Whaley is out as Bills’ GM
The Buffalo Bills have fired general manager
Doug Whaley one day after the end of the NFL draft, a move that further solidifies rookie head coach
Sean McDermott’s control over the team. Team owner Terry Pegula said Sunday he and his wife, Kim, reached the decision after a lengthy review of the team. Whaley’s dismissal completes what has become yet another front-office housecleaning that began when coach Rex Ryan was fired in the final week of last season.
Whaley’s future was also uncertain when Ryan was fired, though he received the full backing of Pegula at the time. The owner’s change of heart coincides with the authority McDermott has amassed in the three months since being hired.
The shake-up leaves the Bills seeking their seventh GM during what’s been a 17-year playoff drought — the longest active streak in North America’s four major professional sports.
Whaley had three seasons left on his contract after signing a four-year extension in January 2016.
Though Whaley was present in the Bills draft room this past weekend, it was unclear how much influence he had on the selections.
TENNIS Rafael Nadal defeated Dominic Thiem, 6-4, 6-1, to win his 10th Barcelona Open title Sunday.
It was the second consecutive week that Nadal had won a tournament for the 10th time. He had become the first men’s tennis player in the Open era to win the same title 10 times at the Monte Carlo Masters last Sunday. Porsche Grand Prix: Laura Siegemund defeated Kristina Mladenovic, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (5), to win the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. The German wild-card entrant, who lost to compatriot Angelique Kerber in last year’s final in Stuttgart, held on to win her second career title after Mladenovic had rallied in the second set. Big East: The Marquette men’s team (15-9) saw its bid for the program’s first conference title fall just short as they dropped a 4-3 decision to Butler in the championship match in Cayce, S.C.
AUTO RACING Valtteri Bottas claimed his first Formula One win after holding off a late charge from Sebastian Vettel in the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Mercedes driver Bottas, who started third but snatched the lead on the first lap, finished 0.6 of a second ahead of Ferrari’s Vettel. Kimi Raikkonen took third in the second Ferrari, 10.3 seconds further back.
NHRA: Steve Torrence won the Top Fuel event in the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. Torrence had a 3.783-second pass at 323.89 mph for the ninth victory of his career and first of the season. He beat points leader Leah Pritchett, eight-time season champion Tony Schumacher and Terry McMillen in the final round. BASEBALL
Washington Nationals centerfielder Adam Eaton tore a ligament in his left knee and his season is likely over, the team confirmed.
General manager Mike Rizzo said Eaton has a “full thickness” ACL tear, plus a meniscus tear and a high ankle sprain.
In Friday’s 7-5 loss to the visiting New York Mets, the 28-year-old Eaton stepped awkwardly on the bag when he beat out a throw to first in the ninth inning.
UW-Milwaukee 10, Oakland 3: Austin Schulfer struck out 13 in seven innings to lead the Panthers to a victory over the Golden Grizzlies at Miller Park.
UWM scored five runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to break it open. Trevor Schwecke, John Boidanis, Mike Jordahl and Ben Chally drove in two runs apiece for the Panthers (16-25, 6-13 Horizon League).
SOCCER
Vitesse Arnhem collected a major trophy for the first time in its 125-year existence by beating AZ Alkmaar, 2-0, in the Dutch Cup final Sunday.
Striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored twice in the final 10 minutes to seal the victory for a club that is owned by Russian businessman Alexander Chigirinsky.