Bills training director Carpenter retires after 33 seasons

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo Bills director of training operations Bud Carpenter is retiring after 33 seasons with the team.

Carpenter was among the team's longest serving active employees. He spent 21 seasons as the Bills' head athletic trainer before being promoted to the director's role in 2016.

Under Carpenter, the Bills were named as the NFL's 2014 athletic training staff of the year by the Pro Football Athletic Trainers Society and the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation.

Carpenter and his staff were also credited for acting swiftly in their treatment of tight end Kevin Everett after the player sustained a serious spinal cord injury while covering a kickoff during Buffalo's 2007 season opener against Denver.

From nearby Allegany, New York, Carpenter was hired by the Bills in 1985 after spending a year on the NHL Boston Bruins athletic training staff.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL