ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills filled their open spot at punter by agreeing to sign Brad Robbins, a person familiar with discussions confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the agreement. NFL.com first reported the deal.
Robbins joins Buffalo with the plan to take over the job after the team cut Sam Martin to free up salary cap space in early March.
The 26-year-old Robbins has been out of football since being released by the Cincinnati Bengals in October following a month-long stint on injured reserve because of a quadriceps injury. He proved to be the odd-man out in losing his job to Ryan Rehkow.
The Bengals selected Robbins in the sixth round of the 2023 draft out of Michigan. He finished his rookie NFL year ranking 27th in averaging 40.3 net yards per punt, and tied for 23rd in landing 20 punts inside an opponent’s 20.
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FILE - Cincinnati Bengals punter Brad Robbins walks to an NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, file)
Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin has 892 goals and needs two to tie and three to break the record.
Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking the regular-season record by “The Great One” that had long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.
On a 5-on-3 power play late in the second period Wednesday night at Carolina, Ovechkin took a pass from Jakob Chychrun and fired from the left faceoff circle past Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen for No. 892.
Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals and shots on goal.
He also has 135 game-winning goals, tied for the most with Jaromir Jagr. Ovechkin has scored on 182 different goaltenders, breaking Jagr's record by beating Leevi Merilainen of the Senators with No. 874. Ovechkin has 178 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).
Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.
Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second behind Gretzky (894).
Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.
Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.
For NHL playoff goals, which do not count toward the record, Gretzky has the most (122). Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky also had another 56 in the World Hockey Association regular season and playoffs, while Ovechkin has 57 from his time in the Russia-based KHL.
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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) passes the puck past Winnipeg Jets' Colin Miller (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) takes a shot on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) battle for position during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin takes to the ice to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
