The Buffalo Bills have eliminated one candidate from contention for their punting role, releasing Cory Carter on Monday evening. Carter was released so that the team could claim second-year outside linebacker Jeff Holland on waivers.
Carter spent most of the summer locked into a battle with young incumbent Corey Bojorquez, or as beat reporter Joe Buscaglia dubbed it, the #CoreyVsCoryPuntapalooza. Unfortunately, that event resulted in a dud. Neither punter really stood out, though Bojorquez pulled ahead in Week 3 while Carter was sidelined with knee soreness. Bojorquez had nine punts for a net average of 41.2 yards, with one punt inside the 20, while Carter’s four punts netted 40.5 yards. Bojorquez is the survivor of the battle, but he’s not immune to replacement by any stretch.
Holland, originally an undrafted free agent from Auburn, joined the league with the Denver Broncos, where he played in three games. He was playing with the Arizona Cardinals in the preseason, but the team waived him and Buffalo claimed him. The 6’2”, 249-lb Holland was projected as an edge rusher, ideally for a 3-4 defense, in his college profiles. In his final college season, Holland was named first-team All-SEC when he landed 45 tackles, ten sacks, and four forced fumbles. With the Bills, he could try to fit as a defensive end, or play in the strong-side linebacker role that features Lorenzo Alexander today.