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 Geplaatst: 21-08-2018 07:57:40 Onderwerp: draft waters |
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The Bills' defensive front quickly took shape Tuesday Authentic Ryan Jensen Jersey , when Star Lotulelei agreed to sign with Buffalo, and Kyle Williams chose to return for a 13th season by saying the he never entertained any thought of retiring.
A person familiar with the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that Lotulelei reached an agreement to sign a five-year contract with the Bills. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the signing the former Carolina Panthers starter won't become official until the NFL's business year opens on Wednesday.
The agreement was first reported by ESPN.
A few hours later, the Bills announced agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal to re-sign Williams, who revealed his plan all along was to return.
"As eloquently as I can put it, I haven't exhausted myself in pursuit of what my dream is of playing this game, or playing for this organization and chasing being a champion," Williams said during a conference call. "Buffalo is my home. It's where I want to be. It's where I want to win. And I couldn't be more excited."
The moves bulk up Buffalo's defensive front by filling both tackle starting positions a day before the start of free agency.
Just as important, the Bills retained a steadying presence in their locker after losing veteran center Eric Wood, who was diagnosed with a career-ending neck injury in January.
Williams was an unquestioned leader on a patchwork, rebuilding team that exceeded expectations with a 9-7 record and ended a 17-season playoff drought. The 34-year-old is so highly regarded, coach Sean McDermott would grow emotional in discussing what the player meant to the team.
"It's hard not to gravitate toward a guy like that, because of who he is as a person more so than anything," McDermott said of Williams in December. "How could you not like the way he plays and appreciate that, right?"
Williams returns to his familiar spot in the middle, which he's held since being selected in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. And he'll be playing alongside the 28-year-old Lotulelei, who takes over after Buffalo traded Marcell Dareus to Jacksonville in October.
"I'm all for bringing on as many good football players as we can Authentic Jason Pominville Jersey ," Williams said, referring to Lotulelei.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 311 pounds, Lotulelei was a five-year starter with Carolina after being selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2013 draft out of Utah.
The native of Tonga is reunited with McDermott, who was Panthers defensive coordinator before taking over in Buffalo in January 2017. Bills general manager Brandon Beane is also familiar with Lotulelei and played a role in drafting him after previously serving as Panthers assistant GM.
Lotulelei has forced two fumbles and has 11 1/2 sacks in 76 career games, and was voted to the NFL all-rookie team in 2013. His future in Carolina was uncertain after the Panthers signed defensive tackle Kawann Short to a five-year, $80 million contract extension last offseason, and also used a first-round pick for Vernon Butler last year.
Williams is a one-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection. He showed no signs of slowing last year, with 41 tackles and three sacks in starting all 16 games. Overall, his 43 1/2 sacks are the most by a defensive tackle in franchise history.
Williams has no expectation of taking on a diminished role after leading Buffalo's defensive linemen by playing 758 snaps last year.
"I prepare myself to play as many as I possibly can because mentality-wise, I feel like we're a better football team when I'm on the field," he said. "I'm coming back to play. I'm not coming back to say, 'Oh, hey listen, I'll just play 25, 30 snaps a game and let you guys fight over the rest.'"
Buffalo's defensive front seven has numerous needs with starting linebackers Preston Brown and Ramon Humber eligible to become free agents. The Bills finished 26th in yards allowed and gave up 140 or more yards rushing eight times, including a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the AFC wild-card playoff game.
Lotulelei's addition is the latest bold move made by Beane in reshaping Buffalo's roster since being hired in May to replace Doug Whaley.
Beane has already completed two trades over the past week in dealing quarterback Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland and sending starting offensive tackle Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati. Buffalo moved up nine spots in the first round by acquiring the Bengals' selection, 12th overall http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/landon-collins-jersey , as part of the Glenn trade.
The deals continued strengthening Buffalo's bid for selecting one of several highly regarded quarterback prospects in the first round next month. The Bills have two picks in each of the first three rounds, including the 22nd selection.
Williams backed the moves.
"It goes back to really believing in and trusting what Brandon and Sean are doing," Williams said. "I believe in their vision of what they've trying to build. And so for me, I'm on board with what they're doing."
Editors:
To help you with planning for the NBA Draft in Dallas on June 21 in New York, here are some of our coverage plans. Please direct questions to Oscar Dixon (odixon(at)ap.org). Plans subject to change. This digest will be updated. All times Eastern.
