Compiled by Craig Potter
Today’s SportsROC Report includes stories including stories on the Buffalo Bills signing 2 players, including RB Reggie Bush, and the Buffalo Sabres sign a defenseman.
After reaching out to RB Reggie Bush two weeks ago with a contract offer the Bills signed the veteran free agent back Monday. Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Bush, 31, made a free agent visit to the club and after passing a physical arrived on the St. John Fisher campus to meet Buffalo’s coaching staff. Not long after Bush signed a contract and will suit up for the Bills in 2016.
“I’ve been in talks with a few teams and I felt like Buffalo was the best opportunity for me,” Bush told Buffalobills.com. “I’m just looking forward to getting out here. I’m excited to play for Rex Ryan and I know a few guys on the team and they had a lot of great things to say about him and the team as well. So I’m looking forward to getting on the field.”
The veteran back is expected to be a complementary weapon to feature back LeSean McCoy in Buffalo’s run heavy attack. Though the Bills led the league in rushing attempts, rushing yards and yards per carry in 2015, Bush figures to factor in most as a third down option. But he’s been a versatile player who has handled a number of different roles in his 10-year career.
“It’s something that we talked about here with the coaching staff, just all the different ways I can be used,” Bush said. “That’s kind of been what I’ve done throughout my career. That’s something that Bills fans can definitely look forward to. They can understand I’m going to do my best and give everything I’ve got.”
He’s also expected to be the Bills’ primary punt returner. He has 100 punt returns in his NFL career, but had just two last season thanks in large part to a knee injury suffered last November while he was playing for San Francisco.
“That was also a point of emphasis definitely returning some punts and some kicks,” said Bush. “So you’ll definitely see me back there. That’s something the fans can also be excited about. I feel like punt returns are one of the most exciting parts of the game especially when you have a guy back there who can take it to the house whenever they’re on the field.”
The veteran back played for the 49ers last season where he appeared in just five games. His knee injury prematurely ended his 2015 season on Nov. 1st when he slipped awkwardly on the Edwards Jones dome concrete after running out of bounds in a game against the Rams.
“The recovery wasn’t too bad,” said Bush of the torn meniscus he suffered. “I’ve been through worse. The good thing is I’ve been through enough injuries where I knew what to expect and how to handle it. The rehab process went extremely smooth and I was back to full strength months ago. I should have no limitations on the football field.”
Bush’s career has been interrupted by injury a handful of times, but he’s always been able to bounce back and intends to do so again in a Bills uniform.
“It’s definitely been a little bit up and down obviously battling through some injuries,” he said. “But I’m still here and still feel like I have a lot to prove and I still approach every day with that mindset.”
The former Heisman Trophy winner offers valuable playmaking insurance for a team with a running back position a bit more in flux with Karlos Williams set to miss the first four games of the 2016 season. And with a playing style much like McCoy’s it makes turning to him easier for offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
“It’s going to be my first time playing with another back who is very similar to my style,” said Bush. “For most of my career I’ve played with a bigger back for a one-two punch combination, but now getting a chance to play with Shady and us complementing each other with our running styles I think it’ll be exciting.”
Bush has 9,782 all-purpose yards in his career with 57 career touchdowns.
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Bills sign wide receiver
The Buffalo Bills also announced that the team signed WR Kain Colter. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Colter, a 6-0, 194-pound Northwestern product, originally entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. A two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention, Colter was a versatile threat as a collegiate wideout accumulating 50 TDs at Northwestern, including 18 passing, 4 receiving and 28 rushing.
To make room on the roster for both players, the Bills released WR Davonte Allen and K Marshall Morgan.
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Sabres sign defenseman
The Buffalo Sabres announced on Monday that the team signed defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer to a 1-year, 2-way contract.
Burgdoerfer (27, 6-foot2, 210 lbs.) spent all of last season with the Hershey Bears (AHL), where he recorded 20 points (6+14) and 59 penalty minutes in 74 games. He also added 4 points (0+4) and 18 penalty minutes in 21 playoff games for the Bears.
In 135 career AHL games, the East Setauket, N.Y. native has 28 points (7+21) and 121 penalty minutes. Burgdoerfer has also added 75 points (22+53) and 290 penalty minutes in 272 career ECHL contests.