BUFFALO - A five-minute YouTube video made quarterback Alex Tanney an overnight sensation for his uncanny accuracy.
Now the Division III Monmouth College (Ill.) product will provide the Buffalo Bills a chance to see whether he has a future in the NFL. After being passed up in the NFL draft last weekend, Tanney accepted an invitation to participate in the Bills' three-day rookie minicamp that opens May 11.
Tanney is among the most curious prospects heading to camp after the 6-foot-4, 220-pound player created a buzz last year in the self-titled "Trick Shot Quarterback" video. In it, Tanney threw footballs from across the court and swished them into basketball nets and even banged a pass off the crossbar of an upright from 50 yards out - from his knees.
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The Buffalo Bills have released veteran cornerback Drayton Florence, who became the odd-man out in what's become a crowded defensive backfield.
Florence is a nine-year NFL player, who spent the past three seasons in Buffalo where he started 45 of 46 games. He had two years left on his contact, and scheduled to make a base salary of $4 million this season.
His release on Friday comes a week after the Bills opened the NFL draft by selecting South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th pick. Gilmore is expected to step in and immediately compete for a starting job.
Florence took the news in stride in a message posted on his Twitter account. Florence wrote "Business is business," and thanked his fans for their support.