(Cutline: Brandon Beane said “It’s not ideal to have two guys with (suspensions) … Both guys have never had any issues off the field. It’s a tough lesson of where do you get your supplements or whatever happened.” Buffalo Bills photo)
By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
It hasn’t been the best of weeks for Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane.
Since he arrived in Orchard Park from Carolina in 2018, other than his first-ever draft pick, the inspired first-round selection of current NFL MVP Josh Allen, his reputation as a drafter has been dubious, at best.
But, that tended to be offset by his wisdom as a signer of unrestricted free agents.
Alas, that ended this past week.
Beane signed not one but two defensive linemen — end Michael Hoecht (pronounced Hoyt) late of the Rams and tackle Larry Ogunjobi, most recently with the Steelers — facing six-game suspensions for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
That means they will have to stay away from the team facility for a month, then can join their respective teams for practice the last two weeks before being allowed to play in Week 7.
Reportedly, the Bills knew about Hoecht’s positive test before signing him to a 3-year, $24 million contract.
However, Ogunjobi, the Steelers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last season, literally didn’t find out about his pending suspension until the day he signed a one-year $8 million contract with Buffalo.
An embarrassed Beane admitted, “It’s not ideal to have two guys with (suspensions).”
Ya think?
He added, “Both guys have never had any issues off the field. It’s a tough lesson of where do you get your supplements or whatever happened.”
What makes the situation galling is that, with veteran end Von Miller released, the Bills have only four edge rushers — Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Javon Solomon and Joey Bosa (more on him in a moment) under contract.
At tackle, with Quinton Jefferson, Austin Johnson and Jordan Phillips free agents, Buffalo has only DaQuan Jones, Ed Oliver, Dewayne Carter and Ogunjobi currently signed.
Small wonder defensive line was one of Buffalo’s major needs.
HOECHT, 27, said he got the testosterone from a long-time trainer and admitted, “It was a mistake. It was careless. I shouldn’t have trusted. And it’s ultimately my responsibility.
“(Learning about the positive test) was the lowest point of my entire life. It’s something I’m gonna have to own, something I’m gonna come up on the better side of and use it as motivation.”
Ogunjobi, 30, had no history of testing positive despite eight years in the league.
“It was a situation where I don’t really know what it was,” he said. “I think it was a tainted supplement that I took. But I understand the league, we have an obligation to understand what we put in our body, and I take full responsibility for that. But I’ll be more excited to get on that field and support my team and this organization when my suspension is lifted.”
Beane admitted the Bills would have passed on signing Ogunjobi, who played four seasons in Cleveland, one in Cincinnati and three in Pittsburgh, had they known about the positive test.
SIGNING the 29-year-old Bosa is a risk but not to the extent of adding Miller after he was released by Denver just short of his 33rd birthday.
As with Bosa’s brother Nick, he’s one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers, but the last three seasons he’s been undermined by injury.
After recording 58 sacks in his first six seasons, Joey has had 14 over the last three as he played in 28 games and missed 22.
Should he regain his form, Beane got a steal, but if he suffers a devastating injury, such as the one that seemingly ended Miller’s career, the mistake will be obvious.
Signing two suspended defensive linemen, as humiliating as it is, it would only be worse should it become a trifecta for a GM who has been at his best in free agency.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net)
Read more from Chuck:
• An interesting look at St. Bonaventure’s A-10 matchups
• St. Bonaventure joins $2.8 million settlement to get past and current student-athletes paid
• St. Joe’s is looming as a big test for the Bonnies
• A critical stretch for St. Bonaventure basketball
• Part II: McDermott is building a team to win the Super Bowl, not beat the Chiefs
• It was a different McDermott this season
• A look back at the ‘Super’ Bowl
• Pollock prediction on the Super Bowl and his annual quiz
• Part 2: What does Brandon Beane have to do to make the Buffalo Bills better?
• Part 1: Buffalo Bills’ GM Brandon Beane discusses 2024 season
Don Scholla, the passing of an Icon
• A huge win over Dayton for the Bonnies
• The Chiefs still have the Bills’ number
• Pollock Prediction: Chiefs 28, Bills 25 (actual score 32-29)
• Allen and the Bills heading to the AFC Championship game
• Josh Allen wants to hear Mr. Brightside against the Ravens
• Win over Richmond gets St. Bonaventure Bonnies ready for A-10 matchup with Duquesne
• Offensive line of the Buffalo Bills knocked out the Broncos
• Pollock Prediction: Broncos loom as a threat but the Bills will win
• McDermott knew the Bills would host the Broncos
• The Bills are waiting to see who they play
• Where the St. Bonaventure victory over VCU ranks in program history
• Josh Allen showed why he should be the NFL MVP
• Pollock Prediction: Bills will beat Jets in a must-win game for playoff seeding
• What happened during those six lost days
• Bills didn’t play with a sense of urgency against the Patriots
• Bills passed a big test against the Lions
• The media missed the point with questions of McDermott
• We did not expect the Rams-Bills results as Josh Allen sets major records
• Will the Bills be motivated against the Rams?
• Schmidt doesn’t want the Bonnies to get caught up in 12-1 talk
• A look at the rise under Sean McDermott
• The snow and the Buffalo Bills were too much for the 49ers
• St. Bonaventure Bonnies put unbeaten hoops record on the line in ESPN Tournament
• Pollock Prediction on San Fran at Buffalo Sunday night game
• A look at Terry Pegula’s beginnings in Olean and his competitive drive to win
• A look at McDermott’s smart play-calling and why aren’t we talking more about James Cook?
• Can the Bills do this to the Chiefs in the playoffs? Josh Allen touchdown run seals victory
• Pollock predicts a one-point Kansas City victory
• What happened to this being a rebuilding season for the Buffalo Bills?
• A dominating performance by the Bills
• Pollock predicts a Bills victory over the Colts on the road
• Thoughts on the 61-yard Bass field goal and where the Bills sit
• Solid win to open the season for the Bonnies
• Bass vindicated by 61-yard field goal to beat the Dolphins
• Bills don’t own the Dolphins but have an option to buy; prediction 27-20 (final was 30-27)
• The season is here for St. Bonaventure basketball
• St. Bonaventure speaks out, “We got Woj”
• Mark Schmidt on the NIL deals and the Bona NIT mess
• Pollock on the passing of St. Bonaventure legend Paul Hoffman
• Pollock on listening to the radio and the days of Willie Mays
• Houghton’s Phil Stockin gets Cazzie Russell to the Castle in Olean and then a title for the Knicks?
• The right hire for St. Bonaventure to lead the athletic department
• The inside story on why WPIG left the Bonnies after 74 years and a Gary Nease update
• Bill Walton was must-see basketball when he played in Buffalo for the Braves
