Brian Moorman Released!

[spartacus]

If he signs on with another team in the next couple weeks, I would sincerely doubt that his wife had anything to do with it. If he doesn't, since he would be an instant upgrade on at least some teams, I would think it's possible.

 

One thing that probably played a part in it is that we as Bills Fans, almost all of us here on the board, have vivid recollections of how good Moorman was. And it has resonance because we also like him as a player and person and Buffalonian and man.

 

But IMO he hasn't been good for three years. Gailey has no such recollection, or very little, of how good he was or can be outside of some highlights he might have seen on SportsCenter. Nix had one extra year on the Bills but he was mostly on the road scouting. Their perceptions of just how good Moorman is as a punter are very different from most fans.

 

if Nix has no ties to Moorman's past, why did they keep him on the roster this year - after 2 years of first hand observation of an underperforming player?

 

maybe they kept him just so he could accrue his pay this year - knowing his personal situation.

[MichFan]

Actually, I am very happy. My son goes to FSU and is a friend of Shawn's. When we found out that Shawn signed as a free agent for our favorite NFL team, the Buffalo Bills...we were both jumping up and down. BTW...I am from Cheektowaga and my children here in Florida are fans by BIRTH.

 

Even though I knew Shawn would have a slim change to make it against Moorman, we figured...why not? Go for it. We figured something was going on since Shawn had interest from 3 other teams and he still picked our Bills with Moorman on the roster.

 

I watched Shawn for years and this is what the Bills are getting:

1. Massive leg with great hang time and excellent NET yards.
   
2. Rugby type kicks, if needed
   
3. Excellent holder for PATs and FGs
   
4. Big guy that likes to tackle on punts... 6'4", 245 lbs
   

Thanks for the information.

Unfortunately, people will have to read through 18+ pages of Internet rumors and emotion to get to it.

[Coach Tuesday]

Between this, the tax returns, and the 47% comment, it's been a rough few weeks for Moormans.

 

20 PAGES IN AND I WIN!!!

[truth on hold]

Actually, I am very happy. My son goes to FSU and is a friend of Shawn's. When we found out that Shawn signed as a free agent for our favorite NFL team, the Buffalo Bills...we were both jumping up and down. BTW...I am from Cheektowaga and my children here in Florida are fans by BIRTH.

 

Even though I knew Shawn would have a slim change to make it against Moorman, we figured...why not? Go for it. We figured something was going on since Shawn had interest from 3 other teams and he still picked our Bills with Moorman on the roster.

 

I watched Shawn for years and this is what the Bills are getting:

1. Massive leg with great hang time and excellent NET yards.
    
   
2. Rugby type kicks, if needed
    
   
3. Excellent holder for PATs and FGs
    
   
4. Big guy that likes to tackle on punts... 6'4", 245 lbs
   

 

I wonder if he can be the kick off specialist too. Seriously is the technique all that different? Bugs me we have to tie up 2 roster spots for FG/Kickoff

[NoName]

Does anyone know what Moreman's contract was years and dollars? It's not like he was a bad punter. And if they had to pay his salary anyway, I just don't understand

[Kelly the Dog]

if Nix has no ties to Moorman's past, why did they keep him on the roster this year - after 2 years of first hand observation of an underperforming player?

 

maybe they kept him just so he could accrue his pay this year - knowing his personal situation.

By all accounts he had a great training camp and pre-season. The more I see and read and think, I believe it's one of two scenarios:

 

1] Powell was going to sign with the Eagles or the other team that signed a new punter today, and the Bills may have been notified by the agent and just decided to make the move. I have no information about that but it would make sense, especially after Moorman's poor performance.

 

Or 2] It's also possible that Moorman's personal situation is simply weighing on him emotionally and his head is really not into football anymore, and the team could see it. So my releasing him, he can spend some time with his wife and still collect his paycheck, and the Bills can count on their punter being 100% focused.

[Garion]

Actually, I am very happy. My son goes to FSU and is a friend of Shawn's. When we found out that Shawn signed as a free agent for our favorite NFL team, the Buffalo Bills...we were both jumping up and down. BTW...I am from Cheektowaga and my children here in Florida are fans by BIRTH.

 

Even though I knew Shawn would have a slim change to make it against Moorman, we figured...why not? Go for it. We figured something was going on since Shawn had interest from 3 other teams and he still picked our Bills with Moorman on the roster.

 

I watched Shawn for years and this is what the Bills are getting:

1. Massive leg with great hang time and excellent NET yards.
   
2. Rugby type kicks, if needed
   
3. Excellent holder for PATs and FGs
   
4. Big guy that likes to tackle on punts... 6'4", 245 lbs
   

 

Thanks for posting that.

