Doug Marrone, Rex Ryan

Former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone, left, talks to Rex Ryan, then coach of the Jets right, before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J.

(AP)

Orchard Park, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills may not be blasting music during practice anymore, but that doesn't mean they're having any less fun.

In fact, veteran running back Fred Jackson is among those players who has already found playing for new coach Rex Ryan quite a bit more enjoyable than playing for Doug Marrone, who coached the Bills during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

"The thing about Rex and being out here, as opposed to Marrone last year, is we have a lot of fun out here," Jackson said after the first day of Bills' minicamp Wednesday. "It's not always just business first. We come out here, we have fun. Anytime you get a coach like that it makes the days go by a lot faster."

Jackson isn't alone in that sentiment. Linebacker Nigel Bradham had heard plenty of stories about Ryan before he took over, but it wasn't until he got involved in the offseason program that he realized how much different he is than other coaches, including Marrone and former Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

"All of them are great coaches," Bradham said. "But it's fun now. Coach Ryan, he's got some swag to him. He's got some swag to him. When you're playing for a coach like that you have a lot more fun, you're a lot more confident. The game is back to where it was. Just fun like it was as a kid. He looks out for us and he takes care of us, so we'll all go out there and put it all on the line for him."

That excitement has extended to the fan base, as the Bills have set a franchise record for season tickets sold. Ryan knows players and fans are fired up, and he's embracing the expectations.

"Was I excited about that? Darn right I was. Come on in here and get a piece of this," Ryan said Tuesday. "They should be. We got a good football team and great coaches … and an average (head coach).

"Before I ever came here, I knew how awesome these fans were. This is just another thing to reinforce it. We're all excited about the season."