‘Hines, on the other hand, is still under contract with the team. The 27-year-old tore his ACL in an offseason jet ski accident and never played in 2023. The Bills will have a significant salary cap savings of close to $5 million in 2024 if he’s released this offseason. It’s hard to see them holding onto him at a $5.48 million salary cap price. A release or restructure at a lower salary cap are probably the two most likely outcomes.’
BillsBeat - February 20, 2024
BillsBeat - February 19, 2024
Kicking game failed the Buffalo Bills too often during 2023 season
‘Bass, meanwhile, started the season on a heater, making his first nine field goals and 18 extra points through the first five weeks. From there, however, things got worse. While he remained reliable on extra points, missing just one in the regular season and playoffs (that came during a 32-6 win over the Jets), his field goal accuracy plummeted. From Week 6 through the Bills’ two playoff games, Bass went just 17 of 25 on field goals – a conversion rate of 68%. That’s woefully low for an NFL kicker. Of the 30 kickers who attempted at least 23 field goals in the regular season, Bass’ overall conversion rate of 82.8% ranked 22nd.’
Opinion: Sal's 2024 State of the Bills: Quarterback
‘The only pertinent discussion about Josh Allen this off-season as whether or not the team will restructure his contract to create more salary cap space. Allen is scheduled to count for over $47 million against the team’s cap, but the Bills can convert most of his base salary into a signing bonus and take that number down to below $30 million. That seems like something they’ll be doing, at least in some capacity, if not all of it.’
BillsBeat - February 18, 2024
Bills need to hope expensive Von Miller can regain his old form
‘“I believe that I saw was his best game was the last game of the season – the Kansas City game,” said Bills General Manager Brandon Beane after the season. “And my hope is that that is a good direction for where we pick up at the beginning of next season. What he came back from and the way he worked certainly was impressive. Do I wish he was healthier through the course of the body of the season? Absolutely. But nobody worked harder to get himself back. And my hope is that he is healthy at the beginning of next season and ready to really play his best football and that this was another steppingstone.”’
Bills Mailbag: Should Brandon Beane make a bold move in the draft for a receiver?
‘For starters, the Buffalo Bills would have to give up a lot more than just their 2025 first-round pick. Let’s look at the top five of the draft. Chicago, Washington, New England, Arizona and the Los Angeles Chargers. The first three of those teams are in desperate need of a quarterback, and there are three of them expected to go in the top half of the first round. The Patriots also don’t figure to be a likely trade partner with the Bills, a divisional rival. If three quarterbacks don’t go in the first three picks, Harrison may very well go to one of those teams. Let’s say he does make it to No. 4, though.’
Bills stadium construction causing headaches for school district projects
‘Costs have gone up more than 50%, Superintendent David Lilleck said last week. Orchard Park is among districts running into inflation and a shortage of contractors willing to bid on building work because they are, or will be, tied up with major projects that include the $1.54 billion Buffalo Bills stadium, the $110 million renovation of Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Park (formerly LaSalle Park) and coming construction of the $550 million Amazon mega-distribution center in the Town of Niagara.’
When teen needed size-22 cleats and gear, Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs came through
‘A local company called Threads provided clothes for Joseph and his sisters while helping to get him size-22 tennis shoes from a company called Texas Fabrication. Another company, Custom Cleat, said that they could convert the tennis shoes into cleats. A woman in Virginia was able to get Gamez’s shirt and pants size to mail athletic wear to Gamez as well. That’s when Marquisha Matthews, a San Antonio realtor, revealed that Stefon Diggs would be paying for Gamez’s athletic wear and cleats.’
BillsBeat - February 17, 2024
Bills cornerback Dane Jackson takes balanced approach as he enters free agency
‘“I just learned you can never think you made it,” Jackson said. “There is always the next thing. Something else is always coming. You’ve just got to be prepared for it, so just having that mindset is helping me out a lot.”’
Ryan O'Halloran: Ryan Bates wants to be a starter with Bills, but is that possible?
‘The problem for Bates was, not only did Morse, Torrence and left guard Connor McGovern do a good job, they didn’t miss a start. The Bills needed six offensive line combinations in 2022, but only one in ’23, leaving Bates to play mop-up snaps in blowout wins.’
Bills Mafia joins Chiefs Kingdom’s effort to support Children’s Mercy after parade shooting
‘“It would break my heart for Buffalo to finally have a championship parade and for something like that to happen,” he said Friday via Zoom with KSHB 41. “It breaks my heart that it happened to Chiefs fans … for something that is supposed to be — like you mentioned a moment ago — a communal celebration, for it to end like that. It just — it sucks. I wish I had a better way to articulate it, but it just sucks for there to be a loss of life and for people — children — to be injured.”’
BillsBeat - February 16, 2024
Chart shows evolution of pass game for Josh Allen, Bills in 2023
‘It also shows the Bills could use a little more of a deep threat in their passing game next season.’
The 2023 NFL season is over: Here's a primer for what's to come in the next couple months
‘The NFL really doesn’t have an offseason anymore; it’s a year-round bonanza and the only actual dead time is the five-week stretch between the middle of June when all offseason programs end, to late July when training camps open. I thought I would get you up to speed on some of the key dates that are coming up on the NFL calendar with an explanation of what it all means.’
Buffalo Bills fans step up to help young victims of Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally shooting
‘A Buffalo fan shared a link to donate to Children’s Mercy, where young shooting victims are being treated. That link included this message: “Many of those shot today were kids. Bills fans always step up. Some folks from the KC fan page gave me this link, said it was the best way to give.”’
Football icon Jim Kelly shares stories of faith with 2,000 at Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast
‘As the couple took the stage, Jill Kelly acknowledged how moved she was by the breakfast and thankful for being there. Jim Kelly’s vulnerability struck the audience, as he discussed missing their son’s death by five minutes because he’d gone to the wrong hospital. On their way home from the hospital, he said, he knew their marriage was over because their son Hunter had been the glue. Despite going to counseling, they were not getting along, and Jim Kelly teetered on the edge of infidelity. But in order to see his son in heaven again, he knew he had to change.’
2024 Buffalo Bills free agents: Targets, NFL draft needs and more as free agency nears
‘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.’