Archives for March 2015

'But it's hard to see the Dolphins doing anything but shaking his hand and letting Buffalo have him. He had a career high of six touchdowns in 2013. He's a nice seam threat and a good guy to have on your team. But he's also battled knee issues and, while a presence, hasn't exactly been a force in many games.'

'The Dolphins could be handcuffed by salary-cap constraints to match the Bills' offer after Miami signed free-agent All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a $114 million, six-year contract last week. It made Suh the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.'

'The Miami Herald reported that the Dolphins weren't offering Clay more than $7 million per season in recent talks.'

'According to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, the Bills and Clay have agreed to and signed an offer sheet that is worth $38 million over five years, with $20 million guaranteed. The deal, according to Carucci, will also pay him $24.5 million in cash over the first two years.'

'Former Bills coach Marv Levy always maintained “the most important free agents you sign are your own.” And Buffalo has done that. Key, of course, was defensive end Jerry Hughes, a critical, but expensive cog in the Bills’ best unit. Since being acquired from Indianapolis in a trade for linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, now with the Dolphins, he has 20 sacks in two seasons with Buffalo.'

'What’s the holdup making an offer? The same as it has been since Clay first became a Bills target. The Bills apparently are still studying their own cap numbers and those of the Dolphins to put them in the best possible position of making an offer Miami wouldn’t match.'

'Miami has grown so impatient, in fact, that while it is keeping the transition tag on Clay, the front office is fully expecting him to be with the Bills. If and when the Bills come through with an offer sheet, the Dolphins will have five days to match, but Buffalo is reportedly crafting such an offer that will make matching the offer difficult for Miami.'

'If somehow the Bills were to miss out on Clay, or the Dolphins change their minds and decide to pony up for the tight end, Buffalo could still look to one other notable free agent that is still unsigned. Former Cincinnati tight end Jermaine Gresham has yet to sign with a team, even after being courted by the Oakland Raiders early on into free agency. He could be an option if all else fails.'

'Clay has gone from a logical target in free agency to a “must-get” for Whaley. The Bills cleared out cap space to do so by releasing last year’s starter at the position, Scott Chandler, and also let blocking tight end Lee Smith leave as an unrestricted free agent. That leaves the Bills with just two players with NFL experience on the roster in Chris Gragg and MarQueis Gray, as well as a project in former Canisius College basketball player Chris Manhertz.'

'The Bills added four names to the roster through free agency and trades: QB Matt Cassel, RB LeSean McCoy, FB Jerome Felton, and QB Tyrod Taylor. And all four of those new Bills shared some of their thoughts on The John Murphy Show during the week.'

'The sports teams influence Baltimore in ways that can’t be measured on a spreadsheet.'

'The Green Bay Packers' sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2009, Wynn also played for the Tennessee Titans (2012), San Diego Chargers (2013) and Dallas Cowboys (2013).'

'Wynn proved to be a valuable backup for the Bills in 11 games, giving both Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes a rest when they needed it. Wynn had 17 tackles and two sacks last season while playing on a one-year deal.'

'Wynn, 27, who was originally signed as a free agent by the Bills last April, appeared in 11 games for Buffalo in 2014 logging 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits. He too missed time last year due to a knee injury missing five games, but was a reliable rotational defensive end on Buffalo’s defense.'

'“It shows you how we are committed to do whatever is possible to get this team where it needs to be,” Whaley told Buffalobills.com. “If we think this deal is good for us and the other team thinks it’s good for them then we have no problem making it.”'