ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills had a chance to wipe the slate clean Tuesday when they fired coach Rex Ryan. In making the call to end Ryan's two-year stint with the team, owners Terry and Kim Pegula could have also decided to part ways with general manager Doug Whaley.

Instead, the Pegulas announced in a 12-word tweet on the Bills' account Tuesday afternoon that Whaley would be leading the head-coaching search, which all but confirmed Whaley will return for a fifth season in 2017. The Pegulas have not addressed the decision beyond that tweet and a brief emailed statement wishing Ryan well after firing him.

In sticking with Whaley, the Bills risk more of the same within a organization where synergy has been as hard to achieve as winning.

Consider the implications of having Whaley -- whose Bills teams have combined for a 30-33 record over four seasons as GM -- lead the coaching search. First, the Bills are seemingly eliminating coaching candidates who would want full control of the 53-man roster. Generally, these are more experienced candidates who can make that sort of demand and can be trusted with both coaching the team and picking its players.

While it's unclear whether former Giants coach and current NFL consultant Tom Coughlin would insist on having full control of the roster in any job he might consider this offseason, it's hard to see a veteran coach such as Coughlin bowing to Whaley on the matter. It is also hard to see Whaley willingly giving up control of the 53-man roster.

Second, potential candidates might be scared away by the prospect of working alongside Whaley. The Bills' job is unlikely to be considered among the most attractive openings this offseason because Buffalo's last two coaches, Doug Marrone and Ryan, each lasted only two seasons despite posting overall records slightly below .500 (15-17 for Marrone; 15-16 for Ryan). Each coach spoke about his healthy relationship with Whaley, but their fates suggest otherwise; Whaley is still employed and his coaches are not. In Marrone's case, he ran away from the situation on his own.

Hypothetically, assume New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can tolerate coaching in the same division as his former team. If McDaniels believes he has a chance to beat Bill Belichick and Tom Brady twice a season, it would more than likely require McDaniels having full control over his roster -- or bringing his longtime friend, Patriots player personnel director Nick Caserio, along as GM. In either case, it is hard to envision McDaniels agreeing to work with Whaley in Buffalo.

So why would the Bills move quickly to prop up Whaley as their headhunter? It is only speculation because the Pegulas rarely make public comments, but part of their thinking could be to give Whaley a final chance to prove his worth. The Pegulas could essentially be stepping aside, handing Whaley the keys to their car with the implicit threat that if he crashes it, he's done driving.

If nothing else, it would provide Whaley with another opportunity to find a coach who is a good fit with his philosophy, preventing the sort of forced marriages that seem to follow teams who fire their coach but retain their general manager.

Obviously, there is risk in the Bills making this Whaley's show, if that is their intention. His track record in picking players is decidedly average, and not having assembled a team that has made the playoffs, he has yet to earn his stripes in a way where he should be given full autonomy over hiring the coach.

The other possibility with the Bills' decision to keep Whaley is that continuity remains the Pegulas' main focus. They might still make the final call over who becomes coach next season, but in not tearing apart Whaley's scouting operation, ownership can keep some stability around a team that has seen little consistency over its 17-year playoff drought.