Archives for August 20, 2015

'Tonight in Cleveland will be a much better test of Taylor's starting candidacy. The Browns have seen him in practice at this week's joint sessions, and the defenders chasing him around the field will be of starting caliber.'

'“Once you’re out of shape and you’re too heavy for your body, everybody that gets in that situation doesn’t have much success,” Kromer said. “Because you can’t move as well as you’re expecting. You’re expecting to be able to do things you can’t do, so, yeah, he was a little behind. And, gosh darn, did he work hard and come in in shape and ready to go.'

'Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rappaport of NFL Digital Media said NFL sources told them McCoy would be back in action for the Colts' game.'

'The player who might most be affected by this is Taylor, who is getting a chance to start against the Browns in his quest to win the starting quarterback job. Unlike Matt Cassel, who had the benefit of a viable starting group last week against Carolina, Taylor certainly won’t have that, a tough break indeed.'

'The Bills haven’t made the postseason for a league-leading 15 consecutive seasons, the Browns right behind at 12 in a row. Each are record droughts for the storied franchises, in existence a combined 125 years.'

'“Our backgrounds are very similar, both our dads are legendary coaches,” said Ryan, whose father, Buddy, coached the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears and later the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. “(Pettine’s) smart, knew the game extremely well, hard-working and dedicated and passionate. So I knew he’d get this opportunity.”'

'Bryant, a veteran defensive tackle, spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars before getting cut in the offseason. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Bryant won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013. After Jarius Wynn landed on injured reserve, the Bills needed to bolster their depth up front.'

'Goodwin chatted with Pagano and his family while signing autographs and asked if they would be at the Bills' preseason game against the Browns in Cleveland on Thursday. He then offered Pagano tickets to the game.'

'Rice hasn't played in the league since he was suspended following a domestic violence incident. The Ravens released him in September 2014 and he was reinstated by the NFL later that year but never latched on with another team.'

'At this point, the top five running backs on the Bills' depth chart are all on the injury report, and four of them are dealing with muscle injuries. Ryan is hoping to get Fred Jackson, Bryce Brown and Boobie Dixon back for the team's Week 3 preseason game against the Steelers, but that's no guarantee. Rookie Karlos Williams is out at least a couple weeks after a medical procedure, and now McCoy looks like he will miss a few weeks.'

'"I guess we will find out," Ryan said after practice Thursday. "We are still going to be competing and going hard and everything else. But are we going to be limited? Absolutely we are going to be limited."'

'While Ryan as shrugged off the Rice possibilities, he admits as situations go, “it is not ideal … but it is what it is. Quite honestly we are out of running backs …”'

'The Bills addressed their lack of depth at running back by signing Cierre Wood on Wednesday. Wood, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, appeared in five games split between Houston and New England in 2013. He was on Seattle's roster last season, but did not appear in any games.'

'Wood, 24, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans following the 2013 draft. The 5-11, 213 pound Notre Dame product has played in five career games. During his collegiate career, Wood played in 37 games with 18 starts and finished his career as Notre Dame's seventh-leading rusher with 2,447 yards on 450 carries.'

'Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy, despite injuring his hamstring, is expected to be ready for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, according to reports Wednesday.'