Kromer had been on paid administrative leave since the incident occurred July 12 at his home in Florida, where he was arrested following a dispute over the use of Kromer’s lawn chairs. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
PITTSFORD, N. Y. — Three days after his misdemeanor battery charge was dropped by the family of the teenage boy Aaron Kromer allegedly punched, the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach was at St. John Fisher College coaching his group.
“I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to be back at training camp, how grateful I am for (owner) Terry Pegula, (owner) Kim Pegula, (managing partner and team president) Russ Brandon, of course (head coach) Rex (Ryan), to allow me back to do my job,” said Kromer. “I’m sure everybody wants to hear what happened over the past couple weeks, but I’m not at liberty to talk about it. I’m excited to be back here working with the talent we have in the offensive line and making them the best they can be this training camp and getting them ready for the season. That’s my whole goal, my focus at this point, and I’m excited to be able to do that.”
Kromer did not answer reporters’ questions.
Kromer had been on paid administrative leave since the incident occurred July 12 at his home in Florida, where he was arrested following a dispute over the use of Kromer’s lawn chairs.
The Bills announced Sunday night that Kromer would be suspended for the first six games of the regular season, but until the Monday of Week 1, he will be able to resume coaching.
“Over the past several weeks the Bills organization has gathered information regarding the incident involving offensive line coach Aaron Kromer,” Brandon said in a statement released Sunday night.
“Today we have concluded our investigation and the Buffalo Bills will suspend coach Kromer without pay for the first six games of the 2015 NFL regular season. The suspension will begin on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, and end with the conclusion of the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game on Oct. 18, 2015. We worked in conjunction with the NFL on this matter and we are highly supportive of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy that holds all NFL and club employees to a higher standard. We look forward to coach Kromer rejoining the Bills organization at training camp.”
Ryan spoke to reporters before Monday night’s practice, but he had very little to say on the subject. “We made a statement as an organization so I’m not going to add a whole lot to that,” said Ryan. “I certainly don’t want to speak for Aaron, so that’s what I’m comfortable saying.”
–During the first couple days of camp, wide receiver Percy Harvin has taken some reps at cornerback. With starting left cornerback Leodis McKelvin sidelined with an ankle injury, Harvin thought he’d lend a hand on that side of the ball, and Ryan gladly obliged him.
“He came to me and wanted to help this team out in any way,” said Ryan. “You have a guy like Leodis go down and you can’t have enough depth at corner in my opinion. First hand info. So let’s see what he can do. We’re not going to over-coach him. We expect him to be a top receiver for us. But if he can help out in that area, just like if Kyle Williams can help our offense out, then we’ll look at that as well. This is just a ‘let’s see what he can do’ thing. He came to me with it. He’s obviously got the physical skill set where you’d think he could be pretty good at it.”
–Throughout the offseason program, free-agent signee Richie Incognito worked exclusively at right guard, while rookie John Miller manned the left guard spot. Three days into training camp, Ryan flip-flopped the two, and proceeded to name left tackle Cordy Glenn, Incognito, and center Eric Wood as opening-day starters. Miller figures to lock down the right guard spot, so the only true competition to be weeded out is at right tackle where Cyrus Kouandjio and Seantrel Henderson are neck and neck.
Kouandjio entered camp No. 1 on the depth chart, but Ryan warned not to read into that because while he’s been happy with Kouandjio all offseason, Henderson is right there. “Look at it anyway you want, but I will say this — everybody is going to get an opportunity,” said Ryan. “Seantrel will certainly get an opportunity for that position as well. But it’s going to be a good battle, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”
