SURREY, B.C. - B.C. Lions players expect Wally Buono to relinquish his coaching duties but retain a management role after guiding the CFL club to an improbable Grey Cup victory.
"I don't think he'll come back as coach, but I don't think he's just going to step away from football," said defensive back Korey Banks as the Lions held a post-season meeting Monday at their practice facility. "This is what he knows."
Buono, who currently holds the dual title of general manager and coach, led the Lions to the CFL championship Sunday after opening the season 0-5.
Players say Buono has not told them of his decision, but centre Angus Reid said he is showing subtle signs of his intention to pass the coach's whistle to someone younger.
"We took a team picture with the Grey Cup," said Reid. "He's never done things like that before. He requested that."
Buono, who has often hinted the 2011 campaign would be his last, said he will announce his decision "fairly quickly." But the CFL's all-time winningest coach will not base it on the five Grey Cups he has won as a head coach.
"To me that's not motivating enough and that's not who I am," said Buono, who has been a head coach for 22 seasons, including nine with B.C. "You have to respect the game and you have to respect the tradition of Grey Cup, but if that's your motivation, I think that's very selfish. It's not about that. What I've got to decide on is what I think is best for the organization, but I've also gotta decide on what's best for me."
Buono is in the midst of a three-year contract that expires in 2013. When he re-signed in March 2010, the GM-coach committed to staying for all three years but told owner David Braley that he would not necessarily perform both roles before the deal expired.
Buono all but confirmed his desire to stay on as GM rather than retire.
"Football is something that's in my blood, and I've been doing this now for close to 40 years," said Buono, a former Montreal Alouettes player.
On Monday, he put the coaching question on hold to focus on his general manager duties. The Lions have 12 pending free agents as they look to repeat as Grey Cup champions in 2012.
One of Buono's top off-season priorities will be to re-sign quarterback Travis Lulay, who garnered CFL and Grey Cup most valuable player honours in 2011. Lulay said he is willing to discuss a possible long-term contract with Buono.
"I would be foolish if I didn't try," said Buono. "But I'm going to respect Travis and let him enjoy the moment. I think he knows how I feel about him. I think he knows how the organization feels about him and, honestly, I feel that it's tacky to deal with the business at hand."
Receiver Arland Bruce, a pending free agent, also poses another important decision for Buono. The Lions' road back to respectability took a sharp turn for the better after Buono acquired him in a trade from Hamilton when the Lions were still winless.
Bruce, a 10-year veteran who now has two Grey Cup victories in three visits with as many teams, said he would like to remain with the Lions.
"I'm not retiring," said Bruce, who also won a Grey Cup with Toronto in 2004. "So when I come back, I'm thinking about winning another championship."
Veteran slotback Paris Jackson also poses a tough decision after his role was drastically reduced in the just-completed campaign as Buono elected to go with younger Canadians Shawn Gore and Akeem Foster.
Jackson, a 31-year-old Vancouver native, hopes to play at least another five seasons, but is widely expected to have played his last game as a Lion.
"I'm just trying to celebrate and cherish the time that we're all spending together right now," said Jackson. "If this was my last game with B.C., it feels good to be on top."
Meanwhile, veterans like Reid and defensive end Brent Johnson are contemplating retirement while at least one player, running back Jamal Robertson, has already made the decision. Others, like middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian, will weigh NFL options.
After a night of celebrating the tired players reconvened for a team meeting and to autographed jerseys and other memorabilia, including a magnum of Molson Canadian that kicker Paul McCallum circulated. They also prepared to scatter to their off-season homes and vacations, knowing the team would never be exactly the same again.
Wherever players go, said receiver Geroy Simon, they will forever be united by their Grey Cup win.
"It's a business when it comes down to it, and not everyone will be here next year," said Simon. "But we have one common thing that we share with each other. It's special this group -- very special -- and we'll cherish this for a long time."
The team will celebrate the Grey Cup victory with fans at B.C. Place Stadium on Wednesday night. When asked why the team is not holding a parade like Montreal did last season, Buono deferred the question to club president Dennis Skulsky.
"I'm just the GM," said Buono.
