Buffalo Bills reportedly part ways with Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy

With the league-wide cutdown date looming, the Buffalo Bills surprised the NFL world on Saturday morning, with news breaking that veteran running back LeSean McCoy will be released. Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network quickly confirming the roster decision. 

Though the choice to part ways with McCoy wouldn't necessarily be stunning in a vacuum, the Bills repeatedly expressed the intent to keep the six-time Pro Bowler on the roster. In fact, Mike Florio of NBC Sports brings word that McCoy's release "came out of left field" without any rumblings. 

Releasing McCoy does save the Bills more than $6 million in salary cap room and, at the end of the day, that is likely the biggest impetus for the roster move. While McCoy has an impressive pedigree that includes two All-Pro selections, he is now 31 years old and his 2018 production wasn't overwhelming in nature. The veteran appeared in 14 games, rushing for only 514 yards and three touchdowns and averaging a career-worst 3.2 yards per rush. 

With McCoy now on the free agent market, it will be interesting to see where he lands but, in Buffalo, there is also an intriguing battle for the lead role in the backfield. Rookie Devin Singletary would seemingly be the logical option, with young options like Sinorise Perry and Christian Wade, to go along with veterans in Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon. 

The Bills face 100-1 odds to win the Super Bowl and that was the case even with McCoy on the roster. Buffalo's Week 1 game on the road against the New York Jets now has an additional layer of intrigue, though, and ripples will be sent across the league depending on where McCoy lands.