Enfield native Matthew Mulligan was released by the NFL’s Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.
The Bills elevated tight end Nick O’Leary from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to replace the 30-year-old Mulligan, a former University of Maine standout.
O’Leary, the grandson of golf legend Jack Nicklaus, was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State.
Mulligan, a 6-foot-4, 267-pound blocking tight end, previously played for coach Rex Ryan for three seasons (2009-2011) as a member of the New York Jets. He had started five games this season and had made one catch for two yards.
After being signed at the end of June, Mulligan earned Buffalo’s No. 2 tight end job and wound up playing in 26 percent of the Bills’ offensive snaps.
Mulligan, who was a high school basketball, soccer and tennis player at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland, which did not field a football team, is in his seventh NFL season.
He has played for seven different teams — the Jets, St. Louis rams (2012), New England Patriots (2013), Chicago Bears (2014), Arizona Cardinals (2014), Tennessee Titans (2014) and the Bills.
Mulligan has appeared in 81 career NFL games, including 31 starts. He has made 17 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
Browns go back to Manziel as starter
The Cleveland Browns named Johnny Manziel their starting quarterback on Tuesday just two weeks after he was banished to the bench for lying to the team about partying.
Manziel reclaimed the job after Austin Davis started last Sunday in the Browns’ 37-3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and passed for 230 yards with one interception. The Browns face the San Francisco 49ers this week.
Manziel was demoted after a video surfaced of him at a party in Austin, Texas, during the Browns’ bye week. He subsequently lied about the timing of his presence there to Browns coaches.
The second-year player’s last start came Nov. 15 in Pittsburgh, where passed for a career-high 372 yards in a loss.
Patriots cut two
The New England Patriots waived cornerback Rashaan Melvin and released tight end Joseph Fauria from the practice squad.
Melvin, 26, joined the Patriots in October after he was released by the Baltimore Ravens. He played in the Ravens’ first four games this season. In eight games with the Patriots, he totaled five tackles.
Fauria, 25, signed with the Patriots’ practice squad on Nov. 18. He played in 23 games with the Detroit Lions the past two seasons and had 24 receptions for 281 yards and eight touchdowns before being released in September.
Eagles’ Murray vents to owner
Running back DeMarco Murray was on the sideline when the Philadelphia Eagles coughed up the ball and gave the New England Patriots a shot at a comeback, and the $42 million ball carrier let his frustrations be known.
But, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder, Murray did not go to coach Chip Kelly. He climbed the ladder one rung to owner Jeffrey Lurie. Per Werder, Murray was trying to avoid making a scene.
Murray played a complementary role in the offense Sunday, when the Eagles featured Darren Sproles. Sproles had 15 carries, Kenjon Barner had nine and Murray ran eight times. He is averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry.
Panthers even with Pats in Super Bowl odds
Undefeated Carolina is even with the New England Patriots in the latest odds released on Super Bowl 50.
The 12-0 Panthers are up to 4-1 odds, as are the Patriots, to win the Feb. 7 game in Santa Clara, California, pulling into a tie with New England. The Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Ariz., but opened 2015 behind Seattle at most Las Vegas sportsbooks.
Arizona moved to 9-2 ahead of the Denver Broncos (6-1), with the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and Seahawks at 8-1.
Giants put DeOssie on IR
The New York Giants placed long snapper Zak DeOssie and tight end Larry Donnell on injured reserve, signed free agent long snapper Danny Aiken and promoted cornerback Tramain Jacobs from the practice squad on Tuesday.
The Giants also signed cornerback Leon McFadden and tackle Jake Rodgers to the practice squad.
DeOssie has never missed a game in his eight-year career but suffered a wrist injury that will end his start of 140 consecutive games played, second longest on the team behind quarterback Eli Manning’s 179 straight appearances.