Bills Rebuffed Rams' Offer For Jerry Hughes
- Fowler may not have been the Rams‘ first choice for pass rushing help. We already knew that Los Angeles had made a significant offer for Khalil Mack before he was dealt to the Bears, but Schefter writes that the Rams also called the Texans to discuss Jadeveon Clowney in the first weeks of the season, and as late as last week, they made a push to acquire the Bills‘ Jerry Hughes.
Latest On LeSean McCoy Accusation
The seventh-year cornerback battled quad trouble in 2015 but only missed two games. His return to limited practice work this week certainly points to a return in Week 10 against the Bills, barring a setback. At 3-5 and spiraling out of contention, the Jets need all the help they can get.
- LeSean McCoy‘s legal team filed a response to Delicia Cordon’s lawsuit this week, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. The Bills running back wants Cordon’s lawsuit to be dismissed, per Rodak (on Twitter), and continues to deny his ex-girlfriend’s claim that he physically abused her. No ruling’s come down on Cordon’s suit yet, and McCoy continues to play. But this matter could potentially bring a suspension in the future.
Bills GM Talks Trade Deadline, 2019, Josh Allen
It’s been a season to forget for the Bills. Rookie quarterback Josh Allen has been sidelined with an elbow injury, and the offense has been historically bad. The franchise is in turmoil just one year after making the playoffs for the first time in decades. That being said the team does have a lot to look forward to, with a defense stacked with talent. Bills GM Brandon Beane recently sat down with Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, and dished on a variety of topics.
The entire Q&A is worth checking out, but we’ve listed some of the notable soundbites below:
On the trade deadline and why the team didn’t make any moves:
“Just like last year, we fielded calls on some of our players, and it probably picked up mid last week as it was approaching. … We were definitely looking at avenues at different positions as we were hearing names. We kind of split up, just like we do at the 53 cut, we split up teams and call guys that we have contacts with, and ask them about certain positions, certain players. … We did our due diligence on that all the way until probably 2 o’clock on Tuesday. At that point, we decided that there was no one that we were going to give up what they were asking for that player. You’ve got to consider what they’re asking for, the price, and what contract are you taking on.”
On other teams’ interest in Bills players:
“There was definitely interest out there. I think there’s naturally going to be interest in players on teams that are not doing as well as they hoped. At the end of the day, you have to listen — that’s my job, to listen — but at the same time, we’re trying to win here, not only now, but win in the future. The guys that they were asking about I felt were part of what we’re still going to be doing as we build into 2019.”
On if the team regrets trading A.J. McCarron with the recent injuries at quarterback:
“I don’t regret (it). You don’t have a crystal ball for everything. If I knew we were going to have these injuries, yeah, because he was a guy that was here for the offseason. But you can’t predict (injuries) when you put the roster together. We could have a run of injuries at another position that we let a guy go who had talent, and you say, “Man, I wish we had that guy that we let go, because who we’re at now in October and November is not as talented as the guy we let go then.”
On his thoughts on Josh Allen’s on-field performance so far:
“You know, Josh is a rookie. At the end of the day, there’s plays that you really go, “Wow, that’s what you want to see.” And then there’s plays, you go, “That’s what a rookie does.” We love who Josh is, his work ethic, his leadership and all those things. He’s been everything we thought he would be on and off the field. It’s just you can’t predict how games are going to happen. There’s going to be games like the Minnesota game where you saw a lot of his talent. And then there’s going to be games that you see some of these other rookies face — it’s the first time he’s seen this kind of blitz or this coverage disguise. It looked like it was cover three and really it was quarter-quarter-half or something like that. Again, you play preseason, and people are not exotic with the blitzes and the coverages and all that stuff, so there’s a lot of things that he hasn’t seen.”
On whether or not he could rule out season-ending surgery for Allen:
“It’s not in the plan, but you know, there have been guys who have had to have surgery. It happens more in baseball with this injury, but there are guys in football that have had surgery, too. Again, that’s not the plan. Generally, you don’t have to have it, but we’ll see.”
Bills To Bring LeSean McCoy Back In 2019
LeSean McCoy‘s name was bandied about in trade rumors last month, but the Bills held on to the veteran past Tuesday’s deadline. In a conversation with Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, GM Brandon Beane said that McCoy was retained because he is a part of the team’s vision for 2019. 
“Definitely,” Beane said when asked whether McCoy will be on the roster next year. “That’s the whole key. LeSean is still a very good player in this league. Our offense is not where we want it, but LeSean is still playing well. He’s a talented player. We like what he brings, to the point we’ll have him back in 2019. He’ll definitely be a part of that.”
The 30-year-old is currently averaging a career-low 3.4 yards-per-attempt, and he’s yet to score a touchdown this season. However, McCoy had compiled at least 1,000 rushing yards in both 2016 and 2017, and it’s clear that opposing teams are not respecting the pass.
