How a Waiver Wire Signing Blew up in Brandon Beane’s Face
The Buffalo Bills have made a name for themselves with midseason moves this year. Since the preseason concluded, the team has signed Jordan Phillips, Jordan Poyer, Gabe Davis, Mecole Hardman, Brandin Cooks, Matt Prater and Mitch Wishnowsky, all players who have logged significant time for the team despite not participating in offseason activities. Speaking of the offseason, Bills General Manager Brandon Beane made headlines for his appearance on WGR550 Sports Radio, a local Buffalo station, where he said that the Bills should have added more wide receivers going into the season. “You guys were b****ing in 2018 about Josh Allen, you guys wanted Josh Rosen, and now you guys are bitching that we don't have a receiver," said Beane in his late April appearance on WGR 550’s “Jeremy and Joe Show.” Since then, Beane may have regretted his harsh statement given how many pass catchers that he’s brought into Buffalo since the season started. Beane’s in the headlines again due to his recent move in signing cornerback Darius Slay off of the waiver wire.
Bills and Slay Didn’t Have Mutual Interest
After a rough season in Pittsburgh, the Steelers waived the 34-year-old cornerback two days after losing to the Bills. Buffalo signed him to secure depth in their cornerback room with four defensive backs currently sitting on injured reserve. It turned out that Slay had other plans, with reports stating that he would not be reporting to Buffalo. “Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Slay's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday. This head-scratching report emerged shortly after it was revealed that the Eagles also put in a claim for Slay, who won the Super Bowl with the team last season. The Bills and Slay will now navigate a complicated situation. If the Bills refuse to release him, he will not be able to reunite with the Eagles, yet if he refuses to play for Buffalo, he will remain on their payroll while the team is unable to utilize him.
CB Depth Takes Hit with Slay Signing Falling Through
Not only did the Bills miss out on Slay due to his refusal to report, but they also lost an already established player while making room for him. Ja’Marcus Ingram was released from the practice squad to accommodate Slay, but the Houston Texans signed Ingram on the same day Slay announced he would not play in Buffalo. The loss of a practice squad cornerback usually would not cause a panic in a fan base, although this situation did for a few reasons. First, Bills Mafia is emotional, and many fans became attached to Ingram because he was an undrafted player from the University at Buffalo who made the team. Ingram also made a name for himself last season by intercepting two passes, including one for a pick-six in Week Two at Hard Rock Stadium against the Dolphins. Another contributing factor to the backlash is that Ingram had become a consistent contributor on special teams this season. Lastly, losing two cornerbacks in consecutive days appears to reflect poorly on the team’s roster management.
