Archives for July 31, 2015

'To be sure there will be questions on which hopefuls will start on either side of center Eric Wood along the offensive line and which two or three wide receivers will survive along with Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Harvin from the other eight bidding for jobs.'

'Felton is the forgotten signing, the one who inked a four-year, $9.2 million deal to serve as McCoy’s lead blocker. His position is going extinct elsewhere – but not in Buffalo where Rex Ryan plans on building a run-first operation. Heading into his eighth season, Felton is a survivor. He’s been cut. He’s been arrested. He’s been rushed to the hospital. He’s proving that, yes, teams should still carry a fullback.'

'In Jim Schwartz’s defense last season, one that didn’t blitz as much, Gilmore had 46 tackles, three interceptions and one forced fumble. In three seasons, he has 32 total pass break-ups. The Bills showed a lot of faith in Gilmore this offseason, picking up his fifth-year option in 2016 at the price of about $11 million.'

'“The only answer to that question is the state and county, there’s been a lot of money put into Ralph Wilson Stadium,” Pegula said. “We’re in no hurry. We realize that if that work was just done, how foolish would you look if you start looking around for a new stadium when we’ve just renovated the one we have? We have time. We have an existing lease on the current stadium.”'

'His son, Zachery, also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge.'

'In 2013, Art Holliday wrote about Brown’s treatment for football-related dementia for KDSK-TV. Brown said he suffered four concussions, but his neurologist, Dr. David Brady at the Barnes Jewish Hospital said in the article, “We really think of the reported concussions like the four that Mr. Brown reported, as potentially the tip of an iceberg. There might be a lot under the surface that we don’t know about.”'

'“I feel good and I’m ready to start,” said Watkins. “There’s a lot I have to make up. Missing 3-4 months of football, it definitely takes you back and there’s something to work on every day. I can’t wait to get started with the quarterbacks and getting back to feeling like myself. It starts with the first day competing with the cornerbacks to see where I’m at.”'

'"The water was circling the drain in New York and he was awesome about the way he spoke about everybody in the organization," Tasker said. "He couldn't have been more complimentary about the organization and the opportunity they had given him, and my impression was, 'What a guy.' With his personality, the way he runs his show, the way the players play for him, the way he is in the locker room, the feedback I got from the New York players about what kind of guy he is, I just knew it would be a perfect fit here."'

'McKelvin is coming off a broken ankle that ended his 2014 season, but the reasoning for these three being on non-football injury list isn't clear right now.'

'At this point, it's tough to predict the Buffalo Bills cutting a quarterback without seeing any of them in padded practices. If anyone gets cut it will be Matt Cassel, who had the worst spring and carries the biggest price tag.'

'Whether it's injuries, replacing Da'Norris Searcy or simply disproving the notion that the secondary's success is simply the product of an elite pass rush, 2015 will be another year of the defensive backs trying to prove themselves all over again. Luckily, that's what they're best at.'

'A two-time prostate cancer survivor, Edgerson, 76, returned to his Quad-City roots Thursday to bring the awareness campaign, Cure the Blue!, to Davenport. Meeting with reporters at Joe's Barber Shop, 1505 Harrison St., Davenport, the Rock Island native discussed the new initiative by the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation.'

'The Bills did not disclose the nature of the injuries. Because they were placed on the list, the players can practice as soon as they are medically cleared.'

'"The lease gives us the opportunity to take a quantitative and holistic view of what the future may hold and educate ourselves on subjects related to that but we're very comfortable and very pleased with Ralph Wilson Stadium and the relationship we have with both the county and the state," he said.'

'Walton County court records show that Kromer filed a written plea of not guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor battery charge. The sheriff's office says Kromer was arrested earlier this month after confronting two boys, pushing one to the ground and punching him.'