Archives for August 2015

'"I had a conversation with Mike," Ryan told NBC Sports Radio on Friday. "Mike's an outstanding athlete, he's a tremendous person. I really enjoyed my year with Mike, and he's great for a team. However, our conditions are a little different than most teams in this league. And Mike will tell you, he's not built really (to be) a bad-weather quarterback.'

'While it wasn’t as good of a day as yesterday for EJ Manuel, it was still a good day overall, from what I saw. There was certinaly more good than bad from him. He really seems to be throwing the ball with more confidence the past couple days. And that’s a big key with him. When he does, he gets more velocity on it and fits it into tighter spots.'

'"It's very important that you take advantage of all the reps," Taylor said after practice. "But, definitely, when you get a chance to run with the 1's any rep is valuable. That's how I look at it. Go out there and show something each and every time."'

'Since the Bills came back from their first day off on Monday, Tyrod Taylor has been the best quarterback on the field every single day — including Friday’s session.'

'“This will probably play out, and Indianapolis might not know who the quarterback is until we play ’em. We may know, but they might not know,” said Ryan.'

'Jackson, the oldest running back in the NFL, has battled various injuries over the last few years. His absence could create more practice reps for rookie Karlos Williams, who was originally slotted as more of a special teams player this year.'

'With both Jackson and Boobie Dixon out for most of camp and LeSean McCoy likely seeing some rest periods, get familiar with Karlos Williams. The rookie out of Florida State was originally slotted as more of a special teams guy this year, but he should see a significant uptick in his practice reps over the next couple weeks.'

'“Unfortunately we had some injuries. Fred Jackson with a hamstring. It’s not a terrible one, but those things last a couple of weeks,” said Ryan. “So that was really unfortunate.”'

'“I’m so glad and so proud of Bill for putting it together; to start it off,” Hall of Fame Running Back Thurman Thomas says. “He and John Butler and Marv, and all those guys. Without Bill, we wouldn’t be where we were.”'

'“They’ll all have opportunities to play with the ones,” said Ryan of his three competing quarterbacks. “We’re going to have six possessions with the ones, six with the twos and six with the threes and all quarterbacks will have two possessions with the ones. We’ll see if there’s any separation.”'

'“I listen to my own self-criticism,” Wood said. “Our coaches bring a lot of criticism on us. They expect perfection – knowing that we’re not going to be perfect, but they expect it. That’s what you want. Outside, you hear it, it’s fine, but the real criticism comes from within. That’s how you kind of assess yourself and your performance.”'

'“Andre brings that perspective,” Rex Ryan said. “He’s a Hall of Fame player who was a Buffalo Bill. He gets it. He has been in the community. He understands what it’s like here and the fact that he’s been pretty darned good at his position. Obviously, he brings that kind of presence to the group.”'

'“When I was challenged, I was more than happy to do it,” Ryan said. “It’s a great cause.”'

'“I’d like people to think that we did our best,” Polian said. “We did it with guys that people could be proud of and we did it in a way that made people proud of the Buffalo Bills. If that’s how we’re all remembered, that’s more than legacy enough.”'

'“Brilliant,” Smith said. “Brilliant football mind. What he has done for two organizations, particularly the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, taking them from out of the dark into the limelight, is just incredible. His football mind is unprecedented.'