In Buffalo for Micah Hyde’s annual charity softball game, Poyer showed his love for the city, the people, his now-former team and all of Bills Mafia
Former Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer returned to Buffalo last week to support his on-field best friend, Micah Hyde, in an annual charity softball game. While he was there, he also had a chance to address the Buffalo faithful, Bills Mafia.
Poyer, who tested the free-agency market after the 2022 season but ultimately returned to Buffalo had made some fans skeptic of his loyalty. After the Bills released the 33-year-old All-Pro safety in a series of salary-cap-saving roster cuts this offseason, he signed with the division-rival Miami Dolphins — making some fans very upset.
Poyer, who was part of the drought-ending era Bills, said that he wasn’t sure how fans would react to his return to Western New York. However, those in attendance at Hyde’s annual softball game, were quick to applaud the former Bill and show their love for the safety duo.
Jordan Poyer said he didn’t know if #BillsMafia was going to cheer him or boo him today as he returned for what served as a send off from Buffalo. He seemed grateful to have a chance to not say goodbye but say see ya later to Bills fans. pic.twitter.com/UVL3OUne2u
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) May 19, 2024
Poyer addressed the fans, telling them that he loved every one of his seven years in Buffalo and that he’s happy to stay in the AFC East so that he can return to Orchard Park, NY once a year and continue to experience the Bills Mafia.
Jordan Poyer’s farewell address to Bills fans pic.twitter.com/YnmV11cLDe
— Jonah Bronstein (@lebronstein) May 19, 2024
But Poyer didn’t stop there. He went on to tell Bills Mafia that they had “the best QB in the league.” Of course, the fans loved it — Bills fans that is. Dolphins fans — maybe not so much.
#FinsUp Safety Jordan Poyer calls #BillsMafia QB Josh Allen “The Best QB in the League”
— Circling The Wagons Podcast (@CTWpod) May 20, 2024
I think we can put this debate to rest pic.twitter.com/enT5us6j5k
Poyer answered fins fans, telling him that he loves Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as well. But that he will always love Allen, who joined the Bills just a year after the safety.
Bills-turned-Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer answers after publicly calling Josh Allen the best quarterback in the league over the weekend at Micah Hyde’s charity softball game.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 21, 2024
“I love Josh… but I love Tua too.” pic.twitter.com/cBhi3dujAW
While Poyer is claiming to love his new quarterback, it’s more than fair to say that he has a much better relationship with Allen than Tagovailoa. Not only has the safety been there for Allen’s entire career, which would obviously give him more opportunities to know and bond with him, but Tagovailoa hasn’t been present for the majority of Miami’s workouts this offseason — Poyer’s first in Miami.
Sources to @NFLonCBS: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has skipped the majority of voluntary offseason work as a long-term extension with Miami has yet to materialize https://t.co/gOAEprUsm5
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) May 17, 2024
So, for Poyer — who Bills fans had undoubtedly hoped would finish his career in Western New York and play out the final season of his contract alongside Micah Hyde (who has yet to announce whether he will play one more season himself) — is it a case of “once a Bill, always a Bill”? It will be an interesting reunion for sure, when Poyer plays at Highmark Stadium on November 3.