‘Matakevich, 27, spent his entire NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.’
Archives for March 2020
Former Bills DT Jordan Phillips agrees to terms with Cardinals
‘Phillips became a fan favorite during his time with the Bills after he was claimed from the Dolphins in 2018. During the 2019 season, Phillips finished second among all defensive tackles with 9.5 sacks.’
Bills beef up D-line on day two of free agency
‘Addison was primarily a backup under Sean McDermott, but still posted at least six sacks in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He will turn 33 right before the season starts, but was still one of the top pass rusher available in free agency this year.’
Bills Today | What Tom Brady’s departure means for Buffalo and the AFC East
‘The timing of this, from a Bills perspective, couldn’t be better. They have one of the better general manager-head coach tandems in the NFL who have executed a roster-building plan together. They ripped it down to the studs in 2017 and 2018, built the roster up through the draft and the middle tier of free agency, watched their young quarterback, Josh Allen, grow and develop in 2019 … The defense is one of the NFL’s best, coached by one of the best defensive minds in Sean McDermott. GM Brandon Beane has been working toward this moment with all of the trades and signings he has made over the last three years. The division title is there for the taking in 2020.’
Bills pull blockbuster, acquire WR Stefon Diggs
‘Besides the No. 22 overall pick in April, the Bills gave up fifth- and sixth-round picks this year and a fourth-rounder in 2021. They also get a seventh-round pick this year in return from Minnesota.’
Departing Bills DE Shaq Lawson says Buffalo will have ‘special place in my heart’
‘”This decision was made based on what I thought was best for me and my family and was one of the most difficult and emotionally challenging decisions I have ever had to make,” he wrote, adding “I will always have a special place in my heart for this community.”‘
New Bills contract doesn’t change Quinton Spain’s underdog mantra
‘“There’s always more to prove,” Spain said on a conference call with reporters. “When I came in undrafted, my mindset was to be the last offensive lineman out there playing. I’m going to keep trying to shoot for that. That’s my motivation. However long it takes, that’s how long I want to be in the NFL.”’
NFL, NFLPA appear tone deaf in not delaying free agency
‘My issue is with the timing. This doesn’t have to happen this week. There were reports that the NFL, in fact, wanted to delay the start of the league year and the NFLPA rejected the idea right after its members narrowly approved an extension of the CBA. Union executive director DeMaurice Smith insisted that wasn’t the case during a Monday appearance on ESPN.’
Bills reach contract agreement with DE Mario Addison
‘Addison, 32, has had at least nine sacks in each of the past four seasons. The only other player to accomplish that in the NFL is Chandler Jones, who has done it for five straight seasons. Addison’s 39 sacks since 2016 rank as the 11th most in the NFL over that time span. Analytics website Pro Football Focus credited Addison with 49 total quarterback pressures last season. For comparison, that’s one more than Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes and Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney were credited with. Clowney is expected to land a contract that approaches $20 million per season as an unrestricted free agent.’
Bills agree to three-year contract with linebacker A.J. Klein
‘Klein, 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, never started more than eight games in a season with the Panthers, but he started at least 12 games in each of his three years with New Orleans. He figures to step into the Bills’ starting lineup in the spot vacated by the retirement of linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. Klein, who played mostly strong-side linebacker during most of his time with New Orleans, played 753 defensive snaps in 2019, which was 71% of the Saints’ total. Alexander played 495 snaps, 48% of the Bills’ defensive total.’
5 things about new Bills linebacker A.J. Klein
‘Klein played in 15 games for the Saints last season with 69 total tackles, with five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception and forced fumble. The 69 tackles are one shy of his career high of 70, set in 2018.’
Bills reportedly acquiring WR Stefon Diggs in trade from Vikings
‘In a wave of activity that took place between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m., reports came flying across Twitter that the Bills were trading for Minnesota wide receiver Stefon Diggs and signing free agent outside linebacker A.J. Klein and free agent defensive end Mario Addison.’
Quinton Spain said he wanted to return to the Bills, so he did
‘“It never changed,” Spain said Monday via a conference call with reporters. “I’m a man of my word. I said I wanted to come back and if they could get it done before free agency, and I like it and they like it, then I’ll sign the deal.”’
Buffalo Bills acquire WR Stefon Diggs in a trade with Minnesota Vikings (report)
‘It’s been a rocky relationship between the Vikings and Diggs over the past season. The five-year veteran seemed determined to force his way out of Minnesota when he no-showed a practice early in the 2019 season. But he returned a few days later and ended up playing out the string and helping the Vikings win 10 games and a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints in the Wild-Card round.’
Buffalo Bills pull off blockbuster trade for Vikings WR Stefon Diggs: 5 thoughts and a grade
‘But here’s the thing: the Bills had nine draft picks in the 2020 draft. With the amount of players they’re bringing over from their 2019 roster, it would be hard to draft nine more players and find a place for all of them on the 53-man roster in September. Plus, the Bills had two picks in the fifth and sixth rounds this year. So they’ll still get to draft in both rounds, meaning the only real loss in the first-round pick this year and the fourth next year.’