 

God bless Moorman he has been our best player (on some bad teams) this decade. He has dropped off but sounds like Potter is ready to play.

Edited September 26, 2012 by gjnoronh

[The Helmet of]

wow, a lot has been said, and not much i can say will be noticed. nevertheless, here is my (brief) two cents.

 

my original reaction was like Fred's -- WTF. however, as fans, we grow really attached to players who have been around for a long time. i felt the same way when lee evans was traded, when andre reed went to washington, thurman to miami, etc.

 

but after thinking about it, it does make perfect sense. the guy is old and is on the decline.

 

the only outstanding concern i have is about powell as a kick holder, and with him kicking in bad weather. moorman was exceptional at holding kicks; i can't recall him ever messing up, or having the laces in. i hope this new guy is as much of a perfectionist in the little things as moorman was. it was clear that moorman put in all the extra time stretching, practicing with his long snapper, etc. i hope we don't lose any games this year because of a botched field goal attempt, or because a florida punter can't figure out the winds in RWS... yes, moorman is on the downside, but in those little areas he still excelled. it makes sense, but i am still skeptical...

Edited September 26, 2012 by MarkKelso'sHelmet

[boyst]

brutal ....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPiZjUf9TcQ

I never did like Sean Taylor after that hit. Sure, it's a game and should be played but he was just showing off for his boys beating up on a guy who can't really hit back. I would love to see him do that to an RB, or someone that isn't just a special teams guy. What an !@#$ that guy was.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

I never did like Sean Taylor after that hit. Sure, it's a game and should be played but he was just showing off for his boys beating up on a guy who can't really hit back. I would love to see him do that to an RB, or someone that isn't just a special teams guy. What an !@#$ that guy was.

 

Do you remember when Mike Ramsey took a run at Wayne Gretzky in the NHL All-Star Game?

[CardinalScotts]

seriously good athlete who could run for the first down, complete a pass as a holder and was a damn good pro bowl punter and played on some lousy teams, was here a long time joking aside good luck and god bless

[Kelly the Dog]

One thing that sucks is that Moorman has played on so many crappy teams, since 2001, and if the Bills make the playoffs this year he won't get to experience that.

[Geno Smith's Arm]

This won't help team unity.

 

Yeah, Fred Jackson didn't even spell his name right.

 

This will have NO effect on the team unity. They are professionals, and certainly understand that guys can lose their jobs. He was the punter, not really part of a group of guys.

[Trader]

Best wishes to Moorman. He was a great kicker for us for a lot of years and some years he was MVP.

[Bufcomments]

wow

shocked i thought Brain deserved better than this.

 

Thanks Brain you were a true Buffalo Bill

[Stenbar]

Moorman was by far the best player in the preseason. Very suprised by this. Looked pretty terrible last week though - there must have been some locker room stuff after the game - maybe a disagreement on philosophy or something.

 

Im sorry im not tryin to be an ass but what could the philosophy be with a punter? Kick the ball left right high low short or far????? I personally think he has stunk it up for the past 3 yrs....He has had more than a fair share of crappy punts at key times of the game....I was shocked they kept him the past 2 yrs...He was given a gift for bein the teams best player for 9 yrs... He hasnt kicked well for two plus years now

[K-9]

wow

shocked i thought Brain deserved better than this.

 

Thanks Brain you were a true Buffalo Bill

 

Gotta love the irony.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[The Senator]

Gotta love the irony.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

I know - I thought he was talking about Bobby Heenan.

[hondo in seattle]

I'm glad they had the balls to do it. Moorman has been a shanker for quite some time now.

 

Moorman averaged over 48 yard per punt last season. The Bills were 5th in the NFL gross punt average last season and 7th in net.

 

He has been shaky on directional kicks so far this year - but I would have thought his career with the Bills earned him more patience than just three games.

Edited September 26, 2012 by hondo in seattle

[DJasper Probincrux III]

Moorman averaged over 48 yard per punt last season. The Bills were 5th in the NFL gross punt average last season and 7th in net.

 

He has been shaky on directional kicks so far this year - but I would have thought his career with the Bills earned him more patience than just three games.

It did, it got him the last 2 seasons where he was less than impressive and it got him a fully paid contract this year. It was the last year of his deal and he's 37. The Bills got him to the end of his contract basically - how much more patience do you want? They weren't going to re-sign him this off-season and there's nothing saying he wouldn't have retired anyway.

 

He's been shanktastic this year with 6 OOB punts already, her only had 4 all year last year. I also sort of doubt that the kick to Kerley week1 was supposed to go straight down the middle of the field. I'm more worried about the holding aspect than the punting which tells me as a punter at least he's very replaceable. Most consistent player from a terrible era of football.