HEADLINES

Mike Williams (Syracuse)

AFC East Notes: Smith, Branch, Marino, Bills

October 29th, 2014 at 9:56pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have moved on from Geno Smith as the undisputed starter, but they need to close the book on the struggling quarterback altogether, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. He writes that putting Smith back in the game this season will only cloud the quarterback situation further, and that the team needs to draft a new signal-caller in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

  • Defensive tackle Alan Branch is – finally – a member of the Patriots. Christopher Price of WEEI.com looked at what the former Seahawks notable can bring to New England.
  • Dolphins‘ Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has been privately tutoring the team’s current quarterbacks, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Ryan Tannehill and backup Matt Moore are both getting personal attention from the all-time great passer.
  • The Bills have been great on the road in 2014, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Even receiver Mike Williams, who has had his troubles with the organization, has bought in. “It’s more of the family atmosphere with us. On the road, we’ve all got to stay together. All the trips, you’ve got to be with your team,” said Williams. “I think that got us a lot closer. On the road, we hang with each other more, we in the hotel with each other, we go out to new places and chill with each other. I think us just being together more on the road is showing up.”

Zach Links contrributed to this post.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Bills, Williams, Idzik

October 26th, 2014 at 6:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets hit a new low today in their six-turnover loss to the Bills, writes Howie Kussay of the New York Post. The loss was the Jets seventh straight and despite some flashes of brilliance from Michael Vick, things unraveled quickly for Gang Green. More on the Jets and Bills..

  • Once again, Mike Williams has reiterated his desire to remain with the Bills, as ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak writes. “Of course, a lot of interest out there. But I love being here and I keep telling [my agent] that too,” Williams said. “I’m a Bill until otherwise.” Williams said he will stay in town during the upcoming bye week. “Stay with the team and whatever and listen. Hopefully I’ll be a Bill next week,” he added.
  • General Manager John Idzik needs to pay the price for making the Jets a mess, opines David Steele of The Sporting News. GMs rarely get fired in midseason – coaches do- but Steele says the Jets should make an exception. Idzik took over a 6-10 team, watched them overachieve to an 8-8 mark, and is now watching them flounder at 1-7.
  • Geno Smith and E.J. Manuel were both on the bench today as the Jets faced the Bills. There’s still time for both, but right now, that looks like a terrible case of two teams that forced quarterback picks in the wrong draft year, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.

Mike Williams Denies Asking For Trade

October 15th, 2014 at 5:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Following reports on Monday indicated that the Bills were allowing disgruntled receiver Mike Williams to seek a trade, the 27-year-old pass-catcher has spoken out on the issue, denying that he wants out of Buffalo. “No,” Williams told reporters, including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, when asked if he wanted to be traded. “I always want to be [here]. This is my hometown. This is someplace I always wanted to be.”

Bills general manager Doug Whaley said on Monday that Williams’ agent, Hadley Engelhard, had requested clearance to find trade partners for Williams, who was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Patriots. Even as the story broke, two factors served to make a deal unlikely. First, as our Zach Links noted two days ago, Williams’ $5.2MM base salary for 2015 is guaranteed; additionally, he is due a $1MM roster bonus early in the league year. It’s an extremely generous sum of money for a mid-tier wideout, especially given the second reason a trade was unlikely from the get-go — Williams hasn’t been very good recently. The Syracuse product has either been injured or ineffective for much of the past two seasons, and was dealt by the Buccaneers after a multitude of off-the-field issues.

For his part, Williams indicates that the idea of a trade was conceived by Engelhard. “[Engelhard] was trying to see other options, but then it got public and everybody found out and everybody started going crazy,” said Williams. “So I had to tell him, like, I don’t want to be traded…[A]t the end of the day, you’ve got to tell him, like, I’m the boss and I want to be here” (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550).

