‘So Buffalo, which seemingly won’t re-sign Breida or Taiwan Jones, are still in the market for a difference-making back as Devin Singletary, despite an improved second half of last season, and Zack Moss, have failed to enhance Buffalo’s ground game.’
Archives for March 18, 2022
‘It had to be something special:’ How the Bills lured Von Miller away from Super Bowl-champion Rams
‘“It had to be something special,” Miller said. “It had to be the Buffalo Bills. What they’ve created here – it had to be the Bills Mafia. This environment that they’ve created here, it drawed me away from (Los Angeles). It’s not going to be the weather. The weather is going to be the weather, but what they’re doing inside this facility, what they’re doing in this community, what they’re doing on the football field and off the football field, man, I had to be a part of that.”’
Bills DT Jordan Phillips: ‘My end goal was always to come back here’
‘In Phillips’ re-introductory news conference, he was clear that the hope was always to come back to the Bills, where he played just under two seasons. Even in just 28 games, something about Buffalo seeped in. He left, but he felt caught in what he realized he’d left behind.’
Bills release Cole Beasley, create cap space and need at receiver
‘Beasley’s departure leaves a big hole in the slot in the Buffalo offense. His ability to get quick initial separation was a big benefit to quarterback Josh Allen. Beasley and Allen developed a great feel for how he would run the many option routes in the Buffalo offense. Beasley is a master at giving the QB a good target in holes in zone defenses.’
Levi Wallace’s contract details show Bills were ready to move on
‘Wallace’s salary is much lower than what was expected. By not matching it, the Bills have showed they believe they can upgrade the position. Whether that comes through free agency, a trade or the draft remains to be seen.’
Bills create $5 million more in salary cap space with Matt Milano restructure
‘Milano previously was going to count $9.97 million against the salary cap. Now, he will count $4.79 million, according to Spotrac.com. The Bills took the base salary Milano was due to receive – $7.5 million – and converted most of it to bonus money, spread out over the three remaining years of his contract.’
Jordan Phillips’ heart never left Buffalo, and now he’s thrilled to be back with the Bills
‘“I didn’t want to leave; I wish I didn’t,” he said Thursday after signing a one-year contract to return to the place that he said just feels like home. “It was sad because everyone thought I was leaving for the money. Me and Brandon talked and it just seemed like the better opportunity was for me to leave at the time and it served its purpose, but my end goal was always to come back here and I’m happy it worked out. A lot of smiley faces, everybody’s giddy, I’m real giddy. I haven’t slept yet. And I have so much energy right now that it’s a great feeling.”’
Three things to know about Jordan Phillips, Buffalo Bills new defensive tackle
‘He was frustrated by his lack of playing time and sharing snaps with the likes of Akeem Spence, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, and made his feelings perfectly clear during a sideline tirade the day before he was cut.’
Shaq Lawson becomes the 5th free agent defensive lineman signed by Bills
‘Lawson, who former coach Rex Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley selected with the 19th pick of the first round in the 2016 NFL Draft, is returning to the Bills after two years away, same as Phillips.’
Three things to know about Tim Settle, Buffalo Bills new defensive tackle
‘Settle simply didn’t get much of an opportunity in Washington, but several evaluators have seen enough film to believe that with a change of scenery he could really have a breakout year for the Bills.’
Bills release WR Cole Beasley in a move everyone expected
‘The team also on Thursday re-worked the contract of Matt Milano which freed another $5.1 million.’
Jordan Phillips calls out Shaq Lawson, minutes later the two are back on Bills together
‘The production that Lawson and Phillips had in 2019 was even more impressive when you consider they each played roughly only 50% of the snaps on defense. They made the most out of their opportunities and they’re likely going to find snaps even more difficult to come by on the reunion tour.’
Cole Beasley sends messages to former Bills teammates after release
‘“You know I got love for you big dog,” Beasley wrote back to McKenzie. “Josh [Allen] is in good hands. It’s been awesome to see you grow and take constructive criticism from me like a champ. That takes humility and I learned just as much from you as you may have from me if not more. Go show em what you’ve been ready for your whole life.”’
‘Bills are always the mystery team’ in free agency, says NFL insider
‘“It’s so interesting with the Bills,” Rapoport said. “Obviously I was tracking this yesterday and I knew the Rams were in it, the Cowboys were in it, the Browns were in it and then there was a mystery team and nobody would tell me. And it took me a long time to figure out the Bills were the mystery team and that’s sort of what I learned. The Bills are always the mystery team because they don’t want anyone to know they’re involved and they insist on secrecy which is hard for me, but who cares. It also makes it a lot more fun when it’s a big splash signing like Von Miller and it just gets dropped in our laps like that. That was a pretty cool moment, I have to say.”’
Friday’s Minnesota Coverage
Source: Vikings hosted Bills guard Ryan Bates, a restricted free agent (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Vikings meet with Bills restricted free-agent guard Ryan Bates (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)