The Buffalo Bills cut seven players Tuesday in the first round of housecleaning since Chan Gailey took over as head coach.
Tight end Derek Fine was the most surprising name of the group. He started 11 games since getting drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. The team also dumped their two leading special teams tacklers from 2009 — Ashlee Palmer and John Wendling.
The other four released players were center Marvin Philip, defensive end Jermaine McGhee, defensive tackle Marcus Smith, and wide receiver Justin Jenkins.
Fine played above-average on an average team – but I think Wendling and Palmer are bigger surprises.
Palmer was a rookie with solid upside and Wendling could hurdle the O/D lines on kick-block attempts, as well as being a solid tackler.
Fine’s blocking skills probably got him the axe and Wendling/Palmer probably aren’t thought of as 3-4 guys.
maybe, just maybe, the release of D. Fine will result in the signing of a decent TE.
The below average collection of late draft pick TEs has been a weakness of the bills offense years.
Chan Gailey has no business as a head coach but he fits with the Bills perfectly. They’ve been ineptly run for quite some time now.
Cutting a servicable TE who probably comes cheap, along with a couple of special teams leaders (Who cares about special teams? Winners do.) is typical of football guys who don’t get it at the NFL level.
Gailey is a decent quality coordinator, at best.
Sorry Bills fans. You’re not winning anything any time soon.
I am not a fan of Gailey who I believe to be a good OC but not a good HC. Nor am I a fan of Old Buddy. However, I think these are great cuts! Back up players need to have the ability to grow into starters or be serviceable starters when someone goes down. Wendling and Jenkins were never going to play anything but special teams and Palmer is too small for the 3-4. Who cares about special teams. The Bills have had great special teams the last 10 years and have not made the playoffs!
@theDPR
You must be a bills fan because only a bills fan would call Derek Fine a servicable tightend. Jonathan Stupar must be a downright stud in your eyes. (who cares about special teams?) thats the copout Bills coaches have been feeding us for 10years. Weve been too the top of the special teams mountain, havent made the playoffs in 10years. Give me a top 10 offense, and a middle of the rd defense or vise versa any day of the week instead.
Fine is a servicable TE? haha no, he’s not.
Bills don’t care about Special Teams? They have for a long time and it had been top 5 for years, and they weren’t winning….
The guys they cut, were all guys that were on and off the inactives list.
Cutting them makes room for Dehaven’s future ST guys.
This is a good move.
Chan and Nix know what they’re doing.
@theDPR
You must be a bills fan because only a bills fan would call Derek Fine a servicable tightend. Jonathan Stupar must be a downright stud in your eyes. (who cares about special teams?) thats the copout Bills coaches have been feeding us for 10years. Weve been too the top of the special teams mountain, havent made the playoffs in 10years. Give me a top 10 offense, and a middle of the rd defense or vise versa any day of the week instead.
@DPR
The key to winning is keeping good special teams players who contribute absolutely nothing at their respective positions? I’d rather the roster spots be spent on lesser special teams players who actually have a chance of starting or being a quality back-up.
Jeez, I didn’t say Fine was GOOD. He’s just…fine. They could upgrade the position without cutting him.
As for the Bills, they’re not going to have a top 10 ANYthing for a long time.
I’m not saying you hang your hat on special teams, but when you have guys who can play, you don’t cut them. There’s enough roster room for a gunner who’s also your 7th or 8th DB or whatever.
In rebuilding a team you cut your big money fat asses who offer more ego than production. You keep the guys who bust ass.
Dropping J. Wendling and A. Palmer is TERRIBLE! … and a mistake … the Bills should be showing some better dedication personnel wise at keeping high standards on Special Teams. It’s the ONE AREA they have excelled at.
Derek Fine has not played fine! I’m not sure people are aware of the potential of Shawn Nelson, but Gailey will use the TE. Fine was a good pass catcher who did drop balls and who did miss blocks. Not a shock he’s gone … Nelson is a Stud TE in the making!
right on NOMNOMS, if everyone was a colts fan it would be easy to pick on a new bills team BEFORE THEY’VE EVEN BUILT A ROSTER!!!
expect wendling or palmer to land on the vikes.
TheDPR is just a hater, he’s not a Bills fan. Just someone taking this article a little too seriously for a non Bills fan.
The Bills trimmed that fat.
Billsfan 27 brought up a decent point except the Bills are THICK at Safety. Bring in the linebackers.
I do not get it at all. I am a lifelong Bills fan……the elimination of Bobby April (only the best special teams coach in the nfl!) who led the Bills to have arguably the best specials teams for the last 5 years and then now eliminating J Wendling/ J Jenkins….2 very key special teams contributors on a hell of a unit……confusing to say the least. I do not have a clue what they are doing.
Hey toddzman – you are right, you do not get it! For the last 10 years the Bills had excellent special teams and did not make the playoffs. It is time to focus resources on young players and backups that can actually play offense or defense rather than wasting roster spots on too many “special teams only” players……Teach the back ups to cover kicks……that’s what winning teams do!
wah wah wah they cut special teamers that couldnt help on offense or defense. did you cry when stamer and haggen were let go years ago.maybe now our special teamers will not only help on special teams but push our starters or at least be valuable back ups
Cripes people!!!!! Lighten up- we have lost with and with out these guys- Good ST for 10 years didn’t get us jack- how about avg ST – and focus on the O and D- I think CG and BN have more of a plan in place than anyone on here………..Derek Fine was a bust as it was- I think we are giving this way too much attention- and we are getting desperate for the draft……I know I am at anyrate……!!
Derek Fine is one of the worst players I’ve ever seen in the NFL.
He was a guy that didn’t even require a 4th round pick…nobody would have drafted him…but Jauron and Co. thought different.
He wasn’t an NFL talent then, and he’s not now.
Oh, and he’s injury prone.
reddog9 does not have a clue. I’d love to know the honest truth of where he (or she) finished his/her football career. Maybe the women’s football federation of the east coast?? Just a thought.
they did the young te a favor lol
@NPR
You know why Wendling and Jenkins were good special teamers? Because they couldn’t believe they were on an NFL roster and they were coached by the best ST coach in the game. The Bills have cut special teamers in the past like Stamer, Wire, and Costanzo and the play on the field hasn’t suffered. If the ST suffers it will be because Bobby April is gone and not a handful of UDFAs.