Tag: Star Lotulelei

Bills explain why Star Lotulelei did not play in preseason opener

#Bills explain why Star Lotulelei did not play in preseason opener:

The Buffalo Bills sat a lot of starters and even main backups against the Detroit Lions in their preseason opener last weekend.

As the exhibition season goes, the final score doesn’t matter. It’s all about staying healthy and the most secure route to take is to stay off the field completely.

But then there’s the curious case of Star Lotulelei.

Previously a starter, yes, but Lotulelei took an entire year off of playing in the NFL as he opted out in 2020 due to COVID-19. With potentially some rust on him, some expected the defensive tackle to suit up against the Lions.

Instead, Lotulelei didn’t, and Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier explained why. Per the DC, staying healthy played a part, but Lotulelei has impressed during training camp practices so far this summer, which gave the team confidence that playing him just wasn’t necessary.

“Some of the reason why he didn’t play in that ball game is because of some of the good things we’ve seen in practice,” Frazier said via press conference on Monday. “There was enough that we’ve seen to tell us that it wasn’t necessary to put him out there in that ball game.”

“He’s had a really good camp. We were all wondering what it would be like when we got him back, boy, he’s been a bright light for us in a lot of ways,” Frazier added.

Frazier did not commit to when, if at all, Lotulelei would see the field during the preseason. But he did partially tease that during the Bills’ next exhibition game vs. the Chicago Bears on Saturday, Lotulelei could see some snaps.

Regardless, Frazier’s absolutely impressed.

“Up until this point, he’s been a big boost to our defensive line,” he said.

In terms of Lotulelei himself, he added that he would “like to have some preseason reps.” However, he also said that he feels good so far this offseason, backing Frazier’s assessment.

“My body definitely feels like I didn’t play a full season, but I don’t think, when you get into your later years in your career, you can ever call yourself fresh,” Lotulelei said.

Whether or not the 31-year-old plays any snaps at all during the preseason, expectations for his return are still already high.

Previously a player seeing his importance to the Bills defense questioned by outsiders, many observers of the team did a complete 180 after watching Buffalo struggles defensively without him last season.

It might be smart for him to get out there… even just for a few plays.

[lawrence-related id=85206,85300,85296,85157]

Panthers great Luke Kuechly visits Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

Warning: Carolina Panthers legend Luke Kuechly is donning another team’s colors in the post below.

Have you ever wondered what Carolina Panthers lifer Luke Kuechly would look like in another team’s colors?

Of course you haven’t! Because why in the hell would you?

But, just in case you were curious . . .

(Ew.)

Kuechly took the trip up to Orchard Park, N.Y., reuniting with his former defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and his Buffalo Bills. The duo spent five years heading the defense in Carolina, a run that included three NFC South division titles and a Super Bowl appearance.

Due to a series of concussions, Kuechly opted to hang up his cleats following the 2019 season at the age of 29. Over his eight pro seasons, he was selected to seven All-Pro teams (five First-team selections) and was named the 2013 AP Defensive Player of the Year.

By the way, Buffalo . . .

We know you’re jokingly referred to as “Carolina North” for forming much of your current organization with ex-Panthers. You’re familiar with the other names: Mario Addison, Star Lotulelei, A.J. Klein, Efe Obada, Vernon Butler, Daryl Williams and even general manager Brandon Beane.

So now you’re coming after their retired legends? Dang, that’s cold.

[vertical-gallery id=638545]

7 Bills storylines to follow during the 2021 preseason

7 #Bills storylines to follow during the 2021 preseason:

The Buffalo Bills begin their 2021 preseason against the Detroit Lions. That NFC North fun continues with games against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, respectively.

Throughout all of it, here are seven Bills storylines to follow:

B/R: Star Lotulelei is Buffalo Bills’ most-overpaid player

B/R picked an interesting time to say this about the #Bills DT:

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbw1j59gmjw5gdj player_id=none image=https://billswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Bleacher Report picked quite a time to knock Star Lotulelei.

Selecting every NFL team’s “most-overpaid player” ahead of 2021, the defensive tackle was the pick for the Bills. Lotulelei has had such connections made to him in the past, but not recently.

Before breaking that down, here’s why Lotulelei was B/R’s pick:

The Contract: Three years, $18.6 million with $7 million guaranteed

In and of itself, Star Lotulelei’s contract isn’t excessive. The seven-year veteran is earning just over $6 million annually and has only $7 million in guarantees on his deal.

Where Lotulelei starts to appear overpaid, though, is when his salary is compared to his role.

In his two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Lotulelei has strictly been a rotational player. He has played fewer than 50 percent of the defensive snaps in each campaign and has rarely provided impact plays.

Between 2018 and 2019, Lotulelei produced only 36 total tackles, two sacks, seven quarterback pressures and two passes defended. After that underwhelming production—and after opting out of the 2020 season—Lotulelei is set to carry a cap hit of $7.6 million in 2021.

Fortunately, the Bills aren’t tied to Lotulelei beyond the 2022 season. While he’s set to carry a cap hit of $9 million in 2023, Lotulelei will have no dead money left on his contract.

Prior to opting out of playing in 2020 due to COVID-19, Lotulelei wasn’t fully appreciated by many in western New York. Now he is.

Without him in 2020, Buffalo’s defense took a step back. Early in the year, the run defense struggled badly. Things eventually improved, but the damage was done.

Long called a player that does the “dirty work” that goes under the radar in the trenches by teammates, observers of the Bills started to appreciate that, too. In fact, some might point to Lotulelei returning as a reason for huge optimism in the Bills next season, perhaps even Super Bowl expectations.

