Jordan Poyer spent the past seven seasons manning the back end of the Bills' defense but crossed over to division-rival Miami this offseason after Buffalo shed veteran defenders.
Poyer, who inked a one-year contract with the Dolphins, joined his former teammates over the weekend for Micah Hyde's annual charity softball game in Buffalo. The safety noted that he didn't "really get to have a proper sendoff or proper goodbye" after the Bills released him and he signed in Miami in March.
The 33-year-old used Sunday to close the loop but also gave some flowers to his former quarterback, Josh Allen.
"Seven years out here, man," Poyer said. "I loved every moment of it. Thank you so much for allowing me to grow as a person, as a player. Teammates, coaches, everybody, man, I loved every moment of it. Sorry we couldn't get it done, but you've got the best quarterback in the league. I know that might go viral, but it's OK. I get to see y'all twice a year. I can't wait. You guys come down to Miami. I get to come back to Orchard Park one more time."
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Poyer would call Allen the "best quarterback in the league." He has spent the past six seasons with the QB, watching him grow from a questioned rookie to undeniably one of the top talents at the position. Still, Poyer is sure to get ribbed by new teammates and South Beach media for his comment. The veteran's acknowledgment that his quote "might go viral" is a nod that it's all in the game.
After earning an All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod during his seven years in Buffalo, Poyer joins Tua Tagovailoa and a revamped defense in Miami. Like Buffalo, the Dolphins are attempting to get over the playoff hump in an AFC dominated by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Staying in the division, Poyer will face Allen and the Bills twice, including in Week 2 in Miami, the first Thursday Night Football showdown on Prime Video this season.
"It was really surreal," Poyer said of his return to Buffalo this weekend, via the Buffalo News. "I didn't know what to expect coming out here today, but Bills Mafia showed out as always. It was just really cool to see the support from the fans out here. It's not goodbye, it's see you later, so it was just fun to come out here and support Micah."
