Micah Hyde Tells Sal Capaccio ‘It’s Bills or Retire’ Before Annual Charity Softball Game

The Buffalo Bills entered the offseason at a crossroads, facing key decisions and tough choices regarding some of the team’s top veteran players. Men who had been successful leaders envisioned a future that didn’t necessarily include playing for the Bills. This was the case for Micah Hyde, whose team authorized the cancellation of the contract last February.

At the end of the day, the NFL is a business. Unlike in 2022, Hyde did not get a contract extension. He was still a year older and faced growing concerns from repeated injuries. When Hyde’s contract was voided, not only was he cut from the team, but a $3,408,000 dead charge hit Buffalo’s books for the 2024 season.

The seemingly cold and calculated decisions made by front offices are often analyzed by a broader audience solely in terms of money saved and on-field production. Whatever the reasons, this often does not allow for players to be observed outside of their professional role during matches.

That’s certainly not the case for everyone outside the organization, nor is it true for so many Buffalo Bills – current and former. That’s what makes being a part of Bills Mafia so special: those who make the team become so much more than just a number, jersey, name or favorite player to cheer for. They represent the passion, the history, the mentality and the spirit of Western New York and its residents, even those who are not Bills fans.

And it’s a good place to start with plenty of discussion about Micah Hyde. He is all of these things and more. He means more to the organization and the region than any article full of the best words could ever explain.

So it’s understandable that Hyde is at a crossroads, struggling to find the next step that will best position him and his family for the future. While he may not currently be on the roster, that doesn’t mean Hyde has decided not to return. On Thursday, Buffalo Bills reporter Sal Capaccio said that if Hyde returns, he will only do so with the team he has been a part of since 2017 — “It’s Bills or retire.”

Although many believe that Hyde and Jordan Poyer were an identical set and were unlikely to play without the other, it appears that playing for another team was never an option for Micah. Where he might fit in upon his return is perhaps the biggest question. New Year’s Eve baby, Hyde will turn 34 in December.

It’s no secret that the state of the Buffalo Bills roster has seen massive changes. General manager Brandon Beane and the front office made a concerted effort to infuse youth at both safety positions, re-signing 26-year-old Taylor Rapp to a three-year deal and adding 27-year-old free agent Mike Edwards years. a one-year contract. In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bills selected safety Cole Bishop in the second round.

As such, it seems like a Hyde return could be a reserve, which isn’t to say he’s incapable of starting. But his role at this point could be that of a mentor and someone providing deep expertise to veterans.

Returning to the Bills as one of the faces of the franchise from that era would also ensure that Hyde’s charitable efforts continue to reach as many people as possible.

Since Hyde arrived in Orchard Park, NY in 2017, he has adopted Buffalo as his home and has given it back to the Western New York community whenever possible. Micah Hyde’s ambitious philanthropic activities grew out of a college class project, which led to the creation of his Imagine For Youth foundation in 2015.

The Foundation, of which Micah’s wife, Amanda, serves as president, helps financially disadvantaged children thrive academically and athletically by donating supplies, resources and equipment through events and fundraisers. funds in Ohio, Michigan, New York and Iowa. It has become a passion for the couple and their work continues to inspire them throughout the year.

During the holidays, Hyde hosts an annual Kick For Kids event, which helps equip underprivileged children with new shoes. Additionally, each NFL season, Hyde dons custom cleats to support and benefit both the CARES Foundation – which helps make a difference for people living with congenital adrenal hyperplasia – and also his Imagine Foundation For Youth.

Every summer, the Bills center fielder takes to a different field during the Micah Hyde charity softball game. The annual event brings teammates together on the softball field at Sahlen Field to raise funds for its Foundation. On an event-packed afternoon, thousands of fans fill the stands to see who emerges victorious in the home run derby, which precedes a friendly defensive-versus-offensive softball game.

The 2024 edition will take place this Sunday, May 19. The home run derby begins at 1 p.m. EDT, with the first pitch of the softball game at 2 p.m. EDT. It’s not too late to purchase tickets for this year’s event, you can do so by visiting https://www.hydecharitysoftball.com/ or by clicking this link through the Minor League Buffalo Bisons of baseball. An added bonus during the month of May, MAFIA Babes is donating all sales of its merchandise to the Imagine for Youth Foundation.

So Bills Mafia, are you ready for a game of softball?

You can learn more about Micah Hyde through his conversation with Eric Wood on his Centered On Buffalo podcast: