The Bills saw their punting equation change when Sam Martin suffered a hamstring injury following a blocked field goal Monday. While Martin continued to punt in the team’s wild-card win, the Bills will bring in outside insurance.
Matt Haack will become Buffalo’s emergency punter, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. This marks a Western New York return for Haack, who operated as the Bills’ punter in 2021. A seven-year veteran, Haack has played for three teams in the past three years. Haack will fill the practice squad spot vacated when the team cut Leonard Fournette, per the Buffalo News’ Katherine Fitzgerald.
A full-time punter from 2017-22, Haack has only served as an emergency leg this season. The Browns brought him in for their Week 17 game, with Corey Bojorquez dealing with an injury. Haack spent the 2022 season with the Colts, taking over after the team lost Rigoberto Sanchez during a late-summer workout. Haack spent all of last season in Indianapolis.
Haack, 29, averaged a career-low 42.9 yards per punt during his 2021 Bills one-off, with Buffalo not exactly featuring ideal conditions for specialists. The former four-year Dolphins punter has averaged at least 44.6 yards per boot in every other season.
Martin has been Buffalo’s punter for two seasons; he grabbed his hamstring while running to help prevent the Steelers from returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown during the second quarter Monday. IR could be an option, should the Bills want to save a roster spot, but that would mean Martin is done for the season. The Bills at least have a familiar option in the event Martin cannot go against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Should bring back Matt Araiza instead.
Or at least cut Von Miller if the team wants to hold the same standard for all players.
Von can’t be cut. It would cause salary cap issues.
The Bills are likely stuck with Vin until the end if 2024.
But I hear ya. I hate that he is even active at all.
Anyone can be cut…and based in the Bills’ actions with even alleged SA or DV they cut first ask questions later.
They cut araiza, they need to cut Miller.
Void his deal like they did Araiza.
Yes, technically he can be released.
But there are negative salary cap figures to contend with if they do.
You cannot simply void a contract – it does not work that way.
There can be penalties for releasing a player in a guaranteed deal by speeding up what is owed – destroying your salary cap.
A late round rookie that signs his deal is much different than a six figure deal with substantial guarantees. It’s just not how it works.
I am shading the Bills organization because they are frauds for not holding the same standards because of the money involved. I am aware there are cap penalties that would occur as they did with Araiza when his deal was voided, the same way as Kareem Hunt’s was voided in KC when he went through his issues.
The Bills organization voided Araiza’s deal before he even was proven guilty of anything.
Why aren’t the Bills doing the same for Miller?
Is it ok for him to engage in alleged domestic violence because he makes more money than Araiza did when the team voided his deal? No, because that is silly, right?
Voiding isnt the same as releasing.
A team cant just decide to void a contract unilaterally.
Voiding, trading, releasing, the terms don’t matter. I am talking about the principle.
They removed araiza off the roster. Miller should be held to the same standard.
Haack is a known commodity to the Bills. This move is more about holding for the kicker than actually punting, as Haack has held for Tyler Bass in the past. It would be too risky to bring in Araiza at this point, seeing as he has never played in an NFL game outside of the preseason.
Matt Araiza has been cleared of wrong doings yet was released due to fears of conduct unbecoming of a player
Von Miller is afforded the benefit of innocence until proven guilty
Two tier justice one a rookie no body and the second a high profile veteran
Give Araiza an opportunity to make a livelihood after it was stolen by false accusations
To be fair – Araiza was cleared of the horrific accusation, but let’s not pretend he is a boy scout either.
I’m sure the team did consider Araiza, but this was a football move, not a justice move.
That Sean Landetta was a heck of a punter. Should be HOF.