Considering the timeline… B/R picked an incorrect time to pick on Lotulelei. This message won’t go over well in Buffalo.

[lawrence-related id=84026,84024,84000,83999]

Why Star Lotulelei did not watch every Bills game after opting out

Buffalo Bills DT Star Lotulelei did not watch every game last season when opting out.

Star Lotulelei is the lone Buffalo Bills player returning from opting out on playing in 2020 due to COVID-19. If you thought last season he was glued to his television watching his teammates during that time… you’d actually be wrong.

Lotulelei admitted on Tuesday during his first media availability since the end of the 2019 season that he skipped out on some games. It wasn’t for a lack of desire for football, though.

The 31-year-old said from Bills minicamp that it was simply just too hard for him. He missed being out there.

“It was [hard],” Lotulelei said via video conference. “I didn’t watch every game because it was a little tough. Especially that last game. But I was happy that the team was doing so well. The success that they had last year was great. It was a bummer not to be apart of it, but again, I made the decision, I don’t regret it, but I was happy for the guys in there… I was hoping they would have got it done, but it is what it is. I’m back now and we’ll see what happens this year.”

Lotulelei went on to explain his reason for opting wasn’t anything over complicated. A year ago when he decided not to play, that tough decision was made for safety purposes.

“Pretty much just all the uncertainty that was going on at that time,” Lotulelei said. “I felt like it was the best decision for myself and my wife and my kids and that was it.”

Lotulelei coming back into the picture is something the Bills could certainly benefit from. Despite their successes in 2020, their run defense was lacking without him, especially early in the regular season.

Still, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott isn’t exactly promising anything for the veteran. The coach also said on Tuesday that Lotulelei will get his chance to find his roster spot again, but the team’s coaching staff will certainly monitor the defensive tackle’s game throughout the summer considering the length of his time off.

“At the end of the day we’ll have to see because of the time he’s been out,” McDermott said.

[lawrence-related id=83039,82984,83016,82953]

6 things to watch for at Bills mandatory minicamp

Things to watch for at Buffalo Bills 2021 minicamp.

Last week, several NFL teams got their yearly mandatory minicamp underway. This week, another 18 will do the exact same thing and the Buffalo Bills are among them.

With the Bills set to hit the practice field once again in Orchard Park, here are six things to watch for:

 

Star Lotulelei set to make return to Bills on Tuesday

Buffalo Bills DT Star Lotulelei to return to team after opting out.

The Bills will officially have defensive tackle Star Lotulelei fully back in the fold starting on Tuesday when the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp kicks off.

The two players that are scheduled to have video conferences with reporters after the first practice session are quarterback Josh Allen along with Lotulelei. In order to do so, Lotulelei must be at practice… and evidently he will be. In recent weeks during voluntary workouts, Lotulelei was not in attendance.

Earlier this offseason it was reported that Lotulelei would be returning to the Bills after he opted out of playing in 2020 due to COVID-19. Lotulelei is Buffalo’s lone player that is returning from that designation.

Recently, video of  Lotulelei working out had been posted to social media as well, another sign that the 31-year-old was planning to join the team once again. The last time Lotulelei suited up with the Bills was their playoff loss to the Houston Texans in the 2019 Wild Card round.

Lotulelei re-joins a familiar middle of the Bills’ defensive line. That group includes Ed Oliver, Harrison Phillips, and Vernon Butler near the top of the depth chart.

[lawrence-related id=83031,83013,83029,83011]

Sean McDermott confirms no Stefon Diggs, Star Lotulelei at Bills OTAs this week

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott from OTAs on Stefon Diggs, Star Lotulelei, and Cole Beasley.

The Bills have entered the third phase of organized team activities this week. The key thing about these workouts is that they are voluntary, players are not required to attend until mandatory workouts start from June 15-17.

Last week, the Bills had Phase 2 of workouts. Reportedly, 75 players showed up for those.

On Tuesday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott spoke via video conference from OTAs. During it, he did not give a specific number of players in attendance, only saying it’s “70-plus players,” but did the coach did mention a few by name regarding their attendance.

On the side of the fence of those players not attending were wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.

On Diggs, McDermott did not sound worried about his lack of attendance. He also touched on Diggs’ injury status. Earlier his offseason, Diggs revealed he played through an oblique injury during the 2020 playoffs.

On his health, McDermott was not concerned.

“(Diggs) is a tough guy and a heck of a competitor,” McDermott said.

However, while Diggs is not in the building working out, another injured wideout was: Cole Beasley. The slot side receiver played through a broken bone in his leg. McDermott indicated Beasley was rehabbing that issue in Orchard Park.

“(Cole) is working on getting back out there,” McDermott said.

On Lotulelei, McDermott did not comment, only saying he’s not attending practices.

[lawrence-related id=82400,82395,82385,82391]

Ranking the Bills’ offseason needs after pre-free agency moves

An updated look at the Buffalo Bills’ needs prior to free agency after cuts and Matt Milano re-signs.

We’re now in the thick of the Buffalo Bills offseason as we near the end of this week.

The Bills and general manager Brandon Beane did a ton of off-field lift the past few days as free agency looms on March 17.

Buffalo restructured the contracts of center Mitch Morse and defensive tackle Vernon Butler. Wide receiver John Brown and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson were released.

But in the opposite direction, the Bills then added to their salary cap as well. Linebacker Matt Milano was re-signed by the team to a four-year deal.

There was a lot to unpack and with some of the dust settling on all of this, let’s refresh.

Here’s an updated list of offseason needs for the Bills following their pre-free agency moves made throughout this week: