Tag: Buffalo Bills

Report: Former Panthers TE Greg Olsen visiting with 3 teams

On Monday, Adam Schefter at ESPN reported Olsen will be meeting with both the Bills and the Redskins this week.

Former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen appears to have a real market for his services.

On Monday, Adam Schefter at ESPN reported Olsen will be meeting with both the Bills and the Redskins this week.

Buffalo obviously has the Carolina North connection with Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott and Washington has Ron Rivera and a number of former Panthers assistants.

There’s at least one more interested party, though.

Today, Schefter is reporting that Olsen will also be visiting the Seahawks.

Again, Carolina fans probably won’t be thrilled if he signs with Seattle.

However, pairing with Russell Wilson in the conference that doesn’t have Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson probably gives Olsen the best chance to win a ring. The Seahawks haven’t had much help at tight end since Jimmy Graham’s exit and Olsen could provide the answer.

While Olsen’s agent says he wants to keep playing, he will have other options. He has done excellent work as an analyst for Fox Sports, who could make him a full-time offer.

In the meantime, Olsen will be working five XFL games. Their season begins this weekend.

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What Sean McDermott said about Greg Olsen last offseason

What Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said about tight end Greg Olsen during the 2019 offseason.

The Bills have a packed tight end unit, but despite that, will be hosting 13-year vet Greg Olsen on a free agent visit this week after he left the Panthers.

Buffalo already has young promising prospect Dawson Knox, along with Tyler Kroft, Tommy Sweeney and Lee Smith behind him. There’s also Jason Croom who landed himself on the injured reserve list early last season.

Kroft is a cut candidate, but other moves are possible too, so the Bills could certainly fit Olsen on their roster if they wanted to.

It’s known that Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott likes to add veterans to his locker room… think Frank Gore. On paper it’s easy to see the connection. Both McDermott and Olsen spent a lot of time together in the Carolina organization. However, McDermott mentioned Olsen in comments as recently as last offseason.

“The tight end is an important position for a quarterback,” McDermott said at the 2019 Scouting Combine. “Being around a couple good tight ends in my history, both in Philadelphia and Carolina, namely in Chad Lewis and then in Greg Olsen, you see how that helps a young quarterback whether he becomes a security blanket, he can turn a five-yard completion into a 15-yard gain. Obviously, the work on third down and in the red zone, I think it goes without saying how important the position is.”

Later on in March, McDermott mentioned Olsen again.

“Yeah, I liked it [in Carolina] when we were on offense, when it was third and about five, I knew we were going to go get a first down because we had Greg Olsen,” McDermott said, as pointed out by The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia on Tuesday.

As the story goes, the Bills went on to add Knox and Sweeney in the draft, along with Kroft and Smith in free agency. But clearly, in one way or another, McDermott thinks highly of Olsen’s game.

In his career, the Olsen has 718 catches for 8,444 yards with 59 touchdowns. In 14 games last season, Olsen had 52 catches for 597 yards and two scores.

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Josh Allen wished he was playing, not at awards show, over weekend

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is ready to return to the field after taking in the festivities of Super Bowl week.

Among the attendees at the NFL Honors this past weekend was Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

While excited for the event, Allen still kept the big picture in mind. At that point, there was still one game to go, Super Bowl LIV. The Chiefs went on to beat the 49ers in the season’s final game.

In that moment, Allen wished much more that he was prepping for that game instead of hanging out at some awards show.

“This is crazy, I feel like a movie star, don’t like it. I want to play football,” Allen said via 13WHAM-TV. “I’d rather be preparing for a game than walking down this carpet.”

“It does put things into perspective how close we were this season,” Allen added.

But while taking in the event, Allen knew he had some sort of rooting interests at the NFL Honors.

Head coach Sean McDermott was a finalist for Coach of the Year. While certainly biased, Allen was pulling for McDermott, who ended up receiving two votes for the award.

“We follow his [McDermott’s] lead. He comes in, all of our team meetings…his example that is set forth and the examples of stuff in the game and teaching us situational football. He’s been fantastic for us,” Allen said.

With the Super Bowl in the books, the 2019 season has officially come to a close. Look for Allen and his teammate to make strides to continue their development and success throughout the offseason.

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ESPN’s Todd McShay has a surprise for Bills in latest 2020 mock draft

What the Buffalo Bills do in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft for ESPN.

The Bills had a productive season out of their third-round 2019 rookies last year. Among that pair of picks was running back Devin Singletary (& TE Dawson Knox).

In 12 games played due to a hamstring injury and sitting out Week 17, Singletary mustered up 775 rushing yards, a 5.1 yards per carry average and two touchdowns. Singletary also added 194 yards in the air on 29 catches with another pair of scores.

Still, ESPN’s Todd McShay says the Bills can’t pass up the chance in front of them in his latest mock draft. The Bills, at the No. 22 overall pick, select another running back to pair with Singletary. The pick is Georgia’s D’Andre Swift.

