Archives for July 2015

'Behind Simpson's record-setting season, the Bills set an NFL record for most team rushing yards in a 14-game season, with 3,088. The Patriots surpassed this mark when the League moved to a 16-game schedule in1978, but in a League that has become pass-happy, this 14 game total may never be broken.'

'This past season San Francisco had the fourth-best running game in the league. The key to Roman’s success has been his ability to modernize the tried and true run game concepts of the past. His whole approach on run plays is to obtain a numerical advantage in the box to open up what he likes to call “cavernous holes” for his running backs.'

'“Smart. Tough. Gritty,” Gaines said. “I’m willing to do anything. It doesn’t really matter. I’ll do it. If I have to be on an island like” Darrelle “Revis, I’ll do it. If I have to check” Charles “Clay in practice or whether I have to check” LeSean “McCoy in practice, whatever’s asked of me, I’ll do it. I’m not going to think, ‘OK, he is who he is.’ I’m who I am as well. I’m confident in my abilities and I’m confident in what I can do.”'

'For the display, the NFL Hall of Fame has loaned Wilson’s 13 military medals from World War II to the Naval Park and Wilson’s family also donated the uniform he wore in the Navy, the American flag he received from President Obama in 2012 and other military memorabilia.'

'“Jim sat with us for a while, which was really special considering there were at least 600 children at the camp,” Bruno said. “He remembered Matthew from all the years that we’d been coming. He told us to ‘keep going, stay positive and surround yourselves with positive people who love you,’ which was really great to hear. He saw Matthew’s G-tube and told him that he used to have one too, then he kissed Matthew on the forehead, signed a football for him and gave me a hug.”'

'Williams will be joined by Hug High alum Ryan Jones, who signed with the New York Giants in April, and Wolf Pack grad Isaiah Frey, who played for the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, as instructors.'

'Wilson's medals are being loaned by the NFL Hall of Fame for two months. His family has added his Navy uniform and other memorabilia to the Buffalo display. Wilson died last year.'

'“Knowing the moves they made last offseason and as good a unit as we were all year long, to add on a couple of more pieces like Percy and Alex Carrington, expectations are very high for everybody,” said Marcus Easley.'

'“I grew up around horses my whole life,” Hamilton said. “It’s just something that’s been with me since I was young. I’m from the country. I’ve lived in the country. I’ve never really lived in town. Having horses and going to rodeos every weekend was a big responsibility.'

'And yet… the age-old problem here in Western New York lingers. Quarterback. Veteran Matt Cassel, 2013 first-rounder E.J. Manuel and Tyrod Taylor will all compete for the No. 1 job at St. John Fisher College this summer. This off-season, the Bills decided not to overspend, overdraft or pull off a costly trade for someone else. Time will tell if Rex Ryan can win the old fashioned way — with defense and a running game.'

'Hughes donation, Turner said, will go toward weight room equipment, practice equipment, game gloves, cleats for players who need them and game day attire for coaches and players.'

'“I always wanted to go to camps growing up and they didn’t really have any camps in Rock Hill,” said Gilmore during a break in the action. “I always said if I made it to the NFL I would come back and do some camps for some kids and help motivate them to get to where I’m at.”'

'Kempski lists the Bills projected front seven with a current average of 26.3 years of age. That’s tied for 10th-youngest overall. Depending on what alignment and/or personnel being used, there could obviously be a slight adjustment up or down there, but using these totals, only the St. Louis Rams have a lower average age in BOTH position areas.'

'“I’ll be full go at camp,” Gilmore told Buffalobills.com. “I feel great. I felt good in June. This is one of the offseasons where I’m coming in healthy and can run and do everything, so I’m just trying to be smart and doing whatever I can now so it can help me in the long run.”'

'“It’s one of those things you don’t want to have to deal with,” said Steward, selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in May. “The mental is probably just as bad – if not worse – as the physical part of it because you need to stay positive and make sure you’re staying on top of everything."'