USA Today

‘“It’s a part of the business. You have to learn to take it for what it is,” Dawkins told USA TODAY Sports at the ESPY Awards. “You wish you could keep the same team every year. ‘Oh, we are that close. Why change it?’ But in this business, it’s a big chess board and the pieces move every day.”’

‘The last NFL player to win a Super Bowl championship and an Olympic gold medal was Bob Hayes, who won a title as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl 6, and won two gold medals in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 100 meters and 4×100 meter relay.’

‘In his four-year career at Southern Mississippi, Gore Jr. had 759 carries for 4,022 rushing yards (5.3 yards per carry) with 26 rushing touchdowns. He led Southern Miss in rushing all four years he was on the team and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his junior and senior seasons. He was named second-team All-Sun Belt following both seasons.’

‘“Yeah, I shared a text with him and got one back, just thanking him for everything that he did for me,” Allen told reporters Thursday’s in his first public comments since the Bills traded Diggs. “I’ll always have a spot in my heart for him and I’ll always love him like a brother and wish him nothing but the best.”’

‘Weren’t the Bills supposed to be Super Bowl contenders again?’

‘If you were among the 95 million people watching in real-time on national TV as a Ford Bronco transporting Simpson, driven by his friend and former teammate Al Cowlings, rolled down the LA freeway in a low-speed police chase in June 1994, it was a series of images you’ll never forget. And no, it was hardly a move consistent with innocence.’

‘It’s nothing new. For decades now, the football entities that have honored or been associated with Simpson have continued to acknowledge his accomplishments on the field while apparently avoiding to spotlight him − or acknowledge, in any substantial way, the 1994 double-murder case and acquittal that took him from fame to infamy.’

‘Early the next morning, I flew from Washington to San Francisco with one job to do: Knock on the front door at the home of Simpson’s sister to see if she might speak with me. I wasn’t feeling very optimistic about this, but we had to try.’

‘In a deal that stands as one of the most significant moves of the offseason, two aspiring contenders shifted their outlooks for both the near and long term.’

‘A team that’s had Lombardi Trophy aspirations for years just punted on its best wideout.’

‘Despite an “unprecedented” $30 million league-wide increase in the salary cap for the 2024 season, the Bills needed to clear cap space and make some tough decisions. The release of those six players will save the team around $36 million in salary-cap space. Teams have until the start of the new league year on March 13 to be compliant with the 2024 salary cap.’

‘Following their elimination from the playoffs, the Bills face some tough roster decisions as they enter the offseason. More than half of the 21 players set to hit unrestricted free agency in one month played at least 30% of snaps this past season, according to Over the Cap, including No. 2 wide receiver Gabe Davis. In addition, Buffalo sits at 29th in the NFL in free cap space.’

‘Hamlin received more first-place votes (21) than Flacco (13), but he finished behind in points 151-140 after being left off eight of 50 ballots.’

‘Bills Mafia started donating to local nonprofit Ten Lives Club to show support to Bass after he reportedly received online hate. The kicker is a brand ambassador for the organization, which is a no-kill cat rescue and shelter.’

‘And, once again, Mahomes was again a huge component of Buffalo’s misery.’