Bills and Tavon Austin mutually part ways

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, HOUSE said:

People are so easily offended now day

Damn, I can’t find my pearls…, 

[Malazan]

1 hour ago, The Jokeman said:

I thought the Giants had him? Even so if Daboll don't want him that speaks volumes. As they have David Sills at the top of their depth chart now. 

 

He got injured and was released back in August. He's currently listed a a free agent. 

[John from Riverside]

So I’m a little curious as to why this happened more than likely he’s just gonna end up on somebody else’s practice squad

[Low Positive]

Just now, John from Riverside said:

So I’m a little curious as to why this happened more than likely he’s just gonna end up on somebody else’s practice squad

Maybe the Bills watched him in practice every day and came to the conclusion that he is not very good at this point in his career?

[Rochesterfan]

3 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

Isn't he on PUP?

 

Nope - on IR and not ready yet according to I believe it was Sal that said that.

 

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

44 minutes ago, 947 said:

Tavon Austin was drafted with our #8 pick in the 2013 Draft. It was the old front office's ploy to save face by moving back, and at least not drafting EJ Manuel in the top-10 of the first round.

 

Tavon Austin and TJ MCdonald for EJ Manuel Kiko Alonso and Marquise Goodwin.  Kiko at least got us Shady (who played on our playoff team) so I'll call it a Bills win.   

[Beck Water]

1 hour ago, LabattBlue said:

What is practice squad salary? 15-20k per week?  Unless his agent has another team lined up why walk away?  At least being on a practice squad keeps him somewhat relevant. 
 

We will see.  

 

For rookies, $11,500/week.  For 2 or more accrued seasons, $15,400/week, though they can be paid more

[Matt_In_NH]

1 hour ago, LabattBlue said:

What is practice squad salary? 15-20k per week?  Unless his agent has another team lined up why walk away?  At least being on a practice squad keeps him somewhat relevant. 
 

We will see.  

I think the min is 11K per week, not sure what he had.  He has made 40 million in the NFL, he could just be deciding its not worth his time for 11k per week.  Also, the timing with the injuries suggests he was hoping to play this week and was told that was not happening, hes making peanuts and butt hurt so he took his ball and went home.

[Tanoros]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

He didn't have to quit the Bills practice squad to open himself up for opportunities. Any team could have signed him to their active roster.

Sounds like he wants to go to another teams practice squad that has a better chance of leading to him being elevated, because it’s clear we weren’t going to. 

[without a drought]

If all the injuries haven't moved him into an active role. It was probably never happening.

[Nuncha]

 

When your only role with a team is to emulate "Lamar" it's time to move on.

 

Seriously though - I thought he would get a real good chance to play since we are down 3 WR's.  

Edited October 5, 2022 by Azucho98

[Big Turk]

I mean is something like this ever "mutual"?

 

Probably went something like this:

 

Austin: Coach McDermott, I filled in for Lamar so well last week I deserve a shot at WR 

 

McD: Well, we appreciate that and you did a great job but we want to get a look at the young guys.

 

Austin: I want to talk with Brandon!

 

Beane: Hey Tavon what's up?

 

Austin: I played Lamar for y'all, I think I've earned some playing time on the active roster. I need one of them big game checks Prince Emili just got.

 

Beane: Well, what did coach say? 

 

Austin: He said they were planning on giving younger guys a shot and to talk to you.

 

Beane: Well, I defer to him Tavon, I'm sorry but that's what it is right now.

 

Austin: I demand you to release me right now!

 

Beane: Bye Felicia!

 

Edited October 5, 2022 by Big Turk

[DallasMac]

5 hours ago, nucci said:

he's never done anything his entire career. He was fast so got a lot of chances

Bailey was always the better receiver out of the two at WV.  Austin was just a better athlete.

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

Apparently he was not as bionic as his brother Steve..

[1st&ten]

I wonder if the Bills were going to bring him up this week & he decided that he wanted more money--maybe these type of things happen.

[Dr. K]

5 hours ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

Takes 2 to tango - any team signing him off the PS has to keep him on the 53 for 3 weeks.  He's never played a down in the NFL and was drafted in 2020.  There are like 30-40 WRs drafted every year plus UDFA's.  There are a LOT of guys out there on Practice squads who are the exact same player as hodgins, and probably know their teams playbooks.  

Is there some evidence that Hodgins doesn't know the Bills' playbook?

[Comebackkid]

pretty easy to get excited watching highlights but Roberson was wake forests top receiver.   tracks the long ball very well..good hands. (catches with his hands)...uses his length and body well when going up after balls.   

small school but one that played very well.   over 1000 yards in 21.   

[Beck Water]

4 hours ago, Dr. K said:

Is there some evidence that Hodgins doesn't know the Bills' playbook?

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think that @Bleeding Bills Blue meant to imply that Hodgins doesn't know the Bills playbook.

 

I think that he meant, every team has a Hodgins-like player stashed on their PS, who are of more interest to their respective team because they know their respective team's playbooks.

[DCofNC]

He should have known the Bills weren’t big on him after they traded down to avoid taking him in the first place.

[letsgoteam]

On the other side of this, he may have wanted to explore his options and if noting turns up, he could end up back with the team.

