With the historic first game of the Alliance of American Football set to kick off on February 9, you may be wondering what team to cheer for, or if there are any ex-Bills playing.
As you look to make your pick for your favorite franchise in this hot new league, here are the teams with former Bills on them, in case that will persuade your decision.
Arizona Hotshots:
Center Patrick Lewis played for the Buffalo Bills for the 2016 season. Patrick was only active for one game that season when he played a total of 17 snaps against the Oakland Raiders.
Salt Lake Stallions:
Wide receiver Kaelin Clay played for the Bills during the 2017 season and was cut at the end of training camp right before the 2018 season began. In 2017, Clay was able to haul in one catch for 28 yards and had two punt returns (but muffed one of them).
San Diego Fleet:
Cornerback Ron Brooks played for the Bills from 2012 to 2015 after they selected him with one of their past fourth-round draft selections. During his time with the Bills, Brooks had 62 tackles and seven defended passes.
Linebacker AJ Tarpley also played for the Bills in 2015 after being signed as an undrafted rookie free agent. Tarpley played in 14 games that season and had five tackles, one sack, and two interceptions. His season was cut short due to a concussion which eventually forced him to retire from the NFL, but he returns to professional football action with the Fleet.
Atlanta Legends:
Tight end Keith Towbridge was an undrafted rookie who appeared on the practice squad for the Bills in 2017 and 2018. Towbridge was on the team’s injured reserve for the entire 2017 season.
Birmingham Iron:
Punter Colton Schmidt played for the Bills from 2014 to 2017, before bouncing on and off the roster in 2018. He was cut at the end of training camp before being re-signed after Corey Bojorquez suffered an injury but was essentially released again in favor of Matt Darr. For those who recognize Schmidt’s name but feel like it wasn’t for his role as the team’s punter, this may help: Schmidt was cut by the team but still showed up for the home opener and tailgated with the Bills Mafia.
Defensive tackle Rickey Hatley was signed to the practice squad in December 2017 and activated for the final game of the regular season, when the Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins. Hatley also played 20 snaps when the Bills appeared in their first playoff game in the previous 17 years.
There are also several former Bills coaching staff members who now have jobs in the AAF. That list includes Jim Jeffcoat (defensive linemen coach for the Orlando Apollos), Donnie Henderson (defensive backs coach for the Salt Lake Stallions), Dennis Thurman (defensive coordinator for the Memphis Express), David Lee (quarterbacks coach for the Memphis Express), Pepper Johnson (linebackers coach for the Memphis Express), Ted Cottrell (linebackers coach for the Birmingham Iron), Pete Metzelaars (tight ends coach for the Atlanta Legends).
The AAF, which plans to televise their games on NFL Network and several other large sports networks, brings professional football games to otherwise action-less winter months of the NFL offseason and allows fans to watch players they’ve seen several times in the blue, white, and red of the Buffalo Bills.
