CBS Sports

‘Bernard was entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, so this deal now secures him for the foreseeable future. The 25-year-old entered the league as a third-round pick of the Bills in 2022 out of Baylor. Since heading to upstate New York, Bernard has blossomed into a key cog of Sean McDermott’s defense. Last season, he was named one of Buffalo’s two captains for the 2024 campaign.’

‘The quarterback said one reason he’s venturing into this new field goes back to a slogan he used during his MVP acceptance speech: “Be good, do good.”‘

‘”I’m no medical expert, but that is my number one concern. I’ve been asked, ‘Hey, well you kind of do the same thing.’ I don’t see ours as a full-fledged ‘Tush Push.’ I think that’s also a chapter of the conversation that needs to get some weight and some time in terms of what’s defined as a ‘Tush Push.’ So I think we need to end up in the right spot as soon as possible, wherever that takes us.”‘

‘If Shakir were to make every available cent in this new contract, it would rank No. 27 among current receiver contracts in terms of AAV. The fifth-round pick out of Boise State in 2022 has gotten better and better each year, and caught 76 passes for 821 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 while his quarterback, Josh Allen, won NFL MVP. Shakir’s 597 yards after catch ranked third in the NFL this season behind Ja’Marr Chase and De’Von Achane, and his 76% catch rate ranked third-highest among all wide receivers.’

‘A $15 million average annual value would be the second-highest among all running backs behind only Christian McCaffrey’s $19 million per year, which CMC got on a two-year, $38 million extension. Such a contract would reset the market for top-tier backs, checking in $1 million per year ahead of Jonathan Taylor and around $2.5 million per year ahead of Saquon Barkley and Alvin Kamara.’

‘”So basically, when I was watching the awards, when he went on stage, I was happy that he had won it and it went from joyful to crying because when he mentioned my name, I just broke down,” Morrow said. “I broke down because I’m just an average person, but when he mentioned my name, I was like, ‘Oh my god, he just mentioned my name on national television, so I was just crying.”‘

‘First, it should be noted that this isn’t a situation where Allen didn’t deserve to win, it was controversial because it was an unprecedented result based on the voting history of the award.’

‘Allen would almost certainly hand back the $1.5 million and tack on any other amount necessary to flip places with Patrick Mahomes and be preparing to play in the Super Bowl Sunday, so winning the MVP likely feels like a phyrric victory at absolute best.’

‘Allen received 383 votes to just beat out Jackson, who received 362 votes in the closest MVP vote since 2003, when Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared the honor. Allen is the first MVP since Manning in 2008 to not have a single All-Pro teammate, according to CBS Sports Research.’

‘Hyde was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft after winning Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in his final season at Iowa. While he entered the league as a cornerback, Hyde quickly evolved into a nickelback and then safety. After four seasons in Green Bay, Hyde scored a five-year, $30 million deal in Buffalo.’

‘”It’s frustrating,” Beane told reporters on Thursday. “You know, there’s only so much I can say. We work with the league to try to get clarity, and I’ll give them credit, they’ve taken our calls, they’ve sent video and things like that.”‘

‘It’s honorable that Cook isn’t quick to blame the refs for the Bills’ postseason loss. Or maybe he saw all of the fines that Texans players racked up following their divisional-round loss. Championship Sunday was certainly a gut punch for the Bills, who put together an incredible 2024 season — headlined by Allen’s MVP-level play. The Bills now have the most regular-season wins (61) in a five-year span without a Super Bowl appearance.’

‘”Extremely confident,” Allen told reporters when asked during his end-of-season press conference if he believes McDermott is capable of coaching the franchise to the Super Bowl.’

‘Will Funk-Heiser, of Catsonville, Maryland, organized a GoFundMe after Kincaid failed to secure a last-gasp throw from Josh Allen during the Bills’ 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs: “We want Ravens Flock to donate … and return the favor Bills Mafia did for us and Mark Andrews,” he wrote.’

‘The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills had an average audience of 57.4 million, according to the Sports Business Journal, making it the most-watched AFC title game in NFL history.’