Archives for March 10, 2017

'By releasing Williams, the Bills will save $1.775 million against the cap. They could also designate Williams as a post-June 1 cut, which would save them $4.2 million against the 2017 cap but give them a $2.4 million charge on the 2018 salary cap. If the Bills decide to designate Williams as a post-June 1 cut, they won't get the $4.2 million in cap relief until after June 1.'

'In four seasons with the Bills, Woods had 203 catches for 2,451 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 51 catches for 613 yards and one touchdown last season. Woods, a second-round pick out of USC, will return to Los Angeles, where he grew up and play in the Coliseum, where he spent his college years.'

'However, the Bills already have a lot of money tied up in Charles Clay. They are scheduled to spend more than all but nine teams on the tight end position in 2017, and Clay makes more than all but three tight ends in the league. Given the way the free agency market has gone, it's likely that Bennett will command quite a bit of money.'

'The Bills elected not to use the franchise tag on Gilmore and balked at paying him the money he was demanding. He said early on in the negotiation process that he wanted to be paid among the top five cornerbacks in the league, and he reportedly didn't compromise for the Patriots, who are coming off their fifth Super Bowl. Rapoport reports Gilmore's price tag will exceed $14 million per year, putting him among the top five players at his position.'

'Although Hauschka was among the league's most accurate kickers on field goal attempts, he had issues with extra points. He converted on 29-of-35 attempts in 2016.'

'The Bills announced Wednesday that former Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert has been signed to a one-year deal. The Tolbert move, combined with the DiMarco signing, is interesting. There has been plenty of joking on social media about the Bills bringing in multiple fullbacks. But Tolbert is a much different running back than DiMarco. Tolbert once rushed for 735 yards in a season. He's also a decent pass catcher. He'll be more than just a blocker in Buffalo.'

'McDermott credited Hyde for his versatility. In four previous seasons with Green Bay, Hyde played safety and cornerback and spent time returning punts'

'Poyer missed the final 10 games of last season when he suffered a lacerated kidney. The 25-year-old free safety started all six games prior to his injury and has two career interceptions in 48 career games (10 starts).'

'Williams said in January that his family suggested he retire from the NFL, however his father later told the Associated Press that his son was "leaning toward" coming back this season.'

'Gilmore reeled in a pair of interceptions in Week 11 against Cincinnati and finished with a career-high five picks to go along with 48 tackles last season. He has 14 interceptions in his career since being selected with the 10th overall pick by Buffalo in the 2012 draft.'

'Hauschka, 31, has a strong leg, but he has struggled recently with extra points, missing 10 PATs over the past two seasons. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll often pointed out that Hauschka, who had been with the Seahawks since 2011, was kicking the ball too low.'

'The move will save $1.775 million in salary-cap space for the Bills in 2017, unless the team designates Williams as a post-June 1 cut. If they do, Williams' full $6.625 million 2017 salary-cap hit will remain on their books until June 1, at which point they will save $4.2 million against their 2017 salary cap and take a $2.425 million dead-money hit in 2018.'

'After the Bills exercised Gilmore's $11.082 million fifth-year option in May for the 2016 season, the two sides failed to reach a long-term contract agreement before talks ended last summer. Gilmore made his negotiating position clear during training camp, saying he believed he was among the elite cornerbacks in the league.'

'The development not only means the Patriots are getting one of the best players to hit free agency , but that they likely won’t try to re-sign Logan Ryan, a physical cornerback who excelled in their system but isn’t the playmaker Gilmore is.'

'Gilmore was arguably the top cornerback available, next to A.J. Bouye of the Texans. The former Bills star has been a solid DB in the NFL for several years now, earning his first Pro Bowl bid in 2016. The past two years, he’s racked up eight interceptions and 30 passes defensed, and he has been a staple in Buffalo’s secondary since he was the 10th overall pick in 2012.'