Archives for August 4, 2015

'The Veteran and the The Unknown each have their own appeal in this competition, but unless one of them seizes command of the job on the field, it's time for the Bills to finally find out if The Prospect will ever become The Franchise. If not, the search begins anew. Again.'

'Kromer jumped right into drills with his position group as if he'd been here all along. He was animated and effusive, and often flashed a smile. Two things I wished he had done when he met with reporters before practice were, one, take questions and, two, show some remorse.'

'“I look at myself as I’m capable of doing anything,” Clay said. “I feel like I’m my own player. I feel like there’s things I can do they can’t do. And there’s things they can do where I’m not as polished.”'

'“The first two days, I was moving pretty quick, but it’d kind of scare me a little bit when I was running,” said Watkins, who had 65 receptions for 982 yards and six touchdowns through multiple injuries last season. “That just comes with fatigue. The more reps I get, the better I got. I understand I’m going to be sore. The muscles around it are going to hurt."'

'Ryan didn’t add much more in comments regarding Kromer during his pre-practice news conference, saying that statement issued by team managing partner/president Russ Brandon Sunday night was the extent of any discussion the club would have on the matter.'

'EJ Manuel: Took a big step in the right direction after struggling badly on Saturday and Sunday.'

'"We are excited about where Ronald Darby's at," Ryan said.'

'Ryan acknowledged, however, that it is good to have Kromer back with the team. He is considered an excellent offensive coach, and several of the linemen he worked with prior to the incident have remarked how much they have learned from him.'

'Taylor, who celebrated his 26th birthday Monday, looked like the best quarterback of the day. He made the play of the night when he avoided pressure and found Sammy Watkins deep downfield for a touchdown during team drills. Watkins deserves credit for scorching Gilmore on the play, but Taylor bought time and got the ball to him. Taylor also did a better job of taking what the defense was giving him instead of trying to do too much with his legs. He looks like he's getting into a bit of a groove.'

'"We issued a statement as an organization and so I'm really not going to add a whole lot to that," Ryan said.'

'Ryan has already made an impression on his new home and lived up to his reputation as an entertaining personality. From jumping out of a plane to interacting with locals, Ryan has brought a different atmosphere to the Bills in his first few months on the job.'

'"Last year, our coach wasn't as loose as Rex," Dixon said. "Not to say he was a bad coach, but he wasn't as loose. The environment wasn't as loose. It was more like grit and tightness. I felt tightness when I got here last year. This year, you know, it's a more loose atmosphere, there's a little bit more smiling going on. I think that's good for us."'

'"You can't pin it down," Whaley said, referring to negotiations with Dareus, the two-time Pro Bowl selection entering the final year of his contract. Dareus is anticipated to command a hefty price with the Bills' 2011 first-round draft pick drawing comparisons to some of the NFL's top young defensive linemen.'

'Kromer spoke for only 48 seconds and did not take any questions shortly before the Bills opened practice Monday night. It was Kromer's first time back with the team since being placed on paid leave on July 14, two days after he was arrested and charged with battery for punching a boy in the face in Florida.'

'Noel had signed with the Bills on May 4 as an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest. He was released by the team on June 18.'