Archives for April 2015

'What they need is the answer at the game's most important position, as well as help on the interior of their offensive line and talent at linebacker. Barring a trade back up Buffalo will start at No. 50 where inside linebackers like TCU's Paul Dawson and Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney could be in play.'

'The source added Ralph Wilson Stadium’s suites are nearly sold out.'

'“Kelly makes moves everybody else might be shy to do because they don’t want to be wrong,” Hopkins said, “but you still have to be right.'

'"It's a definite possibility," Whaley said when asked about the merits of that philosophy. "It's definitely something between quarterbacks and cornerbacks, since it's a pass-heavy league, that we would definitely lean heavily to considering every year."'

'For a fifth year in a row, 32 former players, one representing each team, will announce the second-round picks starting at 7 p.m. Buffalo is without a first-round pick so Kelly's announcement will be met with extra anticipation by fans.'

'John Miller, guard, Louisville.'

'Brett Hundley, quarterback, UCLA.'

'Positions of need: QB, OG, LB, DT, TE.'

'"We want to be multi-dimensional, but also be physical," said Roman. "We want to be a balance problem for people. We don't want them to say, 'All we have to do is stop this guy or double this guy.' We want 11 men out there that can impact the game, so it really starts with balance."'

'“Now you can set the board just grading the talent. Not grading the talent added in with the need. So it open up every avenue for us to be as particular as possible, but also not look at somebody and say, ‘well, he’s better than we think he is just because of the need.” The GM says that’s how teams get in trouble. “The need pushes guys up and that’s when you overdraft or you miss on guys.”'

'If the Bills go common sense, there are two likely paths: They could pick a guard in the second round and have him compete for a starting position or draft a tackle with hopes of Henderson improving and Glenn transitioning to guard.'

'It’s a home schedule Marv Levy would love. The Hall of Famer maintained football coaches were creatures of habit and that, given his druthers, wanted to play every game on Sunday at 1 o’clock. That’s exactly what the Bills do at home this season, unless the NFL’s flex schedule changes the start of the Bengals, Dolphins, Texans, Cowboys or Jets games.'

'During the Bills’ voluntary offseason conditioning program, Lee has sat with Manuel, Cassel, Taylor and Tuel individually to review videotape of each in game action. “And from that, I would talk about what I saw fundamentally, more specifically in the lower body,” said Lee, who is back for a second stint with the Bills after having also been their quarterbacks coach in 2012.'

'The only good news is at least the Bills have 10 days to get ready for New England following their Thursday night trip to MetLife Stadium on Nov. 12. That evens things out with the Patriots, who will have extra rest when they visit Buffalo on Sept. 20 because they will have played the NFL season opener on Thursday, Sept. 10.'

'“We always say in this business, ‘Never say never,’ because in this business, stranger things have happened and you never know who you’re going to work with, who you’re going to have on your team, who you’re going to play with,” Whaley said. “It’s one of those cosmic things that happens in the football world every once in a while. It’s kind of funny, but we are excited about it.”'