AFC Notes: Bills, Chiefs, Jets

Bills

• Bills DE Jerry Hughes was fined $53,482 for screaming at and threatening umpire Roy Ellison after Week 13’s game, which is good news, considering that he could have been suspended.
• Ellison has been placed on administrative leave for his part in the confrontation.

Chiefs

When asked about being released by the Bills, new Chiefs WR Kelvin Benjamin said “it’s just one of those seasons.”

“I mean, I mean, I just…,” Benjamin said, via Pro Football Talk. “There’s a lot of variables I guess. It’s just one of those seasons. It’s a rebuild-type year I guess.”

Benjamin added that the Chiefs “really wanted” him and he is glad to be with Kansas City.

“It is a business,” Benjamin said. “I’m glad to be here. We already know that the Kansas City Chiefs have been tearing it up this year. They were one of the teams that really wanted me, and I’m happy and glad to be here.”

Jets

Jets HC Todd Bowles denied the recent report that there’s tension between him and GM Mike Maccagnan.

“There’s never been any tension with me or anybody else in this building,” said Bowles, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “It’s a professional place. There’s a lot of good people in here and we treat people the same way. It’s unfortunate someone has their own agenda in mind. I guess that’s between him and Manish (Mehta), whoever that person is. But usually the person that throws the first stone is usually the culprit. So, they’re probably trying to protect or hide something. But most of the organization is not like that. It’s unfortunate that we had that said.”

According to Mehta, Bowles and Maccagnan report to the Jets’ ownership on “parallel tracks,” which has created an “unproductive work environment.”

Mehta adds that Bowles’ future with the team is a “fait accompli” and the front office no longer believes he can overcome his shortcomings thus far.

While it has not been determined whether Maccagnan will return, the “feeling” around the Jets is that he can improve with a revised structure where the next coach will report to him.