According to Manish Mehta's article, Doug's agent negotiated the opt-out clause be put in because of then owner Ralph Wilson's health at the time and the strong possibility of an ownership change. The ownership change came to fruition. Doug had a 3 day period where he was able to opt-out. He went to new owners the Pegulas and tried to leverage that opt-out clause into a longer term commitment in him by them. They refused and so he took his guaranteed money and opted out. What was he supposed to think about his future in Buffalo at that point?

The mistake was on the Pegulas for not recognizing that he either could or would opt out, especially if they really didn't want him to do so. They could have extended him a year or two and guaranteed that opt out portion at least and it would have never happened and they wouldn't be tied to the hip with him for much longer if it didn't work out. He had leverage that had a very short expiration. He attempted to use it. Just like pretty much anyone else would have in that situation.

The rest of the bad mouthing about this and that is just sour grapes. If the opt-out doesn't happen and he continues to win in Buffalo, no one has a problem with anything inside the building.

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