The Bills released a pair of veterans today. The team announced that they’ve cut wideout Tavon Austin and punter Matt Haack.
Austin had his most productive season in years in 2021. In 13 games (three starts) with the Jaguars, the veteran hauled in 24 receptions for 213 yards and one touchdown. He ended up joining Buffalo in June, and there was hope that he’d be able to slide into a back-of-the-depth-chart role behind Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and Isaiah McKenzie. That didn’t end up being the case, and with the veteran out of the picture, this will probably secure an opening day roster spot for at least one of Jake Kumerow or Jamison Crowder.
There’s a chance Austin could catch on elsewhere. While he’s bounced around the NFL a bit recently, he’s still seen time in nine NFL seasons, hauling in 244 receptions and 16 touchdowns. The veteran also has extensive special teams history, although it’s been a while since he’s been a full-time punt returner.
Haack’s spot on the roster always seemed to be in risk following the emergence of ‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza. Haack was the Bills’ punter in 2021, averaging a career-low 42.9 yards on his 52 punts. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dolphins, where he had an average punt distance of 44.7 yards.
Was Crowder’s roster spot ever really in doubt?
“There’s a chance Austin could catch on elsewhere. While he’s bounced around the NFL a bit recently, he’s still seen time in nine NFL seasons, hauling in 244 receptions and 16 touchdowns”.
Do the math people. 244 receptions over NINE seasons is 27 catches a season. 16 TDs equates to less than TWO a season. He hasn’t had more than 250 yards in a season in more than 5 or 6 years.
If Aaron Rodgers can’t make you look good, no one can.
He signed in December of 2020 that season and played 4 games.
Not making the claim he’s good but that’s a pretty bad stretch to say Rodgers couldn’t make him look good considering he signed the last month of a season.
It’s not a stretch to say that Rodgers couldn’t make him look good. In FOUR games he had a total of 5 catches for 20 yards. IOW he averaged 4 yards per catch. If the Packers saw anything from him he would’ve returned to GB.
Instead, Austin went unsigned until August 2021 when Jax signed him. In 13 games he totaled 213 yards, or 16 yards per game. FFB alert: Austin might be available in your league.
He likely wasn’t a priority in the offense. He would have had to learn it and earn confidence when 3/4 of the season was gone. Yeah, that’s not happening. This ain’t madden, bud. Most guys aren’t walking in the building and producing.
Tavon is a bonafide bust
XFL time