Tag: Spencer Long

Chase Roullier is more than a former Washington Commander

Chase Roullier meant a lot to the DMV community for more than his work on the field.

The Commanders released one of my favorite players Friday.

Rather than waiting until June 1, the Commanders released center Chase Roullier now to give him more time to catch on with another NFL team.

The former Wyoming Cowboy quietly came to the Redskins virtually an unknown, not being drafted until selection No. 199 in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

It didn’t matter to Roullier that 198 players had been drafted ahead of him. None of this vocal barking about a chip on his shoulder. None of that silly talk of how the league messed up not drafting him earlier.

Roullier simply prepared for his opportunity and was ready when opportunity knocked. In college he had majored in engineering, so there was no time to waste. Get the work done, be prepared for the next class, and work hard in practice. Roullier had gone to college to actually earn his degree on time. Studying engineering there were many long days and nights.

While some NFL rookies are out spending money, dressing loudly, and talking loudly about what they are going to do and how they are going to succeed in the NFL, Roullier kept his mouth shut and let his play do his talking for him.

Midway through his rookie 2017 season, starting center Spencer Long was injured. Roullier had worked hard in preparation and was ready when baptized by fire. He started seven games and kept the job.

Roullier then displayed more progress, growth and maturity, starting 16, 14 and 16 games in his next three seasons, earning a contract extension.

Others on the line had bigger names, bigger contracts, but Roullier had been the most reliable and effective offensive lineman for Washington from 2018-2020.

Then a broken leg in a 2021 game at Denver ended his season. Last season, in only the second game of 2022, Roullier again went down with another season-ending leg injury.

So today is a reminder again that the NFL is first a business.

Most likely there will be no statement from Roullier. He won’t be on Twitter whining about how he is the victim. He won’t be crying, making excuses about why he was released today.

Chase Roullier, not a needy guy looking for the fan base to tell him how wonderful he is. No, he is secure enough to look out for others less fortunate than himself and see how he can be used to serve them. Consequently he has been a supporter of the Hogfarmer’s Charitable Foundation.

I will miss Chase Roullier being a member of my favorite NFL team. I wish him nothing but the best.

Recently-released Bills OL to retire

Former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Spencer Long has retired from the NFL.

A Bills roster move which was a little bit of a surprise at the time might have a little more meaning now. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, former Bills offensive lineman Spencer Long has retired from the NFL.

On Aug. 4, the Bills released Long. At the time, NFL teams were required to have an open roster spot in order to sign a new player. That’s since been changed but Long’s release came just days before the Bills announced the signing of Brian Winters.

Soon after Long was cut by Buffalo, he was linked to the 49ers. That move only just became official on Thursday, so Long technically was only on their roster for about three days before being placed in the reserve/ retired list.

Long has yet to make a comment on his decision.

He was a third-round pick of Washington in the 2014 draft. Long played with them for four years, spent 2018 with the Jets and spent last year with the Bills. He played in 67 games with 44 starts across six seasons.

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Report: Recently-signed 49ers OL to retire

The 49ers roster will have an opening after veteran OL Spencer Long retired.

The 49ers signed interior offensive lineman Spencer Long to help bolster their depth after Jake Brendel opted out. Now Long is set to retire according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

San Francisco added Long, 29, on Thursday, and now word of his retirement is coming down after Sunday’s practice.

Long was a third-round pick of Washington in the 2014 draft. He played with them for four years, spent 2018 with the Jets and spent last year with the Bills. He played in 67 games with 44 starts across six seasons.

He was set to compete for a reserve spot on the interior.

Once Long’s retirement becomes official, the 49ers’ 80-man roster will be down to 79, leaving a spot open to make an addition.

 

49ers drop DE for OL in roster move

The 49ers’ roster got another adjustment when they signed OL Spencer Long and released DE Alex Barrett.

The 49ers on Thursday continued their preseason roster tweaks by officially adding offensive lineman Spencer Long. Long’s agent initially announced the signing over the weekend. Because San Francisco’s roster is already at the maximum 80 players, they released defensive end Alex Barrett in a corresponding move.

Long will take over as a reserve interior lineman after Jake Brendel opted out. He entered the league as a third-round pick of the Washington Football Team in 2014. Long spent four seasons there, one with the Jets and then last season with Buffalo. He’s played in 67 games with 44 starts at guard and center. The 49ers will most likely use him as a backup center in training camp while Weston Richburg rehabs a knee injury he suffered late last season. Ben Garland will work in as the starter.

