Bills release five as mandatory mini-camp breaks

by Brian Galliford on Jun 11, 2009 2:37 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

The Buffalo Bills on Thursday announced the release of five players, including LB Blake Costanzo, OT Joel Bell, DB Kyle Ward, DT John Faletoese and DE Gerald Washington.

Costanzo, a three-year pro out of Lafayette, spent two seasons in Buffalo as a specialist. He was a key contributor on nearly every special teams unit on the field. His release likely comes as a result of the team having an abundance of young talent at his position, including 2008 fifth-round pick Alvin Bowen and 2009 fifth-round pick Nic Harris.

In need of a left tackle prospect after the trade of Jason Peters, many believed Furman's Bell would be a worthwhile project as a developmental tackle. However, with 2008 seventh-round pick Demetrius Bell on the roster as a "project" player, Joel Bell's chances at a roster spot were slim.

Ward is a one-year player that was signed as a street free agent just prior to rookie mini-camps. Faletoese and Washington were undrafted rookie free agents out of UC Davis and USC, respectively.

Additionally, our SBN friends over at University of Kentucky blog A Sea of Blue inform us that the Bills have scheduled a June 18 tryout with former UK receiver Dicky Lyons.

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Comments

You knew Costanzo was gonna get cut...

but this seems early to me.

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2009/5/18/878649/an-unnecessarily-early-2009

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

yea we did know

but I kind of liked him

Guards Brad Butler and Brandon Rodd are decent. - Pete Prisco
Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.

by poz on Jun 11, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, to me this means some draft picks are gonna start signing.

The Bills have five open spots on the 80-man roster now and eight guys to sign. I’m not a mathmetician or anything but that means we still need to cut 3 more guys in order to sign the draft picks.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

very good point Matt

picks from other teams are starting to sign and it’s about that time of year. Let’s get them all inked before the first practice of training camp this year!

John I.

by jri111 on Jun 12, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd be surprised if Maybin is in camp on time...

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 12, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

why would you say that?

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 12, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Past history...

Most of our first round picks in the last 10 years or so haven’t had a contract until training camp started. I don’t know specifics…

Even McKelvin was a few days late.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 12, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah but that didn’t stop them from practising with the team, did it?

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 12, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

it did during training camp...

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 12, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Buffalo must be getting ready to sign some of their draft picks.

I looked up that post about Dicky Lyons – didn’t see anything on there about him trying out for the Bills, but it says he was going to have a workout with the Falcons.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 11, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

And why the Bills would working out another WR is totally beyond me.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 11, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Why not?

Reed and TO are free agents after the year. Roscoe has disappointed, and who knows what Stevie and Hardy amount to. At best, he competes for a practice squad spot and maybe a role in the slot down the road if he actually is something….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jun 11, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I understand all that. You don’t think they could use that spot for someone where they have some pressing needs? IMO, they do have pressing needs still.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 11, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Well they aren’t going to find a pass rusher, starting OLB or DT competition at this point…..

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jun 11, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Most teams take about 10 WRs into training camp because so many of them struggle through minor injuries, typically hamstrings, that force them to sit out practice. And they are the kinds of injuries that need rest to heal, so teams always have lots of camp fodder at the position.

by kaisertown on Jun 11, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Not exactly sure why......

but the term “Camp Fodder” always makes me smile

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 11, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

haha. I never thought about that, but it really is funny.

And to further my point. Buffalo currently has 9 WRs on the roster and who knows if Hardy will be good to go when camp starts. NE has 13 WRs on their roster.

by kaisertown on Jun 11, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Another WR

More training camp fodder…

Get the Bills back to the big game!

by Blitz on Jun 15, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be because I linked the wrong story. The correct link is now up.

Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more

by Brian Galliford on Jun 11, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you linked the wrong “Dicky’s World” post. I’m guessing this is the one that needs to be included…Check out his block on a big Stevie Johnson catch! Lyons was a pretty good receiver for Kentucky, as I recall, and has some return skills. He was injured this past season, but could be a diamond in the rough. 141 career catches, 1752 yards, 18 TD’s…

The Costanzo cut surprised me because of the timing. I guess only playing Special Teams isn’t going to be as big of a skill this year?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jun 11, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Here’s some Dicky highlights

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jun 11, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

i think hes worth a tryout

see that breakaway speed in the fl game?