 

Having a veteran player on your practice squad and granting his release, goes a long ways for that agent (and his/her clients) and vet players in general.

[Richard Noggin]

35 minutes ago, letsgoteam said:

On the other side of this, he may have wanted to explore his options and if noting turns up, he could end up back with the team.

 

Having a veteran player on your practice squad and granting his release, goes a long ways for that agent (and his/her clients) and vet players in general.

It's a no-brainer to release an unhappy practice squad player. The team can only lose by holding onto, yet not elevating, a PS guy who wants out. 

 

Austin might feel like he was so effective in his scout team reps at QB last week that he has earned the elevation this week as a WR. It must be difficult to be so integral to a team's weekly prep and then STILL overlooked as a viable gameday contributor, especially for a vet who was highly drafted and likely sees himself and his value differently.

[Chandler#81]

‘Mutually agree’=
‘Hey! You’re not playing cuz you SUCK!’
“Oh yeah?? Well F you!. I want out!”

[Punching Bag]

11 hours ago, Utah John said:

I think this is right.  The weather is turning colder in Buffalo, he's making a less-than-great salary but still needs to show up for practice every day, and he just wants to hang out where he's comfortable.  But not being on some team's practice squad makes him even less visible than he has been to other teams.  

 

Practice squad money each week is not chicken feed even in these hyperinflation times.  Maybe he wants to be like all of those people who just quit jobs and never started working in COVID era but I doubt he earned enough to do it.  Maybe another team spoke with his agent about wanting him on their practice squad but if so it could violate tampering rules.

[Mango]

12 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

You could tell in camp that Austin still had a lot of passion for the game and believed he could be a contributor. To have McKenzie go down, Crowder go down, Kumerow go down, and Davis running hobbled, if after all that he still couldn’t get the call up I don’t blame him for leaving.
 

If I was Hodgins and didn’t get called up this week I’d leave too… unless I was content getting PS money.
It’s odd Austin wouldn’t get activated, McD just spoke highly about him as one of the options they had earlier this week.

I agree until the second paragraph. 
 

Austin, a vet can get away with asking to leave. Although I think his career is probably over or super close to it. But Hodgins has spent two years injured and the Bills have kept him around. I’m pretty high on Isaiah, but two years on IR then demanding a release from the PS is likely career suicide. Not to mention, if he can show anything in Buffalo it likely opens a lot of opportunities down the road. 

[MAJBobby]

15 hours ago, KDIGGZ said:

I don't blame him. I'd quit too if 2 slot receivers went down and they still didn't call me up. Better chance of playing elsewhere 

 

Then why through 4 weeks he hasnt signed with any team, if he has a better chance elsewhere?

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

5 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

‘Mutually agree’=
‘Hey! You’re not playing cuz you SUCK!’
“Oh yeah?? Well F you!. I want out!”

🎵"Good luck movin' up, cause I'm movin' out!" 🎶

🚗
(Thread needed a Billy Joel reference. 🤔)

Edited October 6, 2022 by Ridgewaycynic2013
'up', not 'on'! Moran! 🤨

[The Frankish Reich]

20 hours ago, Warcodered said:

Mutually parting ways sounds like how you describe a breakup when it's specifically not mutual.

I imagine there’s a lot of gentlemen’s agreements out there — you’ll agree to take a spot on the PS, and if we don’t elevate you by [date] we won’t get in the way of you finding another home. And maybe even give you a good rec… 

[MJS]

Just now, The Frankish Reich said:

I imagine there’s a lot of gentlemen’s agreements out there — you’ll agree to take a spot on the PS, and if we don’t elevate you by [date] we won’t get in the way of you finding another home. And maybe even give you a good rec… 

Practice squad players are FREE to sign with any team. The team can't get in the way of a player finding another home when they are on the practice squad.

 

This is what I don't get. Obviously, another team has not been interested enough in signing him, so why leave without another opportunity, essentially burning a bridge with the organization who at least wants you around and is paying you? He will probably sign to another team's practice squad, which is no different than his situation was here.

 

Good riddance, honestly.

[Beck Water]

2 hours ago, BUFFALOBART said:

From what I understand, Wegman's doesn't pay nearly as much, as a Practice Squad game check..

 

Yeah, guys on the practice squad all season make $200k/yr (plus medical, life, and disability insurance for themselves and family as I understand it)

 

Average starting salary for a college graduate is $55k a year.  Comp sci and financial sector may make 2x that, but it would be a special sitch to pay $200k a year fresh out of college.

 

19 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

I imagine there’s a lot of gentlemen’s agreements out there — you’ll agree to take a spot on the PS, and if we don’t elevate you by [date] we won’t get in the way of you finding another home. And maybe even give you a good rec… 

 

MJS is correct.  Practice squad players are free agents being paid by the game.  Our team is not obligated to keep paying them, and they are free to sign to the active roster of any other team at any time.

 

They can not be signed from one practice squad to another team's practice squad, however.

 

Per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN there's something odd going on with Austin, though:

 

 

He's on the Commissioner's Exempt List now?  That ain't the usual designation for a player released from the PS - At All.

Edited October 6, 2022 by Beck Water