Archives for May 11, 2014

‘Overall, it was a strong draft for the Bills. Watkins will get a lot of the attention, but fans shouldn’t ignore the offensive line depth Buffalo added with three selections in this year’s draft. That’s important, especially if E.J. Manuel is going to be a successful NFL quarterback. You need him to stay healthy and provided him with a good offensive line is key to making that happen.’

‘”I remember watching him at Tennessee, and he was unbelievable as a freshman,” Bills Director of Player Personnel Jim Monos said. “He had some problems, went to Kansas State and the Eagles got him in the seventh round. They gave him the ball a little bit in 2012 and you can see some real ability. This guy has size, speed and he is an explosive playmaker.”‘

‘For the first time ever, no running backs were taken in the top 50 picks.’

‘We talk about GMs as architects. But you need to see a design. You can see one after Whaley’s two years in charge. Even the most skeptical Bills fans can take comfort in the fact that Whaley isn’t playing it safe, that he’ll shoot for the moon to realize his football vision.’

‘The Bills are so desperate to make the playoffs that you can’t help but believe they compromised their standards for character. They’re not searching for choir boys, but they also don’t want troublemakers, either. Marrone obviously feels an inherent need to rescue certain players and turn them around.’

‘So, yes, consider the possibility of upgrading Ralph Wilson Stadium, but start looking now for that billion dollars. There is no room in this country for the Boise Bills or the Bangor Bills or, heaven forefend, the Brooklyn Bills.’

‘Last year, Buffalo didn’t have a receiver in the NFL’s top 50 for receptions (minimum of 60). As a team, Buffalo had a total of 16 touchdown pass plays. New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham had that many by himself.’

‘Duffy was viewed as an excellent choice to offer a calm, informative and enlightening voice to such a critical decision.’

Eagles trade Bryce Brown to Bills for 2015 draft pick (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Eagles deal Brown to Bills (Burlington County Times)

Eagles trade Bryce Brown to Bills (Delaware County Times)

Philadelphia Eagles trade Bryce Brown to Buffalo in complicated deal (Easton Express Times)

Eagles trade RB Bryce Brown (Trenton Times)

Eagles trade Bryce Brown to Bills for 2 picks (CSN Philadelphia)

Bills’ offer for Bryce Brown too good to pass up (CSN Philadelphia)

Eagles Trade RB Bryce Brown To Bills (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Kelly: Bryce Brown Gets An Opportunity (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

‘The Buffalo Bills were impressed with the work Cockrell did that day in particular and over his career as a whole, so they picked Cockrell in the NFL Draft’s fourth round.’

‘NFL scouts liked Cockrell for his discipline and feel for the game, route recognition, leaping ability, traits he demonstrated at the end of his college career against Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, both of whom went in the first round this year.’

‘”Buffalo got a player that will be a six to eight-year starter in the NFL,” Briles said.’

‘While Johnson’s career was lackluster, his pro day was not. Johnson awed NFL scouts, running a 4.6-second 40-yard dash with a 38.5-inch vertical leap and 10-foot broad jump.’

‘”This kid was the no. 1 guy,” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. said. “He was who everybody wanted coming out of high school. He was supposed to be the next Jonathan Ogden – that type of player coming out of the prep ranks. If he can stay focused, if he can just be all football and no other problems, then he can be a factor in the NFL. But he got pushed way down, beyond where any player with his physical prowess should be.”’

‘Though Henderson is big, strong and has the physical tools to compete in the NFL, he saw his draft stock tumble in recent weeks. He was suspended multiple times at Miami and told NFL officials at the Senior Bowl in January that those suspensions were related to marijuana use.’