that were a good team." Toronto won six of its final eight games. The only other loss was last Friday to the Knicks, a night before New York was eliminated from the post-season when it couldnt climb all the way out of the huge hole it dug with its dismal start. "The last month and a half, two months has been great for our ballclub to see them back playing like Knick basketball should be played," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said, "so Im excited about that." Smiths dunk tied it at 90, and he followed Aldrichs basket with a jumper to make it 94-90 with 21 seconds to go. Tyler Hansbrough scored while being fouled and the Knicks couldnt get the rebound after he missed the free throw. But Toronto eventually threw away an inbounds pass and Smith made one last free throw. The Knicks won without Carmelo Anthony, sidelined by a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and fellow starters Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton on the last game before changes could come. Woodson said before the game he believe hes the right coach for this team, but hasnt had a conversation with new president Phil Jackson yet about his future. Thats likely Jacksons first big decision, with another this summer if Anthony goes through with his plan to become a free agent. Lowry scored 17 in the first quarter, when the Raptors made 11 of 17 shots and led 28-21. Toronto quickly pushed the lead into double figures in the second, opening the period with an 11-2 burst that made it 39-23 on Dwight Buycks 3-pointer. Toronto went ahead by as much as 21 before taking a 57-44 lead into the break. Notes: The Knicks announced they had signed Lamar Odom before the game, giving Jackson the off-season to look at a player who thrived playing for him when Jackson coached the Lakers. Odom was a key member of the Lakers championship teams in 2009 and 2010, and the Sixth Man of the Year in 2011. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '