‘Cornerback is the only position on the Bills’ roster where there is a starting position open. Tre’Davious White, coming back from knee surgery, might not be ready for the season opener. The other starter, Levi Wallace, signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh. Dane Jackson started the final eight games, counting playoffs, in place of White last season. The Bills surely will add some players to compete with Jackson.’
Archives for March 25, 2022
Bears reportedly tender offer sheet to Bills restricted free agent guard Ryan Bates
‘According to contracts website Spotrac, the Bears have more than $23 million in cap space, so it’s possible they could structure a contract that is difficult for the Bills to match.’
Taiwan Jones agrees to deal to return to Bills
‘Length and terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. Jones, 33, played last year on a one-year contract. He played 306 snaps on special teams in 2021, 70.5% of the team total, which ranked third on the roster behind Tyler Matakevich and Reggie Gilliam.’
Washington running back J.D. McKissic on flip: ‘I was ready to be a Buffalo’
‘McKissic’s version seems to correspond to the report that Washington did not make him an offer until they learned that he had a verbal agreement with the Bills.’
NFL owners to vote on funding for proposed stadium deal for Buffalo Bills
‘Up to $150 million of the loan is forgivable, repaid through the visiting teams’ share of Bills ticket revenue over 25 years, and is contingent on both public financing and the Pegulas contributing at least $200 million of their own equity to the project, according to the terms of the league’s “G-4” loan program, which helps fund stadium construction and renovations projects.’
Fans want the Bills to stay, but some cringe at their share of stadium cost
‘”Yes, you can simultaneously be a #Bills fan and also be against the use of public funding to pay for a new stadium,” one fan, Christopher Ouimet, wrote on Twitter last week. “An oil billionaire wants the public to pay a billion dollars for an NFL stadium during a period of highest gas prices in history.”‘
The Editorial Board: For a new Bills stadium, the share of public dollars will be both substantial and necessary
‘Whatever the exact figure, the investment of state dollars will be substantial. This is the cost of doing business in the National Football League. Highmark Stadium is showing its age and requires expensive upkeep. Its lease with Erie County expires after one more football season and the team’s owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, have said they would not renew the lease without agreement on a new stadium.’
Chicago Bears may lure guard away from Buffalo Bills with contract offer
‘The Bills chose to give Bates the lowest tender, one which does not require the signing team to produce any form of compensation. They could have given him the middle-tier tender of $3.986 million which would have brought back a valuable second-round pick, and given the value of that asset, it usually ensures the player isn’t going to leave.’
How the Bills Mafia helped Buffalo land Von Miller
‘Bills fans are intense, which Miller loved, with the pageantry reminding him of College Station from his Texas A&M days. Plus, the Bills really wanted this to happen and weren’t going to lose out on him again. Miller got the impression during the process that the Bills had tried to trade for him in the past, possibly during last year’s trade deadline as the Rams acquired him. When Miller became a free agent, Buffalo quietly applied a full-court press, knowing Los Angeles would be aggressive in trying to re-sign him.’
Friday’s Chicago Coverage
Offensive lineman Ryan Bates signs an offer sheet with Chicago Bears — now Buffalo Bills have 5 days to match (Chicago Tribune)
Bears taking aim at Bills guard Ryan Bates (Chicago Sun Times)
OL Ryan Bates to sign offer sheet from Bears, per reports (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)
Report: RFA OL Ryan Bates to sign Bears offer sheet (NBC Sports Chicago)
Friday’s Washington Coverage
J.D. McKissic was headed to Buffalo, but ‘unfinished business’ kept him in Washington (Washington Post)
McKissic: ‘Unfinished business’ led back to Commanders (Washington Times)
J.D. McKissic flipped back to Washington Commanders for ‘unfinished business’ (ESPN)
McKissic pivoted back to Washington for ‘unfinished business’ (NBC Sports Washington)
J.D. McKissic has ‘unfinished business’ in Washington (Commanders.com)
Bills Stand To Lose Bates After OL Signs Bears’ Offer Sheet
‘Buffalo has very limited space under its salary cap, which already counts Bates’ contract, and the team would have to free up additional space to match the Bears’ offer.’
Chicago Bears sign Buffalo Bills OG Ryan Bates to offer sheet
‘While injuries led to him taking the field, Bates maintained the starting job for the end of the season and playoff run due to his performance alongside left tackle Dion Dawkins. For the season, Bates had a 93% pass block win rate at guard, which hovers around league average, and a 59% run block win rate, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.’
Report: Bills re-signing special teamer Taiwan Jones
‘Jones doesn’t see the field much as a running back, but he has been a core special teams player for the Bills for four of the past five seasons, spending 2019 with the Houston Texans.’
Report: Ryan Bates signs offer sheet with Bears
‘It is not yet known exactly what the details are of the deal. No matter what they are, the Bills will now have five days to match the offer or lose Bates to Chicago.’