Bills head coach Doug Marrone isn’t pleased with the recent turn of events, Rodak writes in a separate piece. “Yeah, I mean I’m not gonna lie. Absolutely,” Marrone responded when asked if he was perturbed by the story. “Someone else’s problems all of the sudden become my problems.” Williams’ teammates, conversely, seemed supportive. “Anything that has to do with leading, he’s our leader and I think it would hurt all of us,” rookie receiver Sammy Watkins said of the possibility of Williams being dealt. “I won’t even lie to you, it would hurt everybody that’s in our room.”

It’s just my opinion, but I find it difficult to imagine that even receiver-needy teams like the Jets or Giants would give up anything of value for a player like Williams. With his salary guarantees and his subpar performance, it simply doesn’t make sense for any club to bring him in. Ultimately, if the Bills truly want to rid themselves of Williams, they’ll probably have to simply release him, and go forward with his dead money on their books.

NFC East Notes: Williams, Giants, Jackson

October 15th, 2014 at 8:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys will fine running back Joseph Randle for his shoplifting incident but will not suspend him, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Dallas certainly wants to keep Randle on the roster after he torched the Seahawks for a 38-yard run early in Sunday’s game. With an injury-prone DeMarco Murray on pace for a record number of carries, the Cowboys are expected to get Randle and fellow understudy Lance Dunbar more and more involved each week. More from the NFC East..

  • Despite a report to the contrary, the Giants never had interest in giving up a draft pick for the right to pay Mike Williams‘ hefty salary, writes Jordan Raanan of The Star-Ledger. Williams is making more than $1MM this year and is guaranteed more than $5MM in 2015. Of course, a deal is even less likely after the Giants picked up veteran wide receiver Kevin Ogletree last night.
  • Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com wonders aloud if the Eagles are actually better off without wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Ultimately, even though their record is better than it was at this point last year (5-1 as opposed to 3-3) and they’ve largely replaced his production, Sheridan can’t honestly say they’re better off. After all, the Eagles could be even more dangerous with both Jackson and Jeremy Maclin as the wideouts with Riley Cooper and Jordan Matthews sharing time in the slot.
  • No one is expecting Ogletree to replace Victor Cruz, but he does have experience and he is comfortable working out of the slot where Cruz excelled, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Now, the Giants can choose between Ogletree and Preston Parker for that role in the slot while keeping rookie Odell Beckham Jr. in an outside receiver spot.
  • In an interview with the NFL Network, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he’ll be ultimately remembered for his boldness, writes Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News. “I think that I will be viewed as aggressive,” Jones said. “It is about winning that Super Bowl. My goal is that Super Bowl.”

NFC East Notes: Giants, Redskins, Free

October 14th, 2014 at 9:20am CST by Luke Adams

After the Cowboys upset the Seahawks and the Eagles dismantled the Giants on Sunday, the NFC East is the league’s only division with multiple 5-1 teams, as Dallas and Philadelphia join the Chargers as the NFL’s top teams. Here’s the latest out of the East, the NFC’s best division so far:

  • We heard yesterday that Mike Williams and his agent are seeking a trade that would send the Bills receiver to another team, and the Giants have some interest in a deal, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. While a swap may be a long shot, it sounds as if the Giants will at least explore the possibility of adding Williams in the wake of Victor Cruz‘s season-ending injury.
  • Another NFC East team is also considering adding to its receiving corps, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who reports that ex-Raven Gerrard Sheppard is working out for the Redskins today.
  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said today on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that right tackle Doug Free is expected to miss the next three or four weeks after sustaining a foot injury in Sunday’s game, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. According to Jones, Free suffered a fracture.
  • Giants pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul tops Jason Fitzgerald’s list of players whose stocks took a hit this week. Pierre-Paul is eligible for free agency this winter, but the Over The Cap scribe writes that it’s hard to believe how far the 25-year-old’s star has fallen over the last couple seasons.

