Tag: Jordan Poyer

The sky is not falling on the Buffalo Bills

Some familiar faces may be gone, but this is far from Armageddon for the Buffalo Bills

Alright, everyone take a deep breath and listen up.

It was a bleak day at One Bills Drive in Buffalo. Several long-term stars, including center Mitch Morse, cornerback Tre’Davious White, and safety Jordan Poyer were all released as Buffalo continues to gear toward getting back under the cap. However, the reactions that followed made it seem as if the sky was falling on the Bills.

Talks of “well, it looks like the Bills’ Super Bowl window has closed” or “Buffalo is officially rebuilding” started making the rounds on the app formerly known as Twitter.

Mind you, this all stems from Buffalo releasing a 33 year-old safety, a 32 year old center (whom they may actually try to bring back on a cheaper deal) and a 29 year old cornerback who has missed 24 of the team’s last 34 regular season games. That is what has everyone sticking a fork in the Buffalo Bills? That is what their window is hinged upon? Folks, if you have Josh Allen, your window is never closed. You’re never rebuilding, you’re reloading.

Now, in terms of a fan perspective, the sentimental wound is very real, and I can respect that. Poyer and White helped end the playoff drought in 2017, and Morse has been a focal point of the team’s offensive line since 2019. These are guys that have built relationships with the fans and the community, so of course it hurts seeing them go if you are a Bills fan. However, in terms of the on-field impact, the Bills are more than capable to retooling.

And if there is one group that Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott consistently knock out of the park, it’s defensive backs. Poyer and Micah Hyde are prime examples of that, They took two cast-offs and made them the best safety duo in football for half a decade. They turned seventh-round pick Dane Jackson into a reliable rotational cornerback. They got the absolute most out of Rasul Douglas after acquiring him ahead of the trade deadline.

On top of that, according to Spotrac, if the Bills do a full base salary and roster bonus conversion to signing bonus to Josh Allen’s deal, they can free up $22.7 million in cap space, which would make them cap compliant.

The day was filled with hard goodbyes for fans, but the Buffalo Bills are fine. They’ll need to address the secondary in free agency and the draft, as well as wide receiver, but this is far from Armageddon.

8 Bills players who could have played their last game with the team

8 #Bills players who could have played their last game with the team:

The 2023 NFL season has concluded as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58.

Unfortunately, the same Chiefs ended the Buffalo Bills’ run to the Big Game a few weeks prior. In that outing, Buffalo lost 27-24 to Kansas City.

As it always goes at this time of the year, changes are en route. Multiple players, even featured ones, might have put on the blue and red for the final time in their careers against the Chiefs… or even some that were injured and unable to play could’ve done so even longer ago.

With that, here are eight Bills players who could have played their final game for the team:

Doesn’t sound like Bills’ Jordan Poyer is retiring this offseason

Doesn’t sound like #Bills’ Jordan Poyer is retiring this offseason:

Safety Jordan Poyer has enjoyed a renaissance in his career since joining the Buffalo Bills.

The talented veteran signed with Buffalo in 2017 on the first day of free agency after being put on injured reserve in his final year with the Cleveland Browns. He quickly became a part of the talented Buffalo defense.

In 2021, Poyer was nominated for his first All-Pro while becoming the only NFL player to secure five interceptions and three sacks that season. After signing a two0year contract extension, the starting safety secured a Pro Bowl nomination following the end of the 2023 season.

However, Poyer has battled through his fair share of injuries with the Bills. Last season he suffered a collapsed lung, which meant he was unable to fly with the Bills during their regular season visit to Kansas City. He drove down in a van to play that game.

On top of that, Poyer is turning 33 this year, Poyer has enjoyed a decade long career, the majority in Buffalo. And while he surpassed his total tackle numbers since his contract extension, having a year left could mean taking a final year elsewhere. Retiring is a possibility for a player with multiple major injuries as well.

Poyer is under contract for one more season. If he sees out his final year with the team, the Bills then take on $2 million in dead cap if he’s released. However, Buffalo could clear near $5.5M in salary cap space. As of now, the team is estimated to be near $50M over the 2024 over the salary cap, according to Over The Cap.

So is Poyer going to stay with the Bills for his final year – or retire?

According to his wife, Rachel Bush:

Sounds like Jordan Poyer won’t be leaving Buffalo anytime soon. Or at least, he won’t be leaving football.

Bills Wire will provide all updates throughout the offseason.

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9 takeaways from Bills’ Sean McDermott’s end of season presser

9 takeaways from #Bills’ Sean McDermott’s end of season presser:

The Buffalo Bills have put the finishing touches on their 2023 season with locker cleanout day.

Players, coaches, and the entire organization laid out their final thoughts and the season that was and looked forward to the future. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott was included amongst this bunch.

With that, here are nine takeaways from McDermott’s end of season presser:

Bills’ Taron Johnson on Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer: ‘Hopefully they’re here’ next year

#Bills’ Taron Johnson on Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer: ‘Hopefully they’re here’ next year:

The future is unclear for a cornerstone of the Buffalo Bills roster.

The Bills hired head coach Sean McDermott and eventually general manager Brandon Beane in 2017. In terms of player leadership, the safety tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer were the duo that quickly filled that role.

“Micah and Jordan (Poyer). When you say one, you have to say the other, right? McDermott said via video conference.

Now, the future for them is unclear. Hyde’s is very up in the air. He’s slated to be a free agent this offseason.