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Jun 11, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that was the one I pointed out to my son. That was impressive.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 11, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

The Bills probably saw what they needed to see in mini-camp to know they could go with Nic Harris and Bowen, and so they let Blake go. Maybe they feel Harris and Bowen can provide better linebacker depth and perform on special teams. Can’t say Costanzo was ever really an option to see the field defensively. As far as the timing, maybe they respected him enough to give him time to try and get a spot on another team. He might be able to catch on with some team that is special teams challenged.

by syrbillsfan on Jun 11, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

As far as the timing, maybe they respected him enough to give him time to try and get a spot on another team. He might be able to catch on with some team that is special teams challenged.

Good point.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 11, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m good with that too..

by krytime on Jun 11, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I kno that I’ll be hopping to see him sign with another team. He may not be worth much on deffence, but he’s a tremendous special teams player.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 11, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m disapointed to see Bell and Costanzo go. The rest aren’t big loses.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 11, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

I’m not disappointed, more surprised that they were cut so early. With guys like Palmer, Bowen, Harris, Thomas and Ellison I wasn’t shocked to see Blake get the axe, but being that he made the team last year and was great on special teams, I figured it would happen later. As for Bell the only thing I can guess is that sometimes teams release players early so that they go under the radar and are easier to sign to the practice squad. Or they like Polo Gutierrez better.

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on Jun 11, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

You share my sentiments on Costanzo.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Well I don’t know much about Gutierres (look under “nothing at all”), but if he’s still there and they let Bell go, maybe he has more upside. We all know that Buffalo likes to develop their offencive lineman, so Gutierrez might be the next project, or not, who knows right.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 11, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

bummer about the UC Davis guy.......

always like to see those NorCal guys succeed…….although I knew he didnt stand a chance.

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 11, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

Bar Steward!

When you said a UK receiver i thought you meant he was British!

oh well

Football. Bloody Hell!!

by gregeng on Jun 11, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

Ha.

Just like using “blokes” in your picture caption….

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, me too

by chaucer on Jun 11, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

is joel bell the guy who hadn’t played ball until high school? i get him and demetrius mixed up, because they have the same last name. i read an article a month ago about one of them; can’t remember which one. i think it was joel, in which case i guess i’m a little surprised that he got cut.

by chaucer on Jun 11, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

D Bell didn’t play until his Junior year of college

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on Jun 11, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

then he’s probably the one…lol…told you i get the two mixed up.

by chaucer on Jun 11, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Joel Bell also didn’t play the game until later, but not as late as D. Bell.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 11, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Joel is the one that never played before his senior year in highschol and Demetrius is the one that never played before his Junior year in college.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 11, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Surprised

Kinda surprised by the early release of Costanzo, especially since the team seems to value special teams play. As was pointed out though, it was most likely inevitable w/ the influx of young talent at the LB position.

P.s. study for the bar exam sucks. If any of you ever consider going to law school in the future, i have one word of advise for you: DON’T! I hope to return to my chronic posting in time for the season in August. Is it football season yet?!

John I.

by jri111 on Jun 12, 2009 1:33 AM EDT reply actions

Costanzo surprised me, Joel Bell is also somewhat head scratching

But with the need to sign picks, and the chance no one will notice in NFL circles we may see him back for the PS before end of the year. Regarding Blake, they may have let him go now so he can sign elsewhere, since he has given them good effort since he came here, that would be the classy thing to do.

(443): My mom came into my room and told me to flip off the tv. I gave it the middle finger. Note to self: STOP SMOKING THIS S#!T

-textsfromlastnight.com

by WABillsfan on Jun 12, 2009 3:14 AM EDT reply actions

About Joel Bell to PS

If they planned on placing Bell on the PS (like I thought they were), wouldn’t they keep in as long as possible to allow for more time in the system? It seems to me that by cutting him before all the picks are signed and absolutely needing his roster spot, he probably isnt in their plans.

by NorCal BillsFan on Jun 12, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions