{"id":235756,"date":"2025-06-06T15:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T19:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=235756"},"modified":"2025-06-06T11:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T15:43:09","slug":"bills-21-million-signing-takes-blame-for-bad-situation-my-fault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/06\/06\/bills-21-million-signing-takes-blame-for-bad-situation-my-fault\/","title":{"rendered":"Bills $21 Million Signing Takes Blame For ‘Bad Situation:’ ‘My Fault’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ink wasn’t even dry on the Buffalo Bills’ three-year, $21 million contract<\/a> with free-agent defensive end Michael Hoecht when the NFL announced he received a six-game suspension<\/a> for a violation of the league’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs.<\/p>\n

Hoecht, who joined the Bills’ defense after five years with the Los Angeles Rams<\/a>, isn’t shying away from the mistake. The 27-year-old Canadian told WKBW’s Matt Bove<\/a> he’ll try to use the extra preparation to make sure he’s ready to hit the ground running once the ban is lifted, even though the time away is “going to suck.”<\/p>\n

“It’s a bad situation and it’s very much my fault,” Hoecht said. “It’s using that time to get as healthy, as fast, be as mentally prepared, watch all the games, study all the practices, and make sure I’m doing my part so that when I come back we’re ready to roll and can put it behind me.”<\/p>\n

The suspension will end following the team’s Week 6 Monday Night Football<\/em> game against the Atlanta Falcons<\/a>. The Bills have a Week 7 bye. So, the defender’s first chance to play will come in Week 8 when Buffalo visits the Carolina Panthers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bills’ Michael Hoecht Accepts Responsibility For Suspension<\/h2>\n
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Dec 12, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht (97) reacts after the Rams made a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hoecht Comments Further About Buffalo Signing<\/h3>\n

The Brown University product was drafted in 2020, just not by an NFL team. He was selected in the second round of the Canadian Football League draft by the Ottawa Redblacks. He instead opted to continue pursuing his NFL dream, signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent.<\/p>\n

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No pads on during OTAs, so I\u2019ve been reticent to dive too deep into OL\/DL performance. With that said, watching Michael Hoecht run around out there has been impressive. Nothing tangible to take away quite yet, but I\u2019m excited to see his physicality at Fisher #Bills<\/a> #BillsMafia<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gQZRLudSyt<\/a><\/p>\n

— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) June 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n