The Buffalo Bills have decided to keep quarterback Jake Fromm on their roster following the rookie getting in some negative headlines on Thursday.
Fromm admitted to his involvement in some screenshots of text messages revealed earlier that same day via an apology. A woman showed texts Fromm and one message read: “Guns are good. … They need to let me get suppressors. … Just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”
Fromm’s words come to light at the same time the country is undergoing large-scale social unrest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. But, the Bills are sticking with their fifth-round pick.
The Bills made this statement in the aftermath:
“Earlier today, we became aware of comments made in a text message conversation involving Jake Fromm in 2019. He was wrong and he admitted it to us. We don’t condone what he said. Jake was honest and forthcoming to us about the text exchange. He asked for an opportunity to address and apologize to his teammates and coaches today in a team meeting, which he did. We will continue to work with Jake on the responsibilities of being a Buffalo Bill on and off the field.”
The Bills keeping the QB on their roster comes on the heels of other players on their roster voicing their disapproval of Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees recently apologized, like Fromm, but Brees said he doesn’t agree with players taking a knee during the national anthem on Wednesday. Prior to his apology, Bills defensive end Mario Addison expressed himself by posting a photo of him sacking Brees in a game. After the apology, cornerback Tre’Davious White responded by telling Brees to “take back” his apology because White doesn’t believe it is sincere.
The Bills have previously had to work through a similar situation with quarterback Josh Allen. Several years before being drafted, Allen had some tweets surface on draft day which were racially charged. Fromm’s messages were from a year ago as well and not recent.
On Thursday, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier spoke to members of the western New York media. He was scheduled to prior to any of Fromm’s messages being released. When asked about Fromm, Frazier said he believed Bills players will still accept the rookie QB and help him work through the situation.
“Jake seemed very sincere in his apology. We have a very strong culture on our team. Those guys are going to be able to sift through what is real and what isn’t real,” Frazier said.
However, it appears that might take time from some, at least White.
Before Fromm’s apology, White was spotted “liking” the leaked text messages by Bills Wire’s Bradley Gelber:
Even Tre is out here liking the tweet with alleged texts from Jake Fromm… yikes. #Bills pic.twitter.com/1idgO6IcZZ
— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) June 4, 2020
Not exactly a condemning action by White. But White’s next move was. Jets safety Jamal Adams, a former LSU teammate of White, sent out a message on his social media account on Twitter saying Fromm and Brees “aren’t really sorry.”
White shared or “re-tweeted” Adams’ sentiments:
Perhaps it’s just a mistake from the young QB, but regardless, hopefully change is en route in the country and Buffalo won’t have to worry about such an instance happening again. Cutting a high-profile individual would’ve certainly sent a message during these trying times, though.
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