Rex Ryan: LeSean McCoy trade happened fast

PHOENIX - Chip Kelly does everything fast. Talks fast, walks fast, plays fast.

So, it should come as no surprise that now that he is making all of the Eagles' personnel decisions, he also trades fast.

Bills coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday that the blockbuster March 4 swap with the Eagles that sent linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia in exchange for All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy took just 30 minutes start to finish, hello to good bye.

"The trade for LeSean happened really quick," Ryan told reporters at the AFC media breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. "We were all sitting there, we were having organizational meetings.

"We were sitting around making our plans for free agency, what our team looks like, what we want it to look like. All of a sudden, we get this call from Philadelphia. That was when the trade started, and within 30 minutes, it was done."

To say Ryan and the Bills were a little surprised to be offered the opportunity to acquire a 26-year-old running back who had rushed for 2,926 yards the previous two seasons would be an understatement.

"We never saw it (coming)," Ryan said. It was an (unexpected) opportunity. We were just stunned there for a little bit. We're like, 'Really? Wow.' And we took it from there. Obviously we were interested. We all talked about it, and it didn't take long to come up with the conclusion we did. Let's go and get him.

"We knew it wasn't going to be cheap by any stretch. Losing a player like Kiko Alonso obviously is a steep price. But we felt really good about it."

Kelly said the primary reason he traded McCoy was to free up cap room. McCoy's 2015 cap number was scheduled to be $11.9 million. But he never approached Kelly or his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about restructuring his deal.

McCoy eventually signed a new 5-year, $40 million deal with the Bills that includes $26.5 million in guarantees. Under his new deal, he has a $5.5 million cap number in 2015.

McCoy was as stunned as the Bills when he heard that he had been traded. He wasn't thrilled by the prospect of moving to frigid Buffalo and playing for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 1999. McCoy was 10 that year.

But money can sooth a lot of slights.

"There were reports he wasn't real excited about it," Ryan said. "But I think the reverse of that is true. I think he's excited to be a Bill.

"(The trade happened) about the same time we were bringing in free agents, as well. And he was our chief recruiter.

"It was easy (to sell him on the Bills). We want to run the football. We have a talented roster. We're a team that's excited about where we're at and motivated to win. Any competitor would want that kind of situation.

"And knowing you're gonna be a featured guy. I never had to sell him. I know he talked to a lot of players I've coached before. So that's an easy sell. I didn't need to paint a false picture. I just told him the truth, and the truth is he's going to be a valued member of this team. And he's excited about that."