Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane met with the media on Wednesday to talk further about the final roster cuts on Tuesday, and the subsequent practice squad signings the following day.
The first name that came up during Beane's press conference was the new quarterback he signed for the practice squad.
Mike White has played for the Dallas Cowboys, as well as the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. Beane is happy to have him in Buffalo with Josh Allen and the injured Mitch Trubisky.
"The thing I always liked about Mike and respected about him is whether he started the game or came into the game, he came in guns a blazin’. No fear, not just 'Checkdown Charlie'. He really did some good things," said Beane on Wednesday. "At times, there were people talking like he may be the future starter of the Jets. We were always [of the mindset] that we’ve got to be ready in the games we played against him.
"You could tell he’s a very smart guy that processes well, loves the game, tough. I’m excited that we were able to get Mike. We recruited him hard to get him on this [practice] squad."
Beane added that Trubisky is still working his way back from a knee injury suffered in Week 2 of the preseason. It is truly unknown yet whether Trubisky will be ready to play Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, which is why Beane is happy to get White in now and up to speed with the offense.
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Daequan Hardy was taken by the Bills this season in the sixth round, primarily to return kicks. It’s something he did very well in college, but it seemed like he had trouble adjusting to the NFL.
Despite being part of the final roster cuts on Tuesday, Hardy will stick around in Buffalo as part of the practice squad.
"Daequan is a young player, and just felt like he did some good things, but there’s a lot that goes into the punt return," Beane explained. "It was probably the main reason that we selected him, was he shown some really good things at Penn State as a punt returner. But he’s still probably cleaning up some decision making. It’s more than just put the ball in his hands. So I thought it was arrow up, but we kind of ran out of time. We’ve got a real game next, and we just weren’t quite there."
Beane says Hardy could see action as the season goes on, and they will also continue to work him at cornerback.
To take Hardy’s place returning kicks, the Bills made a rare intradivisional trade with the New York Jets to get return specialist Brandon Codrington.
"We went through a lot of returners in the spring, so we were looking at a lot of different things and trying to make the best decision you can," Beane said.
"With him, limited exposure seeing him personally, but when you watch the film and you saw it translate into the preseason, for him, still a small NFL sample, but I thought he made good decisions, fielded it cleanly. We play in one of the toughest environments at home, and it’ll be an adjustment for him as well."
Perhaps the most notable roster decision from Tuesday's cut-down day was local kid Joe Andreessen making the team at middle linebacker. Beane talked about how the Lancaster native made every rep count.
"Every step of the way, he checked the box and checked the box. He never worried about if he got five reps in practice or 15. Some people are ready for their opportunity and others are not," Beane said of the University at Buffalo product.
"He’s still a rookie, so I don’t want to put him in the Hall of Fame yet, but I think we need to give him credit. I mean, how can you not cheer for him?"
The Bills threw Andreessen to the wolves against the Pittsburgh Steelers' starters in Week 2 of the preseason, and he played the full game.
"It didn’t phase him, and nothing else is going to tell us more than putting him with the ones. And he went out there ran the defense really well for a rookie, and made plays in space," Beane noted. "I thought he passed the test that day and deserves this opportunity."
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For the first time in his career, Tyler Bass had a tough season kicking last year. In the preseason, he went 6-for-7, but most of those were no longer than an extra point. He also struggled a lot in practice.
Beane says he didn’t consider signing a kicker to the practice squad.
"I get the question, I understand. If he had a short history here, we probably would’ve. But if you look at his career, I know what’s fresh in everyone’s mind. I get it, we’re all human, and at the end of the season, he’d be the first to tell you it’s not the way he wanted it to go," Beane said. "But we’re confident in him. His teammates are confident in him. I think we’ve just got to relax and give him a chance, and he knows. He doesn’t need Twitter or the fans to tell him. He knows.
"He’s his own worst critic. He works like crazy, and we’re very confident in him. But obviously, he’ll have to go out and do it."
