Local Sports Journal
Grand Haven native John Potter is now a member of the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.
Potter, who played collegiately at Western Michigan University, was named to the Bills’ 53-man roster after surviving Friday’s final cuts. He was the Bills’ seventh round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Potter was kept on the roster as a kickoff specialist. He had a solid preseason with his kickoffs that, for the most part, were not returnable by the opposition.
According to Buffalonews.com, Bills head coach Chan Gailey needed to be convinced that Potter was worthy of a coveted roster spot. Evidently, his ability to kick the ball out of the end zone and some lobbying from special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven did the trick, according to the website.
Other area players who made NFL final rosters were Ravenna’s Todd Herremans, an offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles and offensive lineman Joe Berger made the roster of the Minnesota Vikings.
Muskegon Catholic Central graduate Ruvell Martin, a wide receiver, was one of the team’s final cuts.
Whitehall’s Ryan VanBergen, who played at the University of Michigan, also was cut. VanBergen, an undrafted free agent signing, was released by the Carolina Panthers. VanBergen is a defensive lineman.
Wide receiver Ronald Johnson, from Muskegon High School, currently is on the Eagles’ injured reserve list with a fracture ankle suffered back in July.
