The Buffalo Bills added some competition this offseason, but Ryan Groy has won the center job over Russell Bodine head coach Sean McDermott announced on Monday. Groy takes over for longtime Bills center Eric Wood, who was forced to retire this offseason following discovery of a spinal issue in his neck.
Groy was an undrafted free agent for the Chicago Bears in 2014 and spent two months on their practice squad before being elevated to the active roster that November. He was traded to the New England Patriots the following August but was hurt during the preseason and released. After spending a couple weeks of the 2015 season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, he was signed by the Bills. In 2016, he stepped in for an injured Wood to start the final seven games of the season and earn a hefty pay increase as a restricted free agent. The Los Angeles Rams signed him to an offer sheet which was matched by Buffalo during the 2017 offseason.
This offseason, Buffalo added four-year starter Russell Bodine, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals. While he wasn’t great in Cincy, he was serviceable and dependable. The pair alternated as the starting center throughout camp and the preseason.
The first center-quarterback combo of training camp was Nathan Peterman and Ryan Groy. Both men won their respective jobs.
Groy will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2018 season.