“I just have no idea what the future holds right now,” Hyde said at locker cleanout day after the Bills’ playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “We’ll see. I’m in no rush. No rush at all.”

Poyer is under contract for one more season. The Bills would take on $2 million in dead cap if he’s released but Buffalo could clear near $5.5M in salary cap space. The team is estimated to be near $50M over the 2024 over the salary cap, according to Over The Cap.

As one could expect, teammates in the Bills locker room aren’t too concerned about all that. They know it’s a business. But the bonds between players is stronger than that and Taron Johnson showed it.

Johnson, who has played in Buffalo since 2018, hopes both are back and that all comes down to relationships built.

“Hopefully they’re here,” Johnson said.

Johnson discussing his teammates can be found in the News 8 clip below:

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Instant analysis, game recap of Bills’ playoff loss to the Chiefs

The way the #Bills went down vs. the #Chiefs:

The Buffalo Bills season came to an end with a gut-wrenching 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

As these postseason games between these two sides typically go, it was a back-and-forth affair. 

The Bills opened the game with a 14-play drive. Buffalo used the intermediate passing game and running attack to move the ball methodically down the field. The drive stalled out at the Chiefs nine-yard line. Tyler Bass would make a short, 27-yard field goal to give the Bills the lead 3-0 early in the first quarter.

Kansas City responded with a solid drive of their own. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed passes to receivers Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice to bring the Chiefs into Bills territory. Buffalo’s defense tightened up, and Harrison Butker would tie the game with a 47-yard field goal.

Buffalo’s offense leaned on the running game on their next drive, rushing nine times. Quarterback Josh Allen scrambled for a five-yard touchdown run, giving the Bills a 10-3 lead.

The Chiefs answered with another long drive. Kansas City rattled off a 10-play drive. The Chiefs opened the drive with a 29-yard pass to Kelce. From there, the Chiefs completed several short passes to bring the ball into the red zone. Once again, the Bills defense halted progress in the red zone, and Butker made his second field goal. Buffalo led 10-6 early in the second quarter.

The Chiefs took their first lead of the game with a 22-yard pass to Kelce. Kelce broke through on a busted coverage to run a corner route uncontested. A 22-yard rush by Clyde Edwards-Helaire aided the five-play drive.

The scoring continued on the next drive, as Buffalo responded with a 12-play drive. Once again, Cook was featured during the series. Allen rushed for a two-yard score to give the Bills the lead 17-13 going into halftime.

The offenses continued their offensive explosion into the second half. First, Kansas City took the lead once again with another Kelce touchdown on a short pass.

The Bills responded with another sustained drive. This time, Allen completed a 15-play drive with a perfect pass to the corner of the end zone, finding wideout Khalil Shakir.

Down 24-20, the Chiefs continued to respond, this time using a solid mix of short passes and runs between the tackles. Isaiah Pacheco bulled his way into the end zone to return the lead to Kansas City 27-24.

A crazy sequence ended the offense’s dominance. The Bills were finally stopped in their territory. Buffalo ran a fake punt, which was unsuccessful. Kansas City took possession at Buffalo’s 30-yard line.

Pacheco took the first rushing play deep into Bills territory, rattling off a 29-yard run. The Chiefs attempted an end around with Mecole Hardman. Bills safety Jordan Poyer forced a fumble, which went out of the end zone for a touchback. After five consecutive series ending with touchdowns, then two concluded with turnovers.

Buffalo took possession midway through the fourth quarter and led a sustained drive taking 6:40 off the clock. It appeared that the Bills were looking to run out the clock.

Instead, the Chiefs defense forced multiple stops.

Bass missed a 44-yard field by a country mile to the right, putting the ball in the hands of the Chiefs offense once again.

Pacheco and KC ground out two rushes to make a first down and ran out the clock. Both on the game and the Bills’ season.

Here’s the rest of Bills Wire’s recap of the game that was:

WATCH: Bills, Jordan Poyer get the call and Chiefs fumble ball out of end zone

Big play Po:

The Bills and Jordan Poyer got an incredible call to go their way against the Chiefs.

After the Bills turned the ball over on downs, the Chiefs were driving. On the goal line, Mecole Hardman looked poised to score but then disaster for the Chiefs.

Kudos to Poyer as he knocked the ball out as Hardman and him both dove toward the goal line. But the way the ball was knocked out, Hardman dropped the ball through the back of the end zone which is a touchback.

That gave the Bills the ball back and kept the game within one score. What a huge swing the Bills needed to keep the score at 27-24 in favor of the Chiefs.

Check out the turnover in the clip below:

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PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Wild Card

PFF: 5 worst-graded #Bills players on defense in Wild Card vs. the #Steelers:

The Buffalo Bills won their Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 31-17 final.

The Bills (11-6) had a few players that stood out above the rest. On defense, the Bills were led by an attacking defensive front the Steelers could not handle.

In terms of the players who helped them pull out the win, Buffalo will hope such efforts improve from some players throughout the rest of the 2023 playoffs as they aim for the Super Bowl.

According to Pro Football Focus, they’ll need these players to step it up moving forward.

Here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense Steelers in the Wild Card round:

WATCH: Bills release ‘best of’ players mic’d up in 2023

Best of the #Bills being mic’d up in 2023:

The Bills have a weekly tradition throughout the 2023 season, going all the way back to the summer: A player will be mic’d up.

From Josh Allen, to Jordan Poyer, to more, we’ve gotten great insights into games thanks to players wearing the microphone during games. The team was nice enough to take all the best of those and put it together in one video.

Check out the best of clips below:

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