Bills Allow Mike Williams To Seek Trade

October 13th, 2014 at 12:41pm CST by Zachary Links

12:41pm: Williams took to Twitter to try and convince Bills fans that he wants to stay in Buffalo. “Chill everybody I’m happy with being a buffalo bill [sic]……. I mean come on it’s my dream my agent just did what a agent supposed to do…”

10:26am: Whaley says that he has not been contacted about Williams yet and he has not reached out to any teams, Rodak tweets. Meanwhile, he’s being up front about what he’d expect in a deal.

“If he gets me compensation worthy of a No. 1 wide receiver, which he claimed he is, then we would entertain it,” Whaley said, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR (on Twitter).

10:17am: Bills GM Doug Whaley said that he is “not actively shopping anyone” but confirmed that Williams’ agent requested a trade, according to the Bills’ official Twitter account. Whaley was complimentary of Williams and expects him to stay but also noted that everyone can be moved for the right price, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets.

9:59am: Hadley Engelhard, the agent for Bills wide receiver Mike Williams, has been given permission to gauge interest in a possible trade from Buffalo, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Williams was a healthy scratch in yesterday’s game against the Patriots.

Chris Hogan got to dress in Williams’ stead and recorded five receptions for 72 yards with his first career NFL touchdown. After the game, head coach Doug Marrone told reporters that Williams was left on the sidelines for special teams purposes.

“I brought Mike in on Saturday, and I told him I needed him to do this for the team,” Marrone said, according to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News. “I said, ‘It’s not a great situation, but it’s due to the special teams and everything that we needed to cover.’ We talked to him, and he handled it like a pro, and he’ll be ready to go next week.“

Now, it’s possible that Williams won’t be there at all for next week’s game against the Vikings. There are several teams that could theoretically be interested in the Syracuse product, including two at the Meadowlands. The Jets’ wide receivers outside of No. 1 option Eric Decker are less-than-stellar and the Giants are likely going to be without Victor Cruz for the rest of the season after last night’s injury.

Still, Williams’ contract will be a stumbling block for any inquiring team. ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak reported back in April that Williams’ $5.2MM base salary for 2015 is fully guaranteed, and that’s not including the $1MM roster bonus he can collect on early in the league year. And, while the 27-year-old could be an attractive secondary option for another team, he is far from a star caliber player. Williams appeared to have promise with the Bucs, who gave him his current lucrative long-term deal, but an injury shortened 2013 coupled with a lackluster start in Buffalo has put his talent level into question.

From 2010 to 2012 in Tampa Bay, Williams averaged roughly 64 receptions, 910 yards, and eight touchdowns per year. The trade deadline is on October 28th, which is just 15 days away.

AFC East Notes: Williams, Thomas, Johnson, Kelly

July 19th, 2014 at 3:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Bills newcomer Mike Williams sat out portions of minicamp to rest his troubled hamstring, but the veteran wideout has no worries heading into training camp.

“I’m fully ready to go,” Williams told Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. “I trained this whole offseason. There was really no offseason for me. I kinda had to get my leg better. I had to get back to feeling like Mike again, like my mom always tells me. Today running that conditioning test made me feel like I was Mike again.

“At the start of camp, just did the conditioning test and I feel real good. I feel great. I feel I got an A-plus, if there was a grade for it. I feel I’m ready to go.”

Williams finished 2013 with 22 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns – all career lows. The Buccaneers traded the wideout to the Bills in early April for a sixth-round pick.

Let’s look at some more notes from the AFC East…

AFC Notes: Carr, Sheard, Canty, Williams

June 14th, 2014 at 10:52am CST by Matt Feminis

Since being drafted last month, Raiders second-round quarterback Derek Carr has drawn continued praise. Now, offensive coordinator Greg Olson says the rookie might not need to “redshirt.” Olson spoke to Vic Tafur at sfgate.com, saying, “We are accelerating the learning curve of Derek Carr.”

