Archives for September 8, 2015

'The real question is at the other cornerback spot where rookie Ronald Darby struggled the last time he was on the field. Ryan said he's been putting the second-rounder in tough positions on purpose — chances are, they'd give Darby more help when the games actually matter. Nonetheless, Darby was picked on by starters and fourth-stringers alike vs. Carolina and Pittsburgh with an impressive two-interception night against Cleveland in-between.'

'Fluellen’s spot on the 53-man roster could be tenuous – fellow defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is slated to return next week from a one-game suspension. In 77 career games, Fluellen has made 65 tackles, including 10 for loss, and 4.5 sacks.'

'“He’s a smart guy, a very tough competitor, a real team guy, all of that stuff,” Carroll said. “This team is made up of a bunch of guys that have come to prove something. He comes from Coe College. He’s been battling his whole life to prove it.'

'Over/under wins: 8.5.'

'Here are the highlights of what transpired between February and May and how the Bills' offensive makeover took shape.'

'The quarterback play in Buffalo likely won't be great in 2015, but it will be important for Taylor to take advantage of the offensive playmakers the Bills have in place. In the NFL, teams go as far as the quarterback takes them.'

'“He ran the whole offense today,” Carroll said of Jackson. “I don’t know how he got it all done, but he got it done in a day.”'

'“As soon as I got released I got on the phone with (Lynch),” Jackson said. “I said, ‘I just got released, I wouldn't mind if you put a bug in the coaches or GM's ear and let them know I'd like to come out there and play. He did that for me, and as soon as I hit the waiver wire I got that phone call (from the Seahawks). I think he has a lot to do with me being here.”'

'“And he did that for me,” the 34-year-old Jackson said Monday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, a week to the day after he said was a surprising release from the Bills because they have a new lead back in LeSean McCoy. “It was one of the things as soon as I hit that waiver wire I got that phone call. I think he has a lot to do with me being here.'

'When pressed again at the end of the interview, he said: "Like I said, we're not going to talk about that incident. I think some things will be clarified once the [NFL's] investigation is completed.'''

'“Things happen in life,” Smith said.'

'"That's the expectation in here, upstairs and in town," Williams said. "When we go out on Sunday, we're not just going out there to compete, we're going out there to win."'

'The Bills also re-signed defensive tackle Andre Fluellen to fill the final spot on the 53-man roster. The eight-year veteran spent training camp with Buffalo, but was among the final cuts Friday.'

'"The best thing that could have happened to me happened. I got to come to a great organization with open arms and I'm here now and I'm excited about it," Jackson said.'

'"I really don't want to talk much about the incident," Smith said Monday while meeting with reporters for the first time since he was punched. "I've put it behind me. We're focusing on the Cleveland Browns as a team and we've got a big game ahead of us, so that's all that really matters at this point."'