Archives for February 2015

'“I’m not a big believer in investing in a position just because you think you have a need,” says NFL Draft analyst Mike Mayock. “It’s got to upgrade the existing position. I’m not sure you can do that at quarterback this year in the second or third round.”'

'“It was a great visit,” Ryan said, but wouldn’t commit to McCown being a viable starting option. “Well, we’ll see. We’re not going to tip our hand one way or the other on what our thoughts are, but it’s safe to say that obviously we’re interested in him, that’s why we brought him in.”'

'“I think the big thing obviously we have an interest in Josh,” Ryan told Buffalobills.com. “He’s a veteran quarterback. He has been with several teams. We know his history obviously, but this gave us an opportunity to really sit down and visit with Josh and how he thought we would fit him and vice versa. When it’s appropriate we’ll proceed however we’re going to proceed in finding a quarterback, but obviously we feel good about him. We think that we’re not the only team in the league that’s interested in him, maybe in different roles.”'

'To make the major investment required to obtain Revis, who will be 30 when training camp begins, the Bills would likely be inclined to unload the cornerback with the largest cap number for his position on the team, McKelvin, who is going to be 30 when the season begins. Graham’s number isn’t far behind and he’ll also be 30 when training camp starts, but the length of his deal and resulting cap acceleration make it harder for the Bills to cut ties with him.'

'Reports are that McCown, 35, left Buffalo without a contract. Phew. That was close. But this story isn't over. He could sign at a future date and be designated the main competition for EJ Manuel.'

'While Kiko Alonso spent the season on injured reserve and Nigel Bradham dealt with a knee injury, Rivers still struggled to crack into the Bills' starting lineup and struggled with a groin injury at times.'

'A running back hasn't been drafted in the first round since the 2012. That could change in 2015 with a group of backs that looks as deeper and more talented than either of the last two seasons. But some of the top players have injury questions. Georgia's Todd Gurley is coming off a torn ACL, while Indiana's Tevin Coleman is expected to skip workouts with a foot injury. In such a crowded class of backs, injury evaluations and workout numbers could be enough for a few running backs to separate themselves.'

'Rivers made just three starts and recorded 16 tackles over 12 games this past season, the first of a two-year contract he signed with the Bills last March.'

'Rivers, 28, signed a two-year deal with the Bills last offseason. Releasing Rivers means the Bills will save $1.7 million against their 2015 salary cap but will have a $500,000 dead money charge.'

'Rivers, a seven-year NFL veteran, signed in Buffalo on March 13, 2014 and played in 12 games with three starts, recording 16 tackles (11 solo).'

'“I just told him basically that he should just be himself,” said the younger Kouandjio. “Don’t go in there and try to be smart just be honest. Let them know who you are. He’s got a good future ahead of him. This process can be overrated at times. I just tell him it’s important yes, but you have your whole future ahead of you. You’re going to be on a team whichever one you go to and that’s the last time in your life that you have to go through a combine. I told him he needs to be more focused on the football stuff on the field than the talent show they try to put on.”'

'It’ll be interesting to see what new coach Rex Ryan does with this group in his scheme, which is designed to allow linebackers to make most of the plays. Alonso flourished as an inside linebacker in 2013, when Mike Pettine utilized the Ryan scheme as the Bills’ defensive coordinator. Bradham wasn’t a good fit in that defense and the same could be true for Brown, who excelled in a scheme that positioned him differently than the outside linebacker role he would now be expected to fill.'

'"They're both projects," Mayock said. "You've already got a project in Buffalo right now who probably has as much talent as those two kids. I'm not a big believer in investing in a position just because you think you have a need. It has to upgrade the existing position. I'm not sure you can do that at quarterback this year in the second or third round."'

'So what does this mean for the Bills? Their top free agents are defensive end Jerry Hughes, safety Da'Norris Searcy and running back C.J. Spiller. The only one that would be worth the price of the tag would be Hughes, who recently said he wouldn't mind if the Bills used the one-year option on him.'

'After being the most sought-after quarterback on the free-agent market last offseason, McCown lasted just one year in Tampa Bay and the Buccaneers released him shortly after the season.'