Roth: Doug Marrone's credibility shot

Back from a long holiday vacation and I see where Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract.

Opted out? Hmmmm. Why don't we just say what Marrone did? He quit on his team, his players and western New York all together. He took the money and ran, just like his favored quarterback, Kyle Orton, whose timid play foreshadowed a player planning to retire.

Only in the NFL circa 2015 can an overrated college coach skip town after two years and a 15-17 record as an overrated professional coach. Marrone is reportedly coveted by more than a few teams, more proof that the world is flat.

From this bar stool, the Marrone Mess will prove a blessing, opening the door for a true leader with character that runs deeper than taking care of No. 1. Someone like Frank Reich perhaps?

The legendary Bills backup quarterback of the Super Bowl Era has built an impressive coaching resume, and with his oratory and tactical skills could be well suited to take over a roster that isn't far from the Promised Land of 10 wins.

Marrone came billed as a tough-minded coach and skilled teacher, endorsed by some of the biggest names in football. But that reputation wobbled like many of Orton's passes.

Marrone was hired by the Bills to develop a franchise QB and stellar offensive line. Instead, he gave up on EJ Manuel after just 14 games, his line was among the worst in the NFL, his offense the reason Buffalo "opted out'' of the playoffs for a 15th consecutive season.

His claim to fame as Bills boss? Being smart enough to hire two excellent defensive coordinators (Mike Pettine and Jim Schwartz) and an agent shrewd enough to negotiate a $4-million golden parachute in his contract in the event of an ownership change and a future not to his liking.

He proved a poor game manager, hungry for more power and security as he clashed with others in the Bills front office, and he was thin skinned. That's a personality trait worse than hating traffic if he lands with the Jets. Syracuse's loss surely was not Buffalo's gain.

And somewhere Kyle Orton is poolside with an umbrella drink. Yes, he gave the Bills the best chance of winning in 2014. But it came at the expense of a long-term plan and now we know why.

With a foot out the door, Doug Marrone wasn't trying to win games for the franchise, he was trying to win for Doug Marrone so much so he wouldn't even give Manuel the start in a meaningless season finale at New England.

How shameful is that? The Bills' 9-7 record was the first winning mark in a decade. But it was more hollow than a hustler's promise. The manifestation of a blue-collar coach with white-collar loopholes in his contract.

Players talk. And Marrone's $4 million opt-out is the price he paid for his credibility.