Here’s some more AFC news and notes:

  • Earlier this week, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweeted that the Browns and 2015 free agent Jabaal Sheard have had preliminary talks on a long-term contract extension, then elaborated in article form. Entering the final year of his four-year, $5.1MM rookie deal, the 2011 second-rounder is poised for an impact (Read: productive) season and lucrative payday thanks to his projected role as the team’s primary pass rusher in Mike Pettine’s hybrid, attacking scheme.
  • Prompted by a fan question as part of a mailbag chat, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley addresses the possibility of Ravens veteran defensive lineman Chris Canty being cut at the end of training camp. “There’s no guarantee that defensive end Chris Canty makes this team,” says Hensley. “He was a disappointment last year, and the Ravens can create cap room by cutting him ($2 million this year and $2.6 million in 2015). The Ravens, though, need to make sure someone is ready to step up in his spot. Kapron Lewis-Moore and rookie Brent Urban are the ones who play Canty’s position, so they have to convince the Ravens in the preseason that they’re ready.”
  • Bills receiver Mike Williams, acquired from Tampa Bay for a sixth-round pick, does not have a “particular skill that he brings to the table that is different from the rest of the receiver group” and is not a lock to make the roster in the eyes of ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
  • Despite struggling last season, Derek Newton is the Texans’ starting right tackle, per Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
  • The odds of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger starting all 16 games for the second consecutive season “aren’t good,” says Triblive.com’s Mark Kaboly, who examines the competition for the backup job between veteran Bruce Gradkowski and second-year pro Landry Jones.
  • Previewing the Dolphins upcoming minicamp, the Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly hits on several roster notes, including competition for slot receiver reps, Koa Misi transitioning to inside linebacker and Dion Jordan‘s increased bulk and strength.

AFC Notes: Mike Williams, Raiders, Texans

April 14th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after acquiring him in a trade with the Buccaneers, the Bills have made some minor adjustments to Mike Williams‘ contract, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Corry tweets that the deal is still worth $1.8MM for 2014, but that the base salary is now $1.6MM (from $1.2MM), while the workout bonus is now just $200K (from $600K). Since that ’14 base salary is guaranteed, the move looks like a vote of confidence from the Bills to their newest receiver.

Here’s more from around the AFC, with a focus on the draft:

  • UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is in Oakland today meeting with the Raiders, and will move on to Houston after that visit to meet with the Texas tomorrow, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. Oakland is also hosting Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack will also be visiting the Texans next week, as Houston explores all potential avenues for the first overall pick, says Rapoport (via Twitter).
  • TCU cornerback Jason Verrett, who we noted earlier visited the Steelers today, also has visits lined up for next week with the Bengals and Jets, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Another cornerback, Oregon’s Terrance Mitchell, is also drawing interest from AFC teams, having staged a workout for the Colts and Raiders, writes Ross Jones of Fox Sports, who adds that Mitchell ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash.
  • Former Indiana State running back Shakir Bell will take part in the Colts‘ local prospect day on Wednesday, tweets Tom James of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.
  • The Ravens have expressed interest in Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin and were complimentary about his performance at their local prospect day, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

South Notes: Bucs, Draft Visits, Jaguars

April 8th, 2014 at 11:05am CST by Luke Adams

We’ve already checked in on a pair of AFC South teams this morning, with posts on the Titans and Jaguars, but there are a few more items related to teams in that division and its NFC counterpart, so let’s dive right in….

  • As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times details, wide receiver Mike Williams is determined to prove that the Buccaneers made a mistake by trading him to the Bills, and claims that not all of the stories about his off-field incidents are actually true.
  • The torn ACL suffered by Clemson offensive lineman Brandon Thomas occurred during a private workout with the Saints, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
  • According to Wilson (Twitter links), Lavelle Hawkins and Major Wright both received minimum salaries from the Buccaneers, though Hawkins didn’t get a signing bonus, while Wright got one worth $65K.
  • Ball State cornerback Jeff Garrett will work out for the Colts on April 16, tweets Wilson.
  • We rounded up reports this morning of several notable prospects who are visiting the Jaguars, but we didn’t quite get them all. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets that the team is also hosting BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy and Notre Dame defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt while Ed Werder of ESPN.com says (via Twitter) Blake Bortles is due to visit on Thursday.
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