The Bills have officially released center Eric Wood. Wood, who retired earlier this offseason due to a neck injury, has agreed to an injury settlement with the team. 
Wood, 32, was Buffalo’s starting snapper from 2009 through 2017. Prior to his retirement, he was Buffalo’s second-longest-tenured active player behind defensive tackle Kyle Williams. Over the course of his Bills tenure, he was team’s top center under six different head coaches, or seven if you count Anthony Lynn‘s one game as interim head coach.
Remarkably, he started in all 16 of the Bills’ regular season games last season, plus their playoff game against Jacksonville. Wood managed to play through the pain all year, but the malady was too serious for him to continue on the field.
Wood graded out as the No. 16 center in the NFL in 2017, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. In 2015, the season in which he his first and only Pro Bowl, PFF had him ranked in the top five league-wide.
With Wood out of the picture, the Bills project to start free agent pickup Russell Bodine in the middle. Interior lineman Ryan Groy figures to serve as his top backup.
Eric Woods embodies the ultimate professional athlete. Never went on stupid self serving rants, learned 5-7 different offensive schemes and anchored it admirably as well as team leader in locker room plus was/is cornerstone of community outreach to his loyal fans and neighbors.
Hope he is able to find a niche after football whether it’s coaching or announcing, if not excel in the private arena.
Best luck and much admiration
Chris
Damn best of luck Kyle with your life after football not the flashiest of players but always one of the best
Groy is the guy who should be the starter. Not Bodine.