The Buffalo Bills are reportedly not in the market for free-agent punter Marquette King despite a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. Many Bills and NFL reporters were quick to dispute Schefter’s tweet, acknowledging their own sources within the Bills’ organization and the NFL.
Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News was the first to refute it, followed by Sal Capaccio from WGR 550, Tim Graham of The Athletic, and more.
King played for the Oakland Raiders from 2012 until 2018, leading the NFL in punting yards in 2014. He had signed a five-year extension in 2016 worth $16.5 million with $12.5 million guaranteed, but was cut just two years later. King then signed with the Denver Broncos last season, but was released in October after being placed on injured reserve with a thigh injury.
The Bills currently have two young punters on the roster. Starting punter Corey Bojorquez had a promising start to the 2018 season, but a shoulder injury put him on injured reserve in late October. Punter Cory Carter has been on the roster since 2017, but he tore his ACL in the preseason and wasn’t able to compete for a roster spot in 2018. Free-agent signees Colton Schmidt and Matt Darr got the call to start for Buffalo after Bojorquez’s season-ending injury, but both are no longer on the roster.
As for the Miami Dolphins, the other team Schefter reported to have interest in King, there is no word yet on if the team is actually interested in signing the veteran punter.