Archives for August 2015

'"We may have a franchise quarterback but no one’s proven that yet" Whaley said. "And until you get that way, what is the best way to win? It’s running the ball, playing good defense and protecting the ball. So what we’re saying is let’s get as much talent around the guy and all he’s got to do is make the right decision. He doesn’t have to put the team on his back and throw it 50 times a game. We may not throw it but 20 to 25 times a game but he’s got to make the right decision, get the ball into the hands of play makers and let them do what they’ve got to do."'

'eally since the beginning of the 2014 season, the play of Wood — to be blunt — has not been good enough. He carries a high reputation for his play in previous years which earns him some benefit of the doubt. However, since the pads have gone on at St. John Fisher College, Wood has been hit or miss in one-on-one matchups.'

'"The sky is the limit for him. There's no doubt about that," Reed said. "There is no doubt that he can excel at any point at any time. I was fortunate enough for 12 years to have the same quarterback. It's hard to get the same quarterback for 12 years. This game doesn't afford that. There's different coordinators and different ways of doing things. That's just how the game is, you have to learn on the run. The bottom line is, we just have to get him the football.'

'“We’re already headed in the right direction,” said Hughes. “To be so close last year, just one game away from actually making it to the playoffs, I felt like with this team, we could do a lot. Why not us?”'

'Speaking of Mario Butler, he’s a name to watch. Rex Ryan’s mentioned him a couple times as one of those ‘all he does is make plays’ type of corners. They like his size. After watching 2014 draft pick Ross Cockrell get burned repeatedly in practice, I think Butler’s a name to watch to possibly make this roster as a depth guy.'

'"The bottom line is really getting to know them and the camaraderie that I want to have with them," said Kelly. "If I see something that I feel they should work on, I'll probably be willing now that I know them a little better, but I hope one of them steps up."'

'The Bills offense has also been without LeSean McCoy each of the last two practices during the team segments due to a sore and swollen toe. Though not considered serious the team is taking a cautious approach with their feature back.'

'"I'm optimistic, I am,” said Whaley. “Now will it come to fruition? There are a lot of moving parts, but I'm optimistic when both sides are trying to find a solution where everybody feels they win. We've exchanged proposals and we're working hard. We want to get this thing done. Something of this magnitude is going to take some time, but we're confident that both sides want to get this done."'

'“Concepts. Route recognition,” Meeks said. “Instead of just being out there running routes, you can actually see the routes develop by formations, by releases, by how they align. You can learn a lot before the ball’s even snapped. And I really wasn’t thinking like that as a rookie. Now, I can read routes and jump routes with the mental part of it down.”'

'But Cassel does show a great deal of calm and poise when running the offense, just as one would expect from an 11-year NFL veteran.'

'Although he denies it every time he’s asked, it just seems like there’s a little more pressure, a little more sense of urgency, for Manuel than his fellow competitors in this training camp at St. John Fisher College.'

'Bills fans are invited to participate in “Inside Training Camp — Making the Cut” at the 2015 NFL Training Camp on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.'

'If these concurrent duties are like hiring one guy to run both France and Spain, so be it. Any fella who can deal with blockers and forecheckers, centers and goalies, backs and wings, could rule a couple of countries, couldn't he?'

'The job is there for the taking. Yet none of Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor, or EJ Manuel (or heck, even Matt Simms) has gone out and taken it. Cassel continues to get first-team reps every day, while Taylor and Manuel rotate daily with the first unit.'

'Upon the completion of his NFL career, Kerner established himself in the Buffalo community. Kerner spent the previous four years as a human resources executive with the Target Corporation. He also served as a color analyst for Time Warner Cable Sports. Kerner has also held executive positions with Key Bank and TOPS Friendly Markets.'