Buffalo Bills: Kim Pegula discusses Russ Brandon controversy

Several weeks after Russ Brandon’s resignation, Buffalo Bills co-owner Kim Pegula discussed the controversy with the local media.

We all know professional sports is still a male-dominated world, and for the most part, you can argue this will always be the way. Regardless, Buffalo Bills‘ co-owner Kim Pegula acts as a shining example of how it is possible for women to succeed in the industry.

Pegula is one of only two people of non-European descent to own an NFL franchise. She is also an extremely intelligent person, who helps reside over the Pegula Sports and Entertainment empire, alone with her husband, Terry.

As such, the 48-year-old was one of the best qualified people to speak to, about the recent controversy surrounding Russ Brandon. The former managing partner and president for PSE resigned from his position three weeks ago, following an internal investigation.

Brandon claimed it was always his goal to reach 20 years with the organization, and he had been contemplating stepping down for some time. However, the real reason for leaving was far more concerning.

At the time, Tim Graham of The Buffalo News wrote that Brandon was confronted by the claims of inappropriate relationships with female employees, which he denied. However, the investigation indicated he was deceitful about this and other job-related issues.

Apart from a statement, the Pegulas had been silent about what transpired. That changed this week, at the NFL spring meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pegula was understandably disappointed by what had transpired recently with Brandon. As reported by Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, she said:

"“I was very disheartened because, obviously, we had put him in a high position of president of both teams and PSE. So when you put that amount of confidence in somebody and you are expecting them to do a job worthy of that title, and that’s not what you’re getting back, it’s always disheartening.”"

Pegula’s sadness over what happened made a lot of sense, after the amount of time she had spent in Brandon’s company. Again reported by Carucci, she said:

"“…every relationship we have is personal. There were many trips that we took, there were many not official business things that we would do just from a personal (standpoint), so it was very disheartening that it had to happen.”"

Brandon had often been a polarizing figure during his 21-year tenure in Western New York. Fair or not, he was regularly blamed for the lack of success by the Bills and Sabres.

However, even fans would surely have preferred the East Syracuse, New York native left for reasons not related to his personal conduct. In any event, he has left now and even the way this was dealt with, told you a lot about the class of the owners.