A former Buffalo Bills team captain discloses “difficulty” during departure from the Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills made drastic cuts to their roster in order to comply with the 2024 NFL salary cap. Much to everyone’s surprise, veteran player Mitch Morse was among those let go.
Last season, the offensive lineman who had been a captain for the Bills team and supported quarterback Josh Allen since 2019 allowed him to be sacked only twenty-four times which is his best performance yet. Despite being thirty-one years old, he proved that he was not slowing down by appearing in all eighteen games.
It didn’t take long for More to find employment as the Pro Bowler inked a lucrative two-year deal worth $10.5 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On March 13, during his initial press conference with the Jaguars, Morse was posed with an inquiry regarding whether he had been caught unawares by his dismissal. He acknowledged that it stung but appreciated the practical facets of things; even though there remained one more season on his $19.5 million agreement before he got axed.
Morse expressed that he understands their position in regards to the budget and also had an honest talk with Bills General Manager, Brandon Beane, at season’s end. Despite this, Morse hoped his longstanding loyalty would keep him a part of the team’s future plans. He cautioned against intertwining personal feelings with business matters as it could lead to complications.
I strongly believe that the most successful teams prioritize football and cultivate a familial atmosphere. However, it’s important to acknowledge that at its core, this is still a business. Although losing team members on a personal level can be painful, from an operational standpoint it may make sense for the organization as a whole.
In 2024, Morse had a cap hit of $11.47 million, which was the ninth highest on the team. By releasing him, Buffalo saved $8.47 million and incurred only a $3 million cap charge. Although he stated that “Buffalo will always be home for me and my family,” Morse is eager to see what lies ahead in Jacksonville with excitement.
Mitch Morse confesses that the Jaguars completely dominated and defeated the Bills in London last year.
After his release, Morse felt grateful for the immediate interest he received from both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jaguars. He referred to it as a “blessing” when reminded by a reporter that the Jacksonville team essentially kept him within their premises without allowing him to leave.
Having been drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of 2015 NFL draft, Pederson’s rookie season was also his final year as their offensive coordinator. Morse was drawn to Jacksonville due to his previous experience with Pederson and the Jaguars’ impressive victory over Buffalo last season.
Morse stated that ever since Pederson became a head coach, he has had an inclination to reconnect with him. He believed it could be an enjoyable experience.
Last year in London, our team (the Bills) suffered a severe setback to the culture. Despite being an avid supporter of both offense and defense, I firmly believe that success in this league is heavily dependent on having a quarterback who possesses both physical skills and intangible qualities. In my opinion, Trevor Lawrence epitomizes these traits.
“Isn’t it great that the sunshine doesn’t cause any harm? It’s a relief to have slightly better joint mobility, and not feel numb fingers in November or December. However, I don’t want to discount my time spent living happily in Buffalo – my long-term home. The only difference here is that the weather is warmer, which we are excited about.”
Gabe Davis, a former Bills wide receiver, will be teaming up with Mitch Morse in Jacksonville.
Shortly after Morse’s signing with the Jaguars, a familiar figure came aboard. Jacksonville secured ex-Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis on a $39 million three-year contract.
Expressing his excitement to reunite with Davis, Morse took to X (previously known as Twitter) and exclaimed, ““@gabedavis13_, Hell yes! I still can’t believe it!”
In the farewell statement to Bills Mafia, the veteran expressed his greatest fondness for returning to play with his former teammates. Despite being let go, More enthusiastically encouraged some of his previous colleagues to be re-hired.
On X, Morse shared his thoughts after learning about the extension of defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. He expressed admiration for Jones as a “true pro”, a person of good character and an unfairly overlooked football player. Additionally, he congratulated him and his family on their success by tagging @RiDQulous_98 in the post.
Morse wrote a congratulatory message to left tackle Dion Dawkins on his new deal, expressing gratitude for the past 5 years of teamwork and looking forward to continuing their close friendship. He concluded by sending well wishes to @DDawkins66.