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
BKNNBA DRAFT-YOUNG
Trae Youngs numbers in his lone season of college were ridiculous. He led the nation in scoring and assists. He had NBA stars tweeting about his every move. But where hes going to end up in the draft on Thursday night remains a bit of a mystery, for reasons that Young doesnt fully understand. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 2 p.m.
BKNNBA DRAFT-BIGS
RALEIGH, N.C. Arizona one-and-done 7-footer Deandre Ayton headlines the list of big men in the NBA draft. Ayton was a dominating force in college and could be the No. 1 overall pick. He leads a position that includes top-10 prospects in Michigan States Jaren Jackson Jr., Texas Mo Bamba and Dukes Wendell Carter Jr. By Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 675 words and photos by 3 p.m.
BKNNBA DRAFT-HAWKS-TRADE TALKS
ATLANTA With four picks in the top 34, including No. 3 overall, the Atlanta Hawks are in position to move up or down in Thursdays NBA draft. GM Travis Schlenk says hes getting a lot of calls but says there is space on the rebuilding Hawks roster to carry four rookies next season. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 550 words, file photos by 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
BKNNBA DRAFT
NEW YORK Luka Doncic may have the best resume in this years draft. He won a Euroleague championship and MVP award last season, and a European championship with Slovenia last summer. Sometime early Thursday night hell add to that resume when he becomes an NBA lottery pick. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
Sidebars on merit
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
BKNNBA DRAFT
NEW YORK The Phoenix Suns have the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Dontae Johnson Jersey Seahawks , with big men Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Michael Porter Jr. among the top prospects along with Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Developing from 7 p.m. draft.
With:
BKNNBA DRAFT-THINGS TO KNOW. By Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 5 a.m. on draft day.
BKNNBA DRAFT-THE LATEST, real-time updates on draft day/night.
Individual stories from each NBA team.
FRIDAY, JUNE 22
BKNNBA DRAFT-HUERTERS NIGHT
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. The Associated Press spends the NBA draft with early entrant Kevin Huerter, as he waits for the phone to ring and the next step in his basketball life to be decided. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos, video planned by 6 p.m.
SENT PREVIOUSLY:
Features:
BKNNBA DRAFT-THE INTERVIEW
CHICAGO When teams are deciding who to take in the NBA draft, the off-court interview still carries enormous weight. What happens on the floor obviously is of great importance as well, but the half-hour chats at the draft combine might be just as critical to teams that need to choose which players merit multi-million-dollar investments. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 800 words, photos on June 18.
BKNNBA DRAFT-UNDRAFTED LIFE
Theres going to be dozens of players left out in the cold at next weeks NBA draft, players who will not hear their names called by the time the night is over. Udonis Haslem knows how theyll feel. Undrafted in 2002, Haslem a Miami native who has spent his entire NBA career with his hometown Miami Heat has been in the league longer than just about any other active player. Next season will be his 16th in the NBA. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 850 words, photos on June 14.
BKNTHE OFFSEASON
There are a slew of questions that need to be answered in the NBA this offseason. Theres the obvious one: What will LeBron James do? But there are plenty of others Youth Vinny Curry Jersey , including the future for Kawhi Leonard, the next moves for Chris Paul and Paul George, and whether the league has seen the last of Dwyane Wade. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 950 words, photos on June 9.
Profiles:
BKNNBA DRAFT-PORTER
Someone is going to gamble on Michael Porter Jr., and he insists itll pay off. There is an element of danger involved with every NBA draft pick, in that nothing is guaranteed. There isnt a player that epitomizes the risk versus reward thinking in this draft more than Porter Jr., who some think could get taken as high as No. 2 by Sacramento and others forecast could go several picks lower because of uncertainty surrounding his health. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos on June 17.
BKNNBA-DRAFT-DIVINCENZO
Donte DiVincenzos plan was to come out and test the NBA draft waters this spring, with the expectation that he would be returning to Villanova for another season. And then the national championship game happened. The hero of Villanovas win over Michigan picked the perfect moment to play the game of his life. And the intrigue surrounding how his game might translate to the NBA has been growing since. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos on June 16.
BKNNBA-DRAFT-ANTETOKOUNMPO
Kostas Antetokounmpo has a famous brother, a great bloodline and soon, he hopes, an NBA job. Giannis Antetokounmpos younger brother is an early entry candidate for next weeks . |
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