Here’s how McShay breaks down his decision:

Even with John Brown and Cole Beasley combining for 1,838 receiving yards in 2019, Buffalo could use an upgrade in the receiving corps (Clemson’s Tee Higgins could be an interesting fit). And with Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson both headed for free agency, no returning lineman had more than five sacks last season. But I just love Swift’s explosiveness, and adding a dynamic playmaker like him to a backfield that already includes Devin Singletary could really make this run-oriented offense pop in 2020. Plus, you can’t discount Swift’s pass-catching ability — he could be a great three-down back.

With Swift, the Bills take the first running back off the board in McShay’s draft. In 2019, the Bills did get solid production from Frank Gore early in the year, but as the season wore on, Gore slowed down. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott did say at his end of season press conference that he believes the NFL is a two-back league. So with or without Gore, it likely won’t just be Singletary taking the load in 2020.

Singletary is a back that gets in and out of quick cuts with ease while Swift, with a solid frame at 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds, eats up yards with his mixture of hard-nosed running and explosive playing style.

As McShay’s analysis mentions, the Bills could use a receiver in their lineup, as things currently sit. The Bills pass on the likes of Higgins, LSU’s Justin Jefferson and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault when selecting Swift.

While perhaps unfair to the player, unless the Bills added a solid playmaker on the outside via free agency before the draft, one can think it’s safe to say fans wouldn’t be overly happy about this pick.

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PODCAST: Which Bills’ offensive position groups need to be improved?

Kyle Silagyi is joined by Justin Diloro and McKenna Middlebrook to talk about the offensive position groups the Buffalo Bills must improve.

Though the 2019 NFL season was a successful one for the Buffalo Bills, the team’s offense left a bit to be desired.

The team finished with the league’s 24th ranked offense, averaging a total of just 330.2 yards per game. Though quarterback Josh Allen improved in his second professional season, he sometimes showed lapses in judgment, resulting in turnovers and frequent errant throws. The receiving corps showed glaring holes throughout the entire season and the backfield, while talented, struggled to consistently produce.

On this episode of The Kyle Silagyi Variety Hour, host Kyle Silagyi is joined by BillsWire staff writers Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to explore the offensive position groups that Buffalo needs to improve in the offseason. They also rant about the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and briefly talk about the world of English football.

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Bills odds for next year’s Super Bowl

Odds for the Buffalo Bills to win Super Bowl LV in 2021 following Super Bowl LIV.

With Super Bowl LIV in the books, could Super Bowl LV in 2021 feature the Buffalo Bills?

Plenty of sportsbooks released their latest odds after the Chiefs won Sunday’s game over the 49ers. Some odds have changed, the Bills’ odds are not among them.

Midway through the postseason, the Bills had 40-1 odds at BetOnline. They still do following the Super Bowl’s conclusion.

The Chiefs currently have the best odds at 5-1, with the 49ers behind them at 7-1. The Patriots’ odds interestingly improved from 12-1 to 9-1 following the title game. Those are the fourth-best in the NFL, with the Ravens at 9-1 odds for the third best.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Odds to Win Super Bowl LV 2021

Kansas City Chiefs 5/1

San Francisco 49ers 7/1

Baltimore Ravens 8/1

New England Patriots 9/1

Dallas Cowboys 16/1

New Orleans Saints 16/1

Green Bay Packers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 20/1

Los Angeles Chargers 22/1

Los Angeles Rams 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

Seattle Seahawks 25/1

Tennessee Titans 25/1

Atlanta Falcons 33/1

Chicago Bears 33/1

Cleveland Browns 33/1

Houston Texans 33/1

Indianapolis Colts 33/1

Buffalo Bills 40/1

Las Vegas Raiders 40/1

Denver Broncos 50/1

Carolina Panthers 66/1

Detroit Lions 66/1

New York Giants 66/1

New York Jets 66/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 66/1

Arizona Cardinals 80/1

Cincinnati Bengals 80/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 80/1

Miami Dolphins 100/1

Washington Redskins 100/1

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Report: Greg Olsen to have free agent visit with Bills

Buffalo Bills will host free agent tight end Greg Olsen on a visit.

The Bills reportedly have real interest in adding tight end Greg Olsen.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills are one of two teams that will host Olsen on a free agent visit next week. The other is the Redskins.

The Bills have deep connections to the Panthers via head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. Both previously worked for the organization before being hired in Buffalo. It’s well known that those two have often tapped into those Carolina roots while making efforts to improve the Bills.

Upon being released, Olsen quickly made it known he still wants to play. A report soon after that said “multiple teams” had already expressed interest in Olsen. Connecting all those dots, it’s not a surprise that the Bills appear to be one of the interested suitors.

In his career, the 13-year vet has 718 catches for 8,444 yards with 59 touchdowns. In 14 games last season, Olsen had 52 catches for 597 yards and two scores.

