Archives for March 2015

'"It goes to show how much they actually value me," Clay said. "… I felt like I was one of those guys from the very second I stepped on the plane. Just getting the chance to meet and talk with the Pegulas, such down to earth people."'

'In terms of what Clay will cost the Bills against the salary cap, the tight end carries a $5 million cap hit in 2015, $13.5 million cap hit in 2016 and cap hits of $6.5 million from 2017 through 2019. The Bills would be able to lower Clay's 2016 cap hit by converting his $10 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, which would spread the cap hit over the rest of the contract. Buffalo also included a no-trade clause for the first three seasons of Clay's deal.'

'It seems the Bills' trade of star linebacker Kiko Alonso for McCoy was as much a surprise to them as it was the rest of the league. Ryan said the Bills were "stunned" to learn McCoy was available and jumped at the opportunity to acquire him. McCoy was the first piece of the Bills' offseason puzzle, and Ryan said he made it easier to bring in free agents.'

'With a backfield that includes McCoy, veteran Fred Jackson and short-yardage specialist Anthony Dixon, Brown may not have much of a role in Buffalo this season. A ball control, ground-and-pound offense like the Bills have can't afford to have a running back with ball security issues. Brown still has to earn the trust of his new coach.'

'Back in 2010, Bills coach Rex Ryan was featured on the show as coach of the New York Jets. The season was considered one of the show's most successful due to Ryan's entertaining coaching style. The show won its second straight Sports Emmy Award and the Jets were offered the show again in 2011 but turned it down.'

'On not getting a call from the Chicago Bears, a team for whom his dad was defensive coordinator in the 1980s, when they were looking for a new coach and he was free: “I must have done a bad job as a ball boy there or something.”'

'“It’s a big enough market. I don’t know how that works with the CFL, though.”'

'"We were just kind of like stunned there a little bit," Ryan said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. "We were like, 'Really? Like, wow. Let's just take it from there.' Obviously we were interested. . . . We knew it wasn't going to be cheap by any stretch and losing a player like Kiko Alonso is obviously a steep price. But we felt really good about it."'

'"We were sitting around making our plans for free agency, what our team looks like, what we want it to look like. All of a sudden, we get this call from Philadelphia. That was when the trade started, and within 30 minutes, it was done."'

'"We were all sitting there in an organizational meeting. We had all of our coordinators. (Running backs coach) Anthony Lynn was present. (General manager) Doug Whaley. (CEO) Russ Brandon. (Team owner) Terrance Pagula," Ryan said. "We are sitting around making our plans for free agency. What our team looks like, what we want it to look like. And all of the sudden we get a call from Philadelphia. That is when the trade started. And probably 30 minutes later it was done."'

'“The one thing I know about fans in general is they appreciate effort,” Ryan said. “The results aren’t what anybody wanted there. Obviously, you want to win a championship, and that’s all that matters. I think fans overall appreciate effort, and I know I certainly gave what I have.”'

'“He won’t get his hair cut and is keeping that belly,” Rex said, according to Fox Sports. “[He said] ‘I’m gonna be a head coach and do it my way.’ [And I said], ‘No you’re not.’ It’s unfortunate. I’m still trying to get that message across to him.”'

'"Shoot, I was slapped down with a little humble pie there," he said of going 18-30 in his last three seasons including 4-12 in 2014. "It was tough. Embarrassing. But the thing I'm proud of is that it wasn't a reflection of the guys. My guys played as hard as they could. That's something I'm extremely proud of and that's probably why I'm sitting here today. But the results were a little embarrassing."'

'"I figured something good would happen, but I really wasn't sure," he said of his disposition after being fired by the Jets. "I knew that I wasn't going to be a coordinator. I said 'You know what, I'm either going to be a head coach or I'll find some other place.' That might have seemed strange to some at the time, but not to me. I knew I could coach, I think I'm a decent head coach, but obviously the record [4-12 in 2014] was an abysmal record that year. I was hopeful I'd get another opportunity."'

'“Frustrating?” Ryan said. “No doubt. You could make an argument we should have won the last six, but we didn’t. One-point game, two-point game (also two three-point games, by the way). But to their credit, that’s the difference. That’s a world championship team that found ways to win those games. It’s a tribute to Belichick. It’s a tribute to Brady.’’'