Archives for March 2017

'With Buffalo having lost Gilmore, Woods and Goodwin and bringing back Alexander, Mills, Humber and Anderson, there are still 16 players from last year’s Bills roster who are unrestricted free agents, who have yet to sign, and one other unrestricted FA, safety Jonathan Meeks, who won’t receive an offer.'

'Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, who had a breakout season in 2016 at 33 years old, announced on Twitter that he's re-signing with the team. The deal is for two years and up to $9.1 million, with $4 million in guarantees, The Buffalo News has learned.'

'“I definitely want to be settled in one spot and Buffalo being the great football city that it is ­– obviously the fan base and the whole community embraced me last year ­– I definitely wanted to come back here,” he said Saturday on a conference call. “I really appreciated the Pegulas, Doug Whaley and Sean McDermott expressing their feelings about me as a player on and off the field. Anytime you have a relationship that you do like that, you definitely want to come back and finish it off.”'

'Mills, 26, started every game last season for the Bills, taking 97 percent of the offensive snaps. Although he has plenty of experience, with 50 career starts, he was viewed as the weak link on the Bills' offensive line in 2016. The analytics website Pro Football Focus graded Mills 64th out of 78 qualifying offensive tackles, charging him with nine sacks, six quarterback hits and 44 hurries. The Bills appeared on the verge of handing the right tackle job over to Seantrel Henderson midway through the season, until he was suspended for a second time.'

' McDermott has made it clear he values versatility, and Hyde brings plenty of that with his ability to play cornerback, both outside and in the slot, as well as safety and returner. Those are all positions of need for the Bills. Hyde’s average annual salary of $6 million isn’t outrageous for a starting safety, and he’s only 26. Hyde figures to step into the starting role that once belonged to Williams, filling one of the biggest holes on the roster.'

'But they were happy to get Alexander back, and he’s glad to be back. At the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Alexander was there to do some work for the NFLPA, and he said his agent was in regular contact with the Bills and he was hopeful something could be worked out because he really wanted to stay in Buffalo.'

'"He's an awesome dude," DiMarco said. "A great coach, a great man, very genuine. I sat down to talk to him and "tell me about your family" was the first thing he asked me. I thought that was above and beyond the person that he is. It's just the culture that he's bringing here. It brings a lot of excitement, you know? I've been married almost three years with a one-year old so for a coach, as a family man, to say that to me as the first thing sitting down with him, it kind of knocked me off. My wife might be watching this, so she's going to be super thrilled to hear that."'

'His return to Buffalo does not ensure that he'll be the team's starting right tackle. The position is thin, but Buffalo has also shown interest in veteran free agent Andre Smith and could select a right tackle in the 2017 NFL draft.'

'"I'll probably be off-the-ball playing SAM on under front as I walk up to the line on over front," Alexander said. "I'll be stacked up – which I did, actually, last year in several of our games especially at the end of the season. It was very effective and impactful, still. And then on third down, usually under center – much like how they used Thomas Davis, kind of looking at the way he was used in Carolina. Having that similar role, obviously on the field and in the locker room."'

'Alexander made his feelings on a return to Buffalo known leading up to free agency. Although he reportedly received interest from other AFC East teams, Alexander wanted to return to the Bills.'

'Smith was the No. 6 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and struggled through injuries during his first two seasons. He eventually turned it around and became the team's starting right tackle, earning a second contract. He hit free agency last season and signed a one-year $3.5 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings but ended his season injured reserve with a triceps injury.'

'The team announced the agreement, and a person with direct knowledge of the contract revealed its details to The Associated Press. The person said $4.1 million of the contract is guaranteed, and spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not disclosed the contract's length and value.'

'The 10-year-veteran, who was expected to be a backup but won the job in training camp, led the Bills with 12.5 sacks last season after recording a total of nine sacks in his first nine NFL seasons.'

'Alexander, 33, was among the NFL's surprise stars of last season after enjoying a late-career breakout year.'

'Mills plugged a hole for the Bills when right tackle Seantrel Henderson was diagnosed with Crohn's disease late in the 2015 season, but was a liability last season, ranking 64th among NFL tackles by Pro Football Focus.'