Bills had preseason interest in McKnight
Four-year NFL veteran shot and killed Thursday
If Anthony Lynn had his way, Joe McKnight would have been in Buffalo this past summer. Maybe, even longer.
The Bills assistant coach had envisioned bringing in his former player for a postNFL draft workout in the hopes that the organization would sign the running back before training camp.
“We talked twice a week there for a while,” Lynn said by phone. “He was sending me workout video and I was showing our personnel people and I said, ‘Look, just trust me on this one. I know this cat. And he’s ready to roll.’”
But Lynn said he and his promising pupil never connected.
In May, Lynn tried to reach McKnight but said his cellphone was either turned off or not working. Lynn then asked others to reach out on his behalf, but they, too, were unsuccessful.
“And all of a sudden, the first time I hear about him again is this tragedy,” said Lynn, who spent six years as the Jets running backs coach before joining the Bills’ staff in 2015.
McKnight, who played three seasons with the Jets and one for the Kansas City Chiefs, was fatally shot Thursday in a roadrage incident in Terrytown, La., about 20 miles from his birthplace of Kenner, La. He was 28.
Authorities identified 54-year-old Ronald Gasser as the shooter. Gasser was released by police Friday without being charged.
Lynn, who first heard the news from one of his fellow coaches, was still in a daze a day later. “We spent a lot of time together,” he said, adding that the Jets traded up 12 spots in 2010 to draft McKnight in the fourth round “because I had a secondround grade on him.” “And he’s 28 years old. It’s not natural for a 28-year-old to go before you. It does feel a little unreal.”
McKnight is the second former NFL player to die this year during a road rage incident in the New Orleans area. Former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith, 34, was shot and killed on April 9 after a traffic altercation. The trial of Cardell Hayes, who is charged with second-degree murder, begins Monday.
Tributes to McKnight flooded social media, as friends, former teammates and Louisiana natives expressed shock and grief over his killing. “Everybody in the world wanted to be @ReggieBush, us in New Orleans wanted to run the ball like Joe McKnight,” tweeted Arizona safety and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu.
PATRIOTS: Cibola High alumnus and defensive tackle Alan Branch was facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse but has had his ban rescinded, NFL.com reported. Branch had been planning to appeal his suspension, but it was rescinded before the appeal and the Patriots were informed Saturday.
■ Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been placed on injured reserve after having season-ending back surgery.
COWBOYS: Owner Jerry Jones expects offensive guard La’el Collins to return later this month. Collins has been sidelined since tearing a ligament in his right big toe in Week 3. “He’s really improving,” Jones said in a radio interview. “That gives us depth going into the playoffs.”
Ron Leary has performed well as the team’s starting left guard in place of Collins.
TEXANS: Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is out for game against the Green Bay Packers because of elbow and wrist injuries.
CHIEFS: Receiver Jeremy Maclin (groin) will miss his fourth straight game today at Atlanta.
JAGUARS: Receiver Rashad Greene went on injured reserve with an Achilles injury.
LIONS: Linebacker Tahir Whitehead (knee) has been ruled out against the New Orleans Saints.