Safety Amani Hooker is excited to join the 7-1 Bills after a trade from the 1-7 Titans

Résumé détaillé

Safety Amani Hooker entered the Titans' bye week on a Tennessee team going nowhere. Some 10 days later, he found himself landing in Buffalo, elated ...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Safety Amani Hooker entered the Titans’ bye week on a Tennessee team going nowhere. Some 10 days later, he found himself landing in Buffalo, elated to join a contender.

“It’s amazing. That’s literally all I can say,” Hooker said Wednesday, a day after the Bills acquired him from the Titans.

“I’m obviously grateful for the Titans and what they did for me. But in the past, we haven’t been winning,” he added. “And to be on a team that’s putting up points with a quarterback and offensive guys that are on fire, and a great defense, I’m just excited to be here.”

What’s not to like for an eighth-year player who went from a 1-7 team to one that’s 7-1?

Upon his arrival, Hooker began appreciating the fan support when he saw the number of people wearing Bills gear at the airport. One of the first teammates to greet him was quarterback Josh Allen. And Hooker eagerly headed out to practice, hoping to help an area of need for Buffalo’s defense.

Hooker expects the transition to be smooth, noting he’s familiar with various defensive schemes. He’s looking forward to building chemistry with fellow safety Cole Bishop. And there’s no doubt in Hooker’s mind he’ll be on the field Sunday, when the Bills visit the New York Jets (2-7)

Buffalo traded a second-round draft pick to Tennessee in a bid shore up its struggling defense. The Bills allowed an average of 28.5 points and 387 yards through their first six games before showing signs of improvement in wins over Baltimore and Minnesota, both of which were led by struggling backup quarterbacks.

Hooker brings experience and a calming presence to a job previously held by C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was cut after six games for erratic play and lapses in discipline.

“Really savvy football player that can play a lot of different roles in the back end,” coach Joe Brady said. “I’ve gone against him in his career. Obviously, he has a knack of finding the football.”

Début de l'article, extrait de Toronto Star. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.