By Tim Graham
Almost half the NFL's 32 teams wanted Da'Rick Rogers on
their rosters.
None of them had enough confidence to draft him.
"That puts a bigger chip on my shoulder," Rogers told me over the
phone today. "The Buffalo Bills get that much. They get a hard-working
player that's got the biggest chip in the world on his shoulder.
"That just drives me that much more. I do take
personally. I do take it to heart."
Continue reading "Da'Rick Rogers: 'Tell Bills fans they got the steal of the draft'" »
By Tim Graham
The Buffalo Bills formally announced the signing of 16
undrafted rookies:
- Jeff Tuel, Washington
State quarterback
- Kendall Gaskins, Richmond
running back
- Drew Smith, Albany
fullback
- Kevin Norrell, Stony Brook receiver
- Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech receiver
- Brandon Kaufman, Eastern Washington
receiver
- Ryan Turnley, Pittsburgh center
- Zack Chibane, Syracuse guard
- Izaan Cross, Georgia Tech defensive end
- Aaron Tipoti, California
defensive tackle
- Keith Pough, Howard linebacker
- Nickell Robey, USC cornerback
- Kip Edwards, Missouri
cornerback
- Jumal Rolle, Catawba cornerback
- Vernon Kearney, Lane cornerback
- Jordan Dangerfield, Towson
defensive back
The Bills also announced they've released four players:
- Quarterback Aaron Corp
- Tight end Joe Sawyer
- Tackle Adam Grant
- Kicker Chris Koepplin
By Tim Graham
Two months ago at the NFL scouting combine, Da'Rick Rogers said he didn't care when he got drafted.
The former Tennessee receiver knew his pockmarked past would damage his draft stock.
"It's no big deal to me," Rogers said in Indianapolis. "Just getting my foot in the door is
a blessing. All I can do is go in and work hard and get my opportunity."
Rogers didn't get drafted, but he quickly agreed to a free-agent deal with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night, a team source confirmed.
The Bills are taking a low-risk, high-reward chance
with Rogers. He can play. The problem is poor off-field judgement that raised red flags.
The Buffalo News also has confirmed Washington
State quarterback Jeff Tuel, Eastern Washington receiver Brandon Kaufman, Howard
linebacker Keith Pough and USC cornerback Nickell Robey will be among the Bills'
initial crop of undrafted rookies.
Rogers,
though, is the headliner. He might be the NFL's most significant undrafted
rookie of 2013.
Continue reading "Da'Rick Rogers will control whether he's a player or a flop" »
April 28, 2013 - 12:47 PM
By Tim Graham
This just in from the Unnecessary Added Expectations
Department ...
The Buffalo Bills probably have two of the top preseason
candidates for 2013 offensive rookie of the year: quarterback EJ Manuel and
receiver Robert Woods.
Since the award's inception in 1967, a quarterback, running
back or wide receiver has won the award every year. This year's draft was heavy
on offensive linemen and feather-light on quarterbacks and running backs in the
early rounds.
Continue reading "Bills draft picks could be legit Rookie of the Year candidates" »
By Tim Graham
The chances of Karlos Dansby becoming a Buffalo Bill have withered.
Bills General Manager Buddy Nix indicated the addition of Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso in the second
round has diminished the likelihood of signing Dansby, a free agent who visited One Bills
Drive a few days ago.
"We're still going to keep the dialogue open with
him," Nix said, "but we do think it's changed some because Alonso can
play both places."
The Miami Dolphins made Dansby the highest-paid inside
linebacker in NFL history three years ago but released him last month after
signing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe in free agency.
By Tim Graham
Buffalo Bills General Manager Buddy Nix declared he wanted another quarterback, and his staff didn't waste time locating one after the draft.
The Bills already have signed undrafted Washington
State quarterback Jeff Tuel as well as
Eastern Washington receiver Brandon Kaufman.
Those signings were confirmed for The Buffalo News by their agent, Cameron Foster.
Continue reading "Bills sign undrafted QB Jeff Tuel and WR Brandon Kaufman" »
By Jay Skurski
The Buffalo Bills have reportedly nabbed one of the higher-profile undrafted free agents on the market.
According to a tweet from Mike Garafolo of USA Today, the Bills have signed former Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers.
Rogers has ideal size (6-foot-2, 217 pounds) and speed (4.44 40 time), but comes with significant baggage. He was kicked out of Tennesseee after failing multiple drug tests. He played last season at Tennessee Tech, where he had 78 receptions for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns.
"Tremendous talent. He has great body control and a
lot of strength in his body and really strong hands," Bills director of college scouting Chuck Cook said last week at the team's pre-draft luncheon. "We've been tracking him
and doing our due diligence with his intangibles."
Rogers was a second-team All-SEC selection with the volunteers in 2011 when he had 67 catches for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns. ESPN ranked Rogers as the best available undrafted free agent receiver.
By Tim Graham
Even though the Buffalo Bills made EJ Manuel the only
quarterback taken in the first round Thursday night, they didn't come away from
the draft satisfied with their quarterback depth.
Bills General Manager Buddy Nix said the Bills "very
seriously" considered drafting another one and indicated they would be on
the prowl for an undrafted rookie to join the competition.
"We'll try to get another one in free agency," Nix
said.
Top quarterbacks who weren't drafted include Tennessee's Tyler Bray, Washington
State's Jeff Tuel, Arizona's
Matt Scott, Kansas
State's Collin Klein and
Vanderbilt's Jordan Rodgers.
Bray, Tuel and Scott made pre-draft visits to One Bills Drive
this month.
By Tim Graham
The Buffalo Bills contend the persistent rumors about Buddy
Nix's imminent departure have been inaccurate.
Many insiders expect this draft to be Nix's last as Buffalo's general
manager, that he will step aside for heir apparent Doug Whaley.
After the Bills made their eighth and final draft choice
today, there was no indication a transfer of power would happen any time soon.
Continue reading "Russ Brandon says Buddy Nix will be Bills GM 'for a long time'" »
By Tim Graham
The Buffalo Bills rounded out their draft -- unless they trade other assets to get back into the seventh round -- by selecting Arkansas tight end Chris
Gragg in the seventh round.
Gragg projects as an H-back in the NFL. He entered college
as a receiver and was switched as a sophomore. He left as a 6-foot-3, 244-pound
go-to target for quarterback Tyler Wilson.
Gragg caught 72 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns
in 43 games. He sat out the 2009 season as a medical redshirt because of a knee injury and was hampered by a leg injury last year.
Continue reading "Bills snag Arkansas TE Chris Gragg in the seventh round" »
