‘For the second consecutive year, Gray met with The Buffalo News for more than an hour to pull the curtain back on the Bills’ draft process. Which players did he see play in-person? How many of the draft picks had private workouts and/or made a visit to Orchard Park? What did the Bills glean from their interviews with the eventual selections?’
Archives for May 2024
Bills Mailbag: Money talks in taking Keon Coleman to start Round 2
‘The best-case scenario for the Bills is Coleman provides great value in those first three years and the two sides work out a contract extension. If that doesn’t happen, but the Bills still want to keep him around after his four-year contract is up, they can always use the franchise tag. That is more expensive that the fifth-year option would be, but it would virtually guarantee Coleman stays with the team for that fifth season.’
Sean Kirst: For Mother’s Day, an unexpected gift from Pancho Billa
‘It’s been five years this month since Castro, a man of gentle and healthy discipline who worked as a mortician and didn’t smoke or drink, died in Texas from fast-moving cancer, at 39. Borjon, who expects she’ll always struggle with his absence, said it’s difficult to believe it’s been that long. She’ll often turn on videos of Castro with their kids just to be sure they never forget his voice.’
Bills trying out lacrosse star Zed Williams at linebacker in rookie minicamp
‘Williams is hardly the first lacrosse player to dabble in the NFL. Back in 2022, the Denver Broncos hosted former Maryland lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt on a top-30 visit prior to the draft. Bernhardt served as a graduate transfer quarterback for Ferris State in 2021, leading the Bulldogs to an undefeated record and the program’s first Division II national championship. He went undrafted in the NFL, but was signed by the Atlanta Falcons. In the preseason that year, he caught a game-winning touchdown, and eventually earned a spot on the 53-man roster. Bernhardt played in two games, but retired from the NFL the following year.’
Bills RB Frank Gore Jr. says he’s ready to ‘prove people wrong’ after going undrafted
‘Gore went undrafted despite a solid college career at Southern Mississippi, where he rushed for over 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 5.3 yards-per-carry average. He was asked if he feels that his size (5-foot-10 and 210 pounds) was the main reason why he wasn’t drafted.’
Hometown kid signs with hometown team; Joe Andreessen inks 1-year deal with Buffalo Bills as UDFA
‘The Bills officially announced the roster move on Saturday evening. Andreessen was invited to Buffalo Bills Rookie Minicamp on a try-out basis and will sign as an undrafted free agent.’
Bills sign LB Joe Andreessen, Lancaster grad who played last year at UB
‘Andreessen was one of 27 hopefuls invited to Buffalo’s rookie minicamp this weekend, which included two of his UB teammates, receiver Cole Harrity and kicker Alex McNulty, and professional lacrosse star Zed Williams, a Cattaraugus Reservation native, among four linebackers trying out for the last open spot on the Bills’ 90-man offseason roster.’
Keon Coleman had ‘bunch of jitters’ ahead of Bills rookie camp
‘“A bunch of jitters,” said Coleman. “It’s exciting. The moment gets downplayed because the process is so long. But once I grabbed the helmet and put it on, it kind of shook me back to real life. This is a reality now.”’
Bills sign UB standout, Depew native Joe Andreessen to active roster
‘Andreessen spent his graduate season playing for the University at Buffalo. He started in all 12 games and registered 90 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, one sack, two passes defensed and one forced fumble in 2023.’
Keon Coleman happy to be back to work at Bills rookie minicamp
‘“That’s probably the best feeling in the world,” he said. “You know, all the other stuff, that’s cool and all, but the main thing is the main thing – I’m trying to get better on the football field, learn the playbook and impact the team and try to help (the team) win. That’s really what I’m focused on, what I really care about, so it’s great finally getting back to it.”’
Ryan O’Halloran: Sean McDermott says some Bills draft picks must be ready to help right away
‘“The interesting thing is we’re going to have to depend on some of these young guys in this draft class to help us and play this year,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott told me earlier this week. “Getting them acclimated to the life in the NFL and getting them adjusted to the NFL schemes is going to take some time.”’
Frank Gore Jr. loves Bills fans, coaches and the ‘Shout’ song: Why he signed with Buffalo
‘“Oh, it was great,” Frank Jr. said Friday on the first day of the Bills’ rookie mini camp. “I came to like three games. It was cold when they played the Jets at the end of season. But I loved it here – what do they say, ‘Hey, hey, hey hey.’ Yeah, I loved that. This is like one of the most enthusiastic places I’ve ever been.”’
Buffalo Bills invite elite MVP lacrosse player to rookie minicamp
‘Among the list of prospects invited to the team’s rookie minicamp was Zed Williams, an elite lacrosse player who attended Silver Creek high school.’
Former Syracuse players Trill Williams, D’Marcus Adams will attend Buffalo Bills mini-camp
‘The pair brings the total number of Orange alumni working out with the Bills to three. Safety Jason Simmons Jr. is also attending. His participation had already been announced. All three are attending the mini-camp on a tryout basis and looking to earn an invitation to the team’s training camp.’
Coleman hits practice field for first time at Bills rookie mini camp
‘“You know, it’s exciting. The moment gets downplayed because the process is so long,” he said. “But I think once I grabbed the helmet and put it on, it kind of shook me back to real life — like this is reality now.”’