Patriots fill need at center by acquiring Bodine from Bills

Posted August 30, 2019 7:00 am

By JOHN WAWROW

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2018, file photo, Buffalo Bills center Russell Bodine, right, waits to snap the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, in Orchard Park, N.Y. A person familiar with the move tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Bills have traded center Russell Bodine to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft. The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, because the trade hasn't been announced.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File) The Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - David Andrews' uncertain status led the New England Patriots to fill a potentially sudden need at center by acquiring Russell Bodine in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

The Patriots sent Buffalo a 2020 sixth-round draft pick, the Bills announced.

Bodine is a fifth-year player who might have to replace Andrews, who was hospitalized last weekend because of blood clots in his lung.

Andrews was released from the hospital on Monday and was spotted in sweat pants during pregame warmups of the Patriots' 31-29 preseason-ending loss to the New York Giants on Thursday night.

The Patriots haven't released any information regarding Andrews' condition. James Ferentz started at center against New York.

Bodine was entering his sixth NFL season, and second in Buffalo after starting 10 games at center last year. The trade comes a day after the Bills announced starting center Mitch Morse being cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol, and a day before NFL teams make their final cuts to establish their 53-player rosters.

The 27-year-old Bodine was selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, and started 64 games for the Bengals before signing with Buffalo in free agency last year.

He became the odd-man out following Buffalo's extensive offseason offensive line overhaul in free agency. He was listed third on the depth chart at the position, behind Morse and another newcomer Spencer Long.

On Thursday, Buffalo traded guard Wyatt Teller to Cleveland for a pair of draft picks.

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FILE - This is a 2019 file photo showing Russell Bodine of the Buffalo Bills NFL football team. A person familiar with the move tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Bills have traded center Russell Bodine to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft. The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, because the trade hasn't been announced. (AP Photo/File) The Associated Press

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) stands with center David Andrews as the team warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

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