‘The Bills made this move despite the fact that they will have to eat an ugly salary cap hit of $7.7 million, and will only see $1.5 million of cap space created by his departure.’
Archives for March 2022
Bills’ Brandon Beane visibly angry about what Washington pulled to get J.D. McKissic
‘Beane was upset that the Commanders, who have plenty of folks in the organization – including former Panthers coach Ron Rivera – that he worked with in Carolina, didn’t respect the deal.’
Why did Von Miller leave title team in sunny LA for Buffalo Bills? Because he believes in Josh Allen
‘“Walking away from Aaron Donald, that sucks,” he said. “What pass rusher would walk away from a tandem with me, Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd? Like who does that? I don’t care if we didn’t have anybody else behind us. As long as it was me, AD and Leonard Floyd, I felt like we could have got things done.”’
Buffalo Bills release veteran DT Star Lotulelei after active free agency on defensive line
‘The move is a straight up cut, according to reports. That means that the Bills will take a $7.7 million dead cap hit and add $1.5 million in salary cap space. If the move was designated as a post-June 1 cut, then the Bills would have had just a $5 million dead cap number on the contract. That scenario would have opened up about $4 million in cap space, but it wouldn’t have been available until after June 1.’
Did Bills hope to keep Cole Beasley? GM talks releasing Beasley, Star Lotulelei
‘Beane said in January that he anticipated Beasley being back and that he thinks he can still play. Things changed quickly once the Bills learned of Beasley’s intentions. “Not everyone agreed with some of his comments or his viewpoints – and I’m not talking about in the building,” Beane said. “And he just felt that maybe a change for he and his family would be best if we could find the right spot.”’
Von Miller: Leaving Rams for Bills ‘like breaking up with my girlfriend’
‘“It had to be the Buffalo Bills,” Miller said. “What they’ve created here — it had to be the Bills Mafia. This environment that they’ve created here, it drawed me away from that. It’s not gonna be the weather. The weather is gonna be the weather. But what they’re doing inside this facility, what they’re doing in this community, what they’re doing on the football field and off the football field, man, I had to be a part of it.”’
Saturday’s Chicago Coverage
Buffalo Bills OL Ryan Bates, a restricted free agent, is expected to visit the Chicago Bears next week (Chicago Tribune)
Bills restricted free agent Ryan Bates to visit Patriots, Bears after Vikings stop (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Saturday’s New York Coverage
LI’s Jon Feliciano: There’s no place like home (Newsday)
Giants sign yet another player from the Bills — and at a position of need too (Newark Star Ledger)
Saturday’s Washington Coverage
Did Commanders keep Bills from retaining Levi Wallace? (Birmingham News)
Commanders draw ire of Bills GM, Matt Ioannidis’ agent (NBC Sports Washington)
Bills GM Brandon Beane Thrilled To Land Von Miller
‘With one notable exception, nearly everything has gone swimmingly for the Bills in an unexpected and surprising spending spree to open free agency. Even Beane, who spoke Friday about Buffalo’s various comings and goings, said he wasn’t necessarily expecting to land a big fish like Miller in free agency.’
Bills Cut Star Lotulelei After Restocking Defensive Line
‘The ninth-year player, who sat out the 2020 season for COVID-19 reasons, had two seasons left on a five-year, $50 million contract he signed with Buffalo in free agency in 2018. Lotulelei was Buffalo’s primary run-stuffer, and had 40 starts in 43 games with the Bills.’
Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane frustrated with Washington Commanders after J.D. McKissic flip: They ‘didn’t back off’
‘”That was tough. Obviously, he was a guy we targeted and, in this business, in general, when you have an agreement, it’s good,” Beane said Friday. “But until there’s ink on the paper, and his agent did a great job. Doug Hendrickson and CJ LaBoy did a great job. There were some things that went down with the other organization, which is painful, but they chose to do what they did, and I couldn’t stop it.”‘
Buffalo Bills release Star Lotulelei following DT additions in free agency
‘The Bills elected not to designate as a post-June 1 release, a league source told ESPN, which would have resulted in less dead cap but would have delayed the savings. The move saves $1.5 million in cap space and results in $7.7 million in dead cap this year. Buffalo will not have dead cap left over from the release next year.’
Bills release defensive tackle Star Lotulelei in the wake of Von Miller signing
‘Lotulelei found mixed results when healthy. He logged just 17 total tackles in his Bills debut but stepped up in 2019, recording two sacks to go along with three quarterback hits and three tackles for loss. He nearly matched a career high in sacks in 2021, with three, despite playing just 11 games, while also recording three QB hits and four tackles for loss.’
Brandon Beane Not Happy With Commanders Over J.D. McKissic Signing
‘“His agent did a great job. Doug Hendrickson and C.J. LaBoy did a great job,” Beane said. “There were some things that went down with the other organization, which is painful, but they chose to do what they did and I couldn’t stop them.”’