Along with still having some game in him, Olsen being a veteran is something the Bills would likely covet. During McDermott’s tenure as coach, he has often tried to add a veteran presence for the locker room, such as the team signing running back Frank Gore last offseason.

At the position, the Bills are deep. Dawson Knox headlines the group, with Tyler Kroft, Tommy Sweeney and Lee Smith behind him. There’s also Jason Croom who landed himself on the injured reserve list early last season.

Kroft is a cut candidate for the Bills this offseason as his dead cap hit drops from $4.3 million to $1.6 million and the Bills would save around $5 million on their salary cap if he’s released.

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Report: Former Bills coach Anthony Lynn signs extension with Chargers

Former Buffalo Bills coach Anthony Lynn signed contract extension with the Los Angeles Chargers.

After leaving the Buffalo Bills in 2016, Anthony Lynn became the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s there to stay a bit longer now.

According to Chargers Wire, Lynn reportedly signed a multi-year extension with the club this past weekend.

Lynn rose through the ranks extremely quick with the Bills. He joined the team in 2015 during Rex Ryan’s tenure with the club. Lynn was first Buffalo’s running backs coach, then replaced Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator, then replaced Ryan as the interim head coach. Those two jumps came during the 2016 season.

Lynn did interview for the Bills’ vacant head coach job after Ryan’s firing, but has said he was never really a serious candidate. The Bills went on to hire current head coach Sean McDermott.

“I interviewed there [in Buffalo] and they went a different direction. I didn’t think I was the favorite there anyway because how many times do you hire a guy from the staff when you fire the head coach? It doesn’t happen too often. I did appreciate the interview, but I’m where I want to be,” Lynn said in 2017.

During his three seasons with the Bolts, Lynn has a 26-22 record, including one trip to the playoffs. The 2019 regular season marked Lynn’s first campaign under a .500 record, but the team did have an injury bug. Lynn was entering the final year of his contract. The Chargers will open their new stadium in 2020 as well, but longtime quarterback Phillip Rivers will not return next season.

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ESPN’s early offseason power rankings are favorable to Bills

ESPN’s way-too-early 2020 offseason power rankings and the Buffalo Bills.

The parade in Kansas City for the Chiefs hasn’t even happened yet, but ESPN still took a swing on their power rankings already.

One day after the Chiefs defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, the worldwide leader released their “way too early” power rankings for the upcoming 2020 NFL season. The Bills landed in a solid spot, at No. 11 overall.

Here’s how ESPN breaks down the Bills’ placement and the team’s “reason for optimism” heading into next year:

2019 record: 10-6

Reason for optimism: An estimated $90 million in cap space, nine draft picks and a young core — pick one. The Bills made the playoffs at 10-6 in 2019 and still have a bevy of resources at their disposal to help them take that next step. Given what GM Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott have been able to do over the past few offseasons with limited resources, there is a lot of reason for optimism in 2020.

The Bills certainly do have plenty of resources to improve upon their already number of successes under McDermott and Beane. However, the “reason for optimism” also comes down to two other factors.

In regard to resources to add more, the Bills do also have to consider using some of that, namely their salary cap space, to keep some of their own. The three on top of that list would be Tre’Davious White, Dion Dawkins and Matt Milano. All three are entering the final years of their rookie contracts in 2020 and the Bills would be smart to pay all three.

Second, it’s the NFL in 2020. The Bills can have tons of money and draft picks to throw around, but what always matters in the NFL is how you literally do throw the ball. Josh Allen’s future can sway this optimism one way or another with his play.

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‘Multiple teams’ have contacted potential Bills target Greg Olsen

Multiple NFL teams have already contacted Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen.

Could the Bills add tight end Greg Olsen? If so, they’re going to have to beat out some competition.

The Carolina Panthers and the veteran tight end are going their separate ways. He indicated via his social media accounts that he still intends on playing, though.

So with Buffalo’s connections to Carolina via head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, could the Bills add the veteran? The Athletic didn’t name any teams specifically, but reported on Sunday that “multiple teams have already made preliminary contract” with the tight end to express interest.

Olsen can sign on the dotted line as soon as Monday, but the 13-year veteran will likely take a little time to think about his options.

At the position, the Bills are deep. Dawson Knox headlines the group, with Tyler Kroft, Tommy Sweeney and Lee Smith behind him. There’s also Jason Croom who landed himself on the injured reserve list early last season.

Kroft is a cut candidate for the Bills this offseason as his dead cap hit drops from $4.3 million to $1.6 million and the Bills would save around $5 million on their salary cap if he’s released.

In his career, Olsen has 718 catches for 8,444 yards with 59 touchdowns. In 14 games last season, Olsen had 52 catches for 597 yards and two scores.

Along with still having some game in him, Olsen being a veteran is something the Bills would likely covet. During McDermott’s tenure as coach, he has often tried to add a veteran presence for the locker room, such as the team signing running back Frank Gore last offseason.

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