To make room for long, Barrett was waived for the second time in August. He was initially waived and then re-signed a couple days later. It looked like he might get a chance to compete for a spot on the back end of the roster, but San Francisco is more confident in their depth on the edges after signing former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan.

With padded practices set to begin Saturday, there are liable to be more roster moves coming down the line for the 49ers as they gear up for regular-season kickoff Sept. 13 at Levi’s Stadium.

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49ers add OL depth after pair of opt-outs

The 49ers added Spencer Long to help offset a pair of opt-outs.

The 49ers had two reserve offensive linemen opt out of the 2020 season just before the NFL’s opt-out deadline. Now they’re set recoup some of their depth with former Bills offensive lineman Spencer Long his agency announced Saturday via Twitter.

Long played in 14 games with no starts for Buffalo last year in his sixth NFL season. He was a third-round pick of the Washington Football Team in 2014 out of Nebraska. Long spent four seasons in Washington and started 31 of the 40 games he played, including stints at both guard and center.

The Jets signed him to be their starting center in 2018 and he started all 13 games he played before taking on a reserve role with the Bills a season ago.

San Francisco has a depth issue along the interior of their offensive line heading into camp. Starting center Weston Richburg is still nursing a knee injury he suffered late last season. Jake Brendel was going to help bolster the interior line depth before he opted out Thursday.

Long will likely fill in as a reserve center through camp, although he may get some opportunities to play right guard while the team tries to establish a starter at that spot.

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Bills release OL Spencer Long

The Buffalo Bills release offensive lineman Spencer Long, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Buffalo Bills’ movement along the offensive line has continued. After signing Brian Winters on Monday, the team has cut ties another on Tuesday.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills have released offensive lineman Spencer Long.

As Winters joins the Bills, it appears Long, one of his former teammates with the Jets, is making room for him. In releasing Long, the Bills save approximately $2.4 million against the salary cap. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane did tell WGR-550 radio on Tuesday morning that the Winters deal is not official just yet, however, he also said over the weekend that it night takes an extended period of time to sign new players to rosters.

Due to new COVID-19 related rules agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA, players must have multiple negative tests and pass other safety hurdles before joining a new team. The Bills and Winters might have agreed to terms already, but it could be a situation of him not being able to take his physical and come to Orchard Park just yet.

In Long, the Bills lose a player that appeared to be in the mix to take Jon Feliciano’s spot. Feliciano started all 16 games for the Bills at guard in 2019, but suffered a chest injury which will keep him out of an extended period. Long has the same versatility as Feliciano, an ability to play both guard and center. However, Winters has the same.

Prior to last season, Long signed a three-year deal with the Bills. The team exercised a second-year option on his contract in March, but have decided to move on from that by releasing him.

 

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Brian Winters signs with Bills following release from Jets

Former New York Jets guard Brian Winters lands in Buffalo less than 24 hours after he was released by Gang Green.

Brian Winters didn’t have to wait long to find a new home.

A day after being released by the New York Jets, Winters signed with the Buffalo Bills, according to multiple reports.

After seven years in New York, the Jets parted ways with Winters, who was a long-suspected cap casualty, on Sunday. While Winters was originally given the indication that he would be competing with newly acquired veteran Greg Van Roten for the starting right guard position, the Jets opted for salary relief instead. Winters’ departure will save the Jets roughly $7.2 million in cap space.

Winters was a free agent for less than 24 hours. Staying in the AFC East, the Bills quickly moved on him after their starting right guard Jon Feliciano tore his pectoral muscle while working out.

With Winters’ experience, he will have an opportunity to start in Buffalo. However, he will have to endure a training camp battle with another former Jet, Spencer Long.

Winters is returning from a severe shoulder injury that cost him the final seven games of the 2019 season. He will have an opportunity to face off against the Jets in Week 1 when Gang Green faces Buffalo.

Potential replacements, takeaways from Jon Feliciano injury

Who could replace Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano?

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano will miss a chunk of the upcoming 2020 season. The team’s starting right guard from 2019 suffered a pectoral injury which could require up to three months or more to heal.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have continuously harped on the importance of continuity on their roster. After re-signing Quinton Spain earlier this offseason, the Bills were slated to return all five of their starters on the O-line in 2020.

With Feliciano’s injury, that will no longer be the case for Buffalo, and there will be a ripple-effect for the Bills because of it.

