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The Buffalo Bills on Friday morning announced the release of second-year punter Shawn Powell.
A year ago, the Bills signed Powell after releasing veteran Brian Moorman following a Week 3 win over the Cleveland Browns. This year, the Bills are releasing Powell after the latest in a run of poor performances this season, which came at the expensive of Browns punt returner Travis Benjamin. He recorded 179 punt return yards, including a 79-yard touchdown in the second quarter, during the Browns' 37-24 win over the Bills.
Powell ranked No. 32 in the NFL in net punting average after last night's abysmal outing, in which Bills head coach Doug Marrone admitted that the team asked Powell to kick out of bounds to avoid any more big plays in the return game. The Bills had been lucky to avoid that outcome in previous games, given how inconsistent Powell has been striking the ball.
The Bills will now be on the lookout for a punter, and have an extra couple of days to find one before their Week 6 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals on October 13. Moorman, for the record, is currently a free agent.