Archives for August 2015

'“I’ve got to show that I’m still here to compete, still here to make plays whenever I get that opportunity,” he said. “It’s on me to go out and show that I can still do that. I’m accepting that challenge and looking forward to it. This should be a good test for me."'

'"I guess I was kind of thinking 'why me?'" Steward said recently, reflecting on those hard knocks. "Obviously any injury is tough to go through when you have to sit out a football season, so having them back to back was the worst part. But it wasn't the worst time of my life because I knew it was something I can come back from. I just had to stay focused."'

'These Bills are truly the “Lost Generation,” players who ask themselves “Why would anybody want to remember me?” But the truth is, people — most at least — do appreciate every player who puts on a Bills uniform and represents western New York the best he can.'

'“There’s no question it’s intentional,” Ryan said. “You let it play out. I think being patient will help us pick the right guy.”'

'Do not belittle the importance of this game — at least not for the men vying for the starting quarterback job. The Bills may have already made up their mind as to who they choose to be the starter in 2015, but the players don’t know that. They are still operating under the premise that the third preseason game, at least from what Rex Ryan has said publicly, will be the last test before they decide on their man.'

'Red Bryant: He surprisingly saw a bit of action last week at Cleveland, and figures to see a good deal more playing time against Pittsburgh. Buffalo’s defensive staff wants to see how much the big-bodied Bryant still has to give at 31-years old.'

'“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.'