Bills signing Tavon Austin

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:45 AM, Mr. WEO said:

 

Yes--year 10 is the typical breakout season for 1st round WRs!

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LOL. I'm not talking about breaking out. Just contribute would be a start. If he doesn't contribute at all I don't see a spot for him as a specialist only.

[Greatdane21]

Smith suspension opens up another spot?

[freddyjj]

Hasn't been featured KO returner since 2013 rookie year with Rams.  Only 7 KO returns in last 8 years and none in last 4 seasons.  Also had only 5 punt returns in last 2 years.

 

Not a deep threat at WR as only 9.2 ypc in career.  Fringe roster player at best

[NewEra]

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:08 AM, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

Confused by this signing to be honest. Seems like a waste of both Austin's and the Bills time. Stevenson seemed like a possible cut candidate before this signing. So Austin still seems like a good possibility to be cut as well. But I get it from Austin's view point. He's signing with a contender that doesn't have a returner set in stone. I'm just not sure the Bills would keep him for only return capabilities. He'll need to prove he can do some things on offense too.

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Who is our return man?

[YoloinOhio]

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:53 AM, HappyDays said:

In the only two OTAs attended by Bills reporters, Marquez Stevenson has had a lot of drops. I guess Tavon Austin takes over his role as a long shot to make the roster as a return specialist. Just shuffling the cards at the bottom of the deck.

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It makes sense as it is truly an open competition at KR and PR

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:56 AM, NewEra said:

Who is our return man?

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Don’t have one, Kalil Shakhir did it  in college but other than that it’s lil dirty and Stephenson, both whom McD said he didn’t trust back there 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:55 AM, Greatdane21 said:

Smith suspension opens up another spot?

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His suspension only starts first week of season, so likely doesn't change anything unless they cut him now.

[NewEra]

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:56 AM, YoloinOhio said:

It makes sense as it is truly an open competition at KR and PR

Don’t have one, Kalil Shakhir did it  in college but other than that it’s lil dirty and Stephenson, both whom McD said he didn’t trust back there 

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Yup.

 

We don’t have any return guys atm.  Micah Hyde is our best return man by a mile. 
 

Austin hasn’t had much run as a returner in the nfl but it’s my opinion that they asked him if he can return and he said hell yeah, give me a shot.  He’s at the point of his career where it can be over at any moment.  I doubt many were interested in him as a FA WR.  Return man is the role i think McB has in mind for him.  If not, than @Sammy Watkins' Rib is correct.  This signing doesn’t make sense for either parties involved.

 

i loved watching him play @ WV.  Dude was electric 

[Big Turk]

Putting players who aren't performing on notice...they aren't sitting on their laurels, they better step their game up. Compete or be gone.

[billybrew1]

  On 6/3/2022 at 12:59 AM, John from Riverside said:

bye Stevenson

 

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We gotta build that pressure everywhere. Though I thought Cook would do one and Shakir the other….

Austin, IDK? Does he still possess that speed?, might be able to line up as fourth target in all fours….

Or five-wide? We could use a superfast target….

[BADOLBILZ]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:04 AM, NewEra said:

 This signing doesn’t make sense for either parties involved.

 

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This part.

 

He's been washed since McBeane were back in Carolina.  

 

Utter randomness.

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

  On 6/3/2022 at 1:56 AM, NewEra said:

Who is our return man?

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I think that is why Austin came here. There isn't one guy holding it down right now. But I don't see him sticking as just a returner. 

[NewEra]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:12 AM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

This part.

 

He's been washed since McBeane were back in Carolina.  

 

Utter randomness.

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Unless he can prove to be trusted return man.  We literally don’t have a return guy unless Shak is that guy.  Stevenson is as good as gone.  Isaiah had his chance and can’t be trusted.  
 

i don’t think I’ve seen him play in 5+ years.

Edited June 3, 2022 by NewEra

[Chicken Boo]

It's amazing to me how Tavon has managed to stay in the league this long.  

Edited June 3, 2022 by Chicken Boo

[NewEra]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:13 AM, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

I think that is why Austin came here. There isn't one guy holding it down right now. But I don't see him sticking as just a returner. 

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I agree for the most part…..but the lack of any proven nfl returner gives him a slight chance.

 

i hope they give Shak a shot.  Would be nice to have a ST player that can actually contribute on a team other than ST

[Beast]

Remember all those Bills to Austin rumors last year?

 

In the end, Austin ended up in Buffalo.

 

Go figure.

Edited June 3, 2022 by Beast

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:21 AM, NewEra said:

Unless he can prove to be trusted return man.  We literally don’t have a return guy unless Shak is that guy.  Stevenson is as good as gone.  Isaiah had his chance and can’t be trusted.  

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While I agree he can't be trusted I also think he's the most electric guy we have for either Punt or Kick Off. I'm willing to let him continue to do it and roll with the risk by a game by game scenario. As long as he at least makes as many good plays as bad. McDermott going with Hyde for example in the windy NE game I thought was a good move. And Hyde had some great returns. He'd probably be the guy majority of the time if he wasn't so valuable for the defense.

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:24 AM, NewEra said:

Would be nice to have a ST player that can actually contribute on a team other than ST

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Hyde would be that guy. But don't want him out there all the time. 

 

New England used to always send Edleman back for punts for some reason. And Brown used to do it a lot as well in Pittsburgh. 

Edited June 3, 2022 by Sammy Watkins' Rib

[NewEra]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:26 AM, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

While I agree he can't be trusted I also think he's the most electric guy we have for either Punt or Kick Off. I'm willing to let him continue to do it and roll with the risk by a game by game scenario. As long as he at least makes as many good plays as bad. McDermott going with Hyde for example in the windy NE game I thought was a good move. And Hyde had some great returns. He'd probably be the guy majority of the time if he wasn't so valuable for the defense.

 

Hyde would be that guy. But don't want him out there all the time. 

 

New England used to always send Edleman back for punts for some reason. And Brown used to do it a lot as well in Pittsburgh. 

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Stevenson sucks.  I’ll be shocked if he makes the team again.  
 

I don’t want to see Hyde back there returning punts ever again.  Much too valuable. 

[mikemac2001]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:34 AM, NewEra said:

Stevenson sucks.  I’ll be shocked if he makes the team again.  
 

I don’t want to see Hyde back there returning punts ever again.  Much too valuable. 

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When hyde is back there it’s 99.9% a fair catch he’s standing and catching the ball he’s fine

[BillsFanForever19]

  On 6/3/2022 at 2:26 AM, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

While I agree he can't be trusted I also think he's the most electric guy we have for either Punt or Kick Off.

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Maybe at North Carolina State. For the Bills last season he was either fumbling the ball or running straight into his blockers or a tackle.

[Logic]

While I agree that the Bills need a viable returner and that’s what this signing appears to be…

 

The weird thing is that Austin hasn’t returned kicks since 2017. He only seems to be a punt returner these days. 
 

Signing someone to return kicks and punts makes sense to me. Signing someone who ONLY returns punts — and whose skill set is otherwise redundant with McKenzie’s — is a little strange.