Archives for August 28, 2015

'“It (now) starts being real to these players. That first cut to 75 comes (next Tuesday) and it’s hard to get them to focus on the team when, individually, you’ve got to make the team first. You could start feeling that intensity, the anxiety (today), all of it combined right now as we get closer to playing this third preseason game.”'

'So much for the so-called tradition of the third preseason game serving as a tune-up for the regular season, with starters getting their most extended action of the summer. On Saturday, the No. 1 QB spot will be divvied up three ways, with Manuel, Cassel and Taylor each working with the starting group in a rotation that likely will run through the first series of the third quarter.'

'“I feel pretty comfortable,” Hogan said. “But when this kind of stuff happens, you take a step back and help these young guys. You take all the mental reps you can and put yourself out there as much as you can even though you’re not physically out there.”'

'"My plan was to give everybody opportunities, whether it's equal reps or whatever," said Ryan. "Nobody can say that nobody was given a fair shot here. EJ earned a shot at this. He played well in those two games as well, and really that (scrimmage) wasn't like starting in a preseason game, so we'll see. EJ's always gotten reps with the threes and the twos, now it's his shot to get reps with the ones as well and I feel good about that."'

'"I think I'm finally getting back to somewhat normal," Incognito says. "I think it's just good to be in the rhythm of season, get in the rhythm of training camp, get going. Hopefully, I'll stop having to answer questions about what went down eventually but I understand it right now. Everyone's kind of curious. There's still a lot of stuff that's been untold. There's kind of the untold story, but I think as the season goes on and get in the natural progression and just talking about what's going on now."'

'He also reportedly told police that he began receiving texts in which "Missy Lee" accused him of "punching her and knocking out her teeth" and also threatened "U are going to jail." Enemkpali reportedly offered $500, but "'Missy Lee' demanded $1,000 or the police would be called." Enemkpali made a complaint to the police after the demand for money, according to the ESPN report.'

'The decision means all three quarterbacks competing for the No. 1 job will have had a start during this preseason.'

'"Remember, I'm not going to make that decision until we play Indy," Ryan said last week. "Competitive reasons, whatever. Go for it. We don't need to tell them. Until the league makes us tell them, we can just go right up in there and say, 'We're not gonna say anything.' We may know. But why would we say any difference? The quarterbacks that we're talking about, they're all three different. So plan for all three of them. And I think that's smart on our part.'

'Ryan did confirm that all three quarterbacks will get to play with the ones. The ones will play through the first series of the third quarter.'

'Boobie Dixon, Percy Harvin and Bryce Brown all took part in individual periods.'

'“I’m just excited to get the chance to go out there with the ones and start off the game however long I play,” Manuel said. “I just want to do a solid job like I’ve been doing the last couple of weeks and just run our offense. That’s what I want to do.”'

'“It was a tough journey,” Bryant said. “It was a journey of a lot of learning, a lot of physical development—my body has developed a lot better—and my mind has developed a lot better—I’ve been able to learn defense.”'

'Manuel figures to get the most time with the starters since he has not seen time with them to this point in the preseason.'