Beane still believes in McCoy’s ability, which is why does not intend to trade or release McCoy, despite the potential cap savings. Releasing McCoy outright would save the club $6.4MM with just $2.6MM left over in dead money.
The GM’s position also reaffirms the club’s belief that the accusations against McCoy are not valid. For his part, the running back has denied any wrongdoing or connection to the July home invasion that left his ex-girlfriend battered.
Bills Sign QB Matt Barkley
The Bills signed quarterback Matt Barkley and Colton Schmidt to one-year deals, according to a team announcement. In related moves, punter Corey Bojorquez shoulder and RB Taiwan Jones neck were placed on injured reserve. 
With Josh Allen still sidelined by an elbow injury and Derek Anderson in concussion protocol, the Bills are expected to turn to embattled QB Nathan Peterman as their starter against the Bears. Barkley joins the club as Peterman’s likely backup for Sunday.
Barkley, 28, was most recently with the Bengals. He signed a two-year contract with the club back in March, but landed on IR after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. He was released by the Bengals on Sept. 12th with an injury settlement. The five-year pro has appeared in 11 games in his NFL career and made a season-high six starts in 2016 for the Bears, but he hasn’t done much of note on the field.
Colin Kaepernick remains available, and would represent a more accomplished alternative to Peterman or Barkley, but the Bills apparently did not want to go down that road.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OG Colby Gossett (off Vikings practice squad), TE John Phillips
- Released: OL Blaine Clausell, TE Gabe Holmes
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Michael Bennett
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Albert McClellan
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Dontae Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: MLB Hayes Pullard
- Waived: K Mike Badgley
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OG Jamon Brown
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Mike Jordan
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE/OLB James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, CB Greg Mabin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Javien Elliott
- Released: LB Kevin Minter
Washington Redskins
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
Bills To Sign WR Terrelle Pryor
The Bills are set to sign wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Pryor is en route to Buffalo to sign a deal that could allow him to play as soon as soon as Sunday against the Bears. 
The Bills could certainly use some size at wide receiver and not the kind that Kelvin Benjamin offers. Pryor can provide that and, if healthy, he has the potential to produce like he did in 2016 with the Browns.
Injuries prevented Pryor from doing much of anything with the Redskins in 2017 and his Jets tenure ended rather unceremoniously this year. But, before a groin injury slowed him, Pryor showed flashes for Gang Green, including a 5/57/1 showing against the Colts in Week 6.
In his career 2016 season, Pryor hauled in 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four scores.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/29/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise specified.
Buffalo Bills
- QB Kyle Allen (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- T Antonio Garcia, T De’Ondre Wesley (link)
New York Giants
- LB Jonathan Anderson, CB De’Vante Bausby, DE Will Clark, QB Connor Cook, WR Marcus Easley, WR Brittan Golden, DT Woodrow Hamilton, RB Akeem Hunt, T Roubbens Joseph, LB Corey Nelson, DT Chris Okoye, WR Francis Owusu, LS Taybor Pepper, T Dan Skipper, LB Aaron Wallace, S Terrell Williams (Twitter links via Balzer and ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan)
Seattle Seahawks
- S Michael Cirino, LB James Onwualu (link)
Tennessee Titans
- FB Dimitri Flowers, FB Jalson Fowler, FB Malcolm Johnson, FB Aaron Ripkowski (Twitter link via Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- S Kurtis Drummond, S Kelcie McCray, S Jason Thompson, S J.J. Wilcox (link)
Bills Offer Contract To Terrelle Pryor
The Bills have offered Terrelle Pryor a contract that is currently under consideration, a source tells ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). The wide receiver flew into Buffalo for a meeting on Sunday night and he could put pen to paper soon.
The Bills’ offense can use all the help it can get, particularly after last week’s 37-5 drumming at the hands of the Colts. Pryor wouldn’t be able to help the Bills against the Patriots on Monday night, but he could provide them with another weapon starting on Sunday against the Bears.
Currently, Zay Jones, Kelvin Benjamin, and Andre Holmes make up the Bills’ top three receivers. Sixth-round rookie and UDFA Ray-Ray McCloud are also on the roster.
Pryor would add some experience to that group, though he won’t be able to do much about their offensive line woes. The Bills’ OL kept things together for the first month of the season, but the wheels have completely come off in the last two games. There’s also the matter of the quarterback position. Rookie Josh Allen, who was already working to get his sea legs, is out for an undetermined period of time with an elbow injury, leaving veteran Derek Anderson as the team’s temporary starter.
Bills Notes: Hughes, McCoy
- Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes “has been a hot name on the trade market”, but the “Bills have been reluctant to part with him”, a source told Howe. Howe thinks that Hughes would “be a good fit for the Patriots”, but doesn’t think Buffalo will decide to part with him. Hughes has been having a good season, notching 4.5 sacks in seven games.
- Bills running back LeSean McCoy has cleared the concussion protocol and will play Monday night against the Patriots, the team announced in a tweet. It’s a huge boost for Buffalo’s struggling offense as they look to pull of the massive upset in primetime.