‘Complicating maters is that Beane has tight relationships with Washington executive vice president of football/player personnel Marty Hurney and head coach Ron Rivera, having worked with both of them for many years in Carolina. Asked if those relationships complicated the situation even more, Beane stared daggers straight ahead as he coolly, said, “yeah, it does.”’
Archives for March 19, 2022
Bills GM Brandon Beane says Von Miller is ‘that finisher’
‘“I think we’re just going to get so much from him,” Beane said Friday. “He’s a true pro. Obviously, he is a heck of a player. Maybe on the field, (he’s) that closer. That finisher. OK, this guy knows how to get to the quarterback. It’s proven. He’s done it 115 or whatever times. We don’t have that on our roster, and this was the only way to get it.”’
Bills continue to clear salary cap space by releasing defensive tackle Star Lotulelei
‘”We had open, honest conversation with his agent and ultimately just said ‘let’s see what it looks like in free agency. We got some guys that we’re tracking.’ If it makes sense for us we may pursue them, if we do where our money is, at that point we’d make a decision,” General Manager Brandon Beane said Friday. “Starting last week, we had not made a firm decision on whether we were keeping Star or not. … Ultimately, once we signed Jordan (after he) got released and became (available), if he’s not released maybe we’re not here. Appreciate Star. Bringing him here. I know people didn’t always have a feel for what he brought to our team.”‘
Arkansas’ Eric Musselman ‘blown away’ by meeting Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane
‘”Coach was nice enough to come, as was Brandon. And we talked philosophy for quite some time,” Musselman said Friday. “I thought maybe we’d talk for three or four minutes. But we really got into some leadership stuff, which was really, really cool. I was completely blown away with how nice and the time that both those guys gave not only myself, but my son and we had a few other staff members there.”‘
With talk of new stadium, Orchard Park and Hamburg look for ways to encourage spinoff
‘And after being shut out of the stadium negotiations, they’re eager for a seat at the table once the deal is signed to discuss how it will impact their communities – and how they can maximize the benefits from it.’
Von Miller struggled with his decision, but in the end, Buffalo is where he wants to be
‘Exhibiting a welcome dose of heartfelt honesty, Miller willingly pulled back the curtain to reveal the back and forth confliction he experienced when it came to choosing between staying with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and all the glitz, glamour, surf, sun and excitement of the Hollywood lifestyle that comes with Southern California, or moving across the country to, um, Buffalo, to play for a weather-challenged franchise forever in search of a maddeningly elusive NFL championship.’
Buffalo Bills release Star Lotulelei, having revamped their defensive line
‘The Bills made this move despite the fact that they will have to eat an ugly salary cap hit of $7.7 million, and will only see $1.5 million of cap space created by his departure.’
Bills’ Brandon Beane visibly angry about what Washington pulled to get J.D. McKissic
‘Beane was upset that the Commanders, who have plenty of folks in the organization – including former Panthers coach Ron Rivera – that he worked with in Carolina, didn’t respect the deal.’
Why did Von Miller leave title team in sunny LA for Buffalo Bills? Because he believes in Josh Allen
‘“Walking away from Aaron Donald, that sucks,” he said. “What pass rusher would walk away from a tandem with me, Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd? Like who does that? I don’t care if we didn’t have anybody else behind us. As long as it was me, AD and Leonard Floyd, I felt like we could have got things done.”’
Buffalo Bills release veteran DT Star Lotulelei after active free agency on defensive line
‘The move is a straight up cut, according to reports. That means that the Bills will take a $7.7 million dead cap hit and add $1.5 million in salary cap space. If the move was designated as a post-June 1 cut, then the Bills would have had just a $5 million dead cap number on the contract. That scenario would have opened up about $4 million in cap space, but it wouldn’t have been available until after June 1.’
Did Bills hope to keep Cole Beasley? GM talks releasing Beasley, Star Lotulelei
‘Beane said in January that he anticipated Beasley being back and that he thinks he can still play. Things changed quickly once the Bills learned of Beasley’s intentions. “Not everyone agreed with some of his comments or his viewpoints – and I’m not talking about in the building,” Beane said. “And he just felt that maybe a change for he and his family would be best if we could find the right spot.”’
Von Miller: Leaving Rams for Bills ‘like breaking up with my girlfriend’
‘“It had to be the Buffalo Bills,” Miller said. “What they’ve created here — it had to be the Bills Mafia. This environment that they’ve created here, it drawed me away from that. It’s not gonna be the weather. The weather is gonna 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 it.”’
Saturday’s Chicago Coverage
Buffalo Bills OL Ryan Bates, a restricted free agent, is expected to visit the Chicago Bears next week (Chicago Tribune)
Bills restricted free agent Ryan Bates to visit Patriots, Bears after Vikings stop (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Saturday’s New York Coverage
LI’s Jon Feliciano: There’s no place like home (Newsday)
Giants sign yet another player from the Bills — and at a position of need too (Newark Star Ledger)
Saturday’s Washington Coverage
Did Commanders keep Bills from retaining Levi Wallace? (Birmingham News)
Commanders draw ire of Bills GM, Matt Ioannidis’ agent (NBC Sports Washington)