With that, here are six takeaways from Feliciano’s injury:

Bills offensive guard Jon Feliciano. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

How big of a loss?

We know Feliciano is a loss for the Bills, but let’s try to put into context exactly how big of a loss he is. As mentioned, he was a starter for the Bills in his first season with the team in 2019. At right guard, Feliciano was the No. 1 in every game for Buffalo, playing in about 89 percent of snaps.

Already stated was that continuity the Bills had along the offensive line. From last season, things were not going to change in terms of starters along the O-line, most likely, until now. From left to right, the Bills’ line was going to look, once again, like: Dion Dawkins, Spain, Mitch Morse, Feliciano and Cody Ford.

And speaking of Spain, many touted his addition Buffalo’s line a year ago. Just to put things into picture of how big of a loss Feliciano might be, he was actually… better than Spain, in at least one sense. Pro Football Focus is subjective, but per their numbers, Feliciano was the better 2019 lineman. At the end of last season, Spain ranked as their 58th best guard in the NFL while Feliciano was at No. 35 via PFF’s grade.

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Bills’ Jon Feliciano could miss months due to chest injury

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliicano suffers chest injury.

The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line continuity has taken a hit on Friday as starting right guard Jon Feliciano has suffered a chest injury. It could keep him sideline for two to three months.

Feliciano, 28, already had surgery to repair a shoulder injury earlier this offseason. Multiple outlets, including Syracuse.com, are confirming the report. The Bills Wire Bradley Gelber was told the chest injury is a torn pectoral muscle.

 

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Buffalo Bills training camp preview: Offensive line

2020 Buffalo Bills training camp preview for the team’s offensive line.

The Buffalo Bills are putting the final touches on their preparations for training camp in 2020, one that’s not going to be like any other.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, everyone from fans to the organization knows things aren’t going to be the same during 2020’s camp. Safety precautions between players and owners are still being discussed and worked out.

Still, the end goal for training camp is the same as usual. The Bills need to trim their roster down and find the best bunch of guys to send into battle together on game day.

Bills Wire will go group-by-group, breaking down each position ahead of camp’s *expected* start on July 28. This round is the offensive line:

Buffalo Bills center Mitch Morse. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Players (age)

  • Mitch Morse (28: 6th season)
  • Spencer Long (29: 7th season)
  • Ike Boettger (25: 3rd season)
  • Jon Feliciano (28: 6th season)
  • Marquel Harrell (23: Rookie)
  • Quinton Spain (28: 6th season)
  • Ryan Bates (23: 2nd season)
  • Evan Boehm (26: 5th season)
  • Garrett McGhin (24: 2nd season)
  • Daryl Williams (27: 6th season)
  • Trey Adams (23: Rookie)
  • Victor Salako (26: 2nd season)
  • Dion Dawkins (26: 4th season)
  • Cody Ford (23: 2nd season)
  • Ty Nsekhe: (34: 6th season)
  • Brandon Walton (22: Rookie)

2019 recap

The 2019 recap for this offensive line would be a long one, but we’ll keep it short and sweet. The Bills turned over… just about everything along their line a year ago. In 2018, the group was very bad. From that season, the only starter that survived was left tackle Dion Dawkins. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane saw fit to add as many bodies as he could in free agency and the draft in 2019, and told them all essentially the same: Best man wins. That grouping, from left to right, ended up being: Dawkins, Quinton Spain, Mitch Morse, Jon Feliciano, and Cody Ford with a mix of Ty Nsekhe at right tackle. Overall, this unit’s play was much better than 2018, but they do not rank amongst the NFL’s best just yet, there’s room to grow.

Now here’s a rundown of storylines to follow in this position group:

Does continuity reign supreme?

Earlier this offseason, a study was released about continuity in the NFL. The Bills have the most continuity among their roster heading into next season. A big part of that is having all five (or six) guys who spent time starting on their offensive line returning. That’s right, all six of those guys mentioned in our 2019 recap are back once again. Spain was re-signed this offseason in an effort to do just that.

So is that it? Are we all said and done?

Well, the Bills should really not do that, but we’ll see if the coach staff does. There’s one big thought on both sides of the fence. Why keep the same group together? Chemistry builds over time with an offensive line, so another season of… seasoning… could be great for this group. On the flip side, why shouldn’t the starter roles just be given back over? Well, best mans, right? If there’s someone better, give that person the job. You’d still likely have a big chunk of chemistry growing on a line with maybe just one new face.

We’ll see which route the Bills are going.

 

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