News

Jon Ryan signs with Buffalo Bills

Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan (9) kicks the ball away in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike James (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Photo: Associated Press/John Hefti


ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have signed punter Jon Ryan to a one-year contract, a day after the 12-year NFL veteran was released by the Seattle Seahawks.

Ryan’s signing on Tuesday places into question returning punter Colton Schmidt’s hold on the job he’s held for the previous four seasons.

The Canadian-born Ryan spent 10 seasons in Seattle and had been the longest active player on the team’s roster.

In 2011, he set the Seahawks’ single-season record by averaging 46.64 yards per punt and tied the team mark by landing 34 points inside an opponent’s 20. Overall, he has a career punting average of 44.7 yards over 191 games.

Ryan was responsible for one of the most important touchdowns in Seahawks’ history. He completed a touchdown pass on a trick play in the NFC championship game after the 2014 regular season that helped Seattle reach its second straight Super Bowl.

Ryan is reunited with kicker Stephen Hauschka, who previously played in Seattle before signing with the Bills last year.

Buffalo freed up room on its roster by releasing kicker Tyler Davis.

 

Recent Headlines

3 hours ago in Entertainment, Local Sports, Northwest Sports, Professional, Sports

NBA owners will work on expansion again next week with Vegas and Seattle the targets, AP sources say

Seattle had a team until the SuperSonics were moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Las Vegas has wanted a team for some time; Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is among the names most often mentioned as part of potential ownership if a team gets awarded there.

1 day ago in Sports

Dominican WBC loss ends on called strike that appeared low, a week before robot umps arrive in MLB

Geraldo Perdomo watched Mason Miller's full-count slider appear to drop just under the strike zone and took a step toward his team's dugout on the third-base side, thinking he walked to put runners at the corners. Then plate umpire Cory Blaser emphatically signaled strike three, stranding the potential tying run at third base and giving the United States a 2-1 win Sunday night that advanced the Americans to the World Baseball Classic championship game against Venezuela or Italy.

1 day ago in Sports, Trending

Duke heads into March Madness ranked No. 1 in AP Top 25, Purdue, St. John’s back in top 10

Duke is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and No. 1 in the final AP Top 25 of the regular season. The Blue Devils received 50 first-place votes from a 57-person media panel in The Associated Press men's basketball poll released Monday, a day after they were named the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

4 days ago in Olympics, Sports

Paralympians ski in shorts and T-shirts, and some ask: Shouldn’t these Games be earlier?

At this month's Milan Cortina Paralympics, some athletes competed in shorts, T-shirts and tank tops. One skier lamented "tropical" conditions and a snowboarder complained that soft, slow snow put him at a disadvantage. And some worried about their safety.

4 days ago in Sports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 20 points for 127th straight game, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacted to his latest individual accomplishment the way he always does: by deflecting credit and pointing to team goals.