Archives for September 2015

'Cassel's cap figure, about $2.5 million less than Manuel's, drove this decision. The Bills are trying to re-sign defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to a massive contract extension – ideally before the opener, though that could be difficult – and they need every penny they can find. Since the roster paring began late last week, the Bills have released 21 players and have trimmed more than $14.3 million in salary-cap space, second only to the New York Giants.'

'The team also announced they have signed S Jonathan Meeks, WR Dezmin Lewis, G Cyril Richardson, LB Kevin Reddick and RB Cierre Wood to the Practice Squad. All five players were with the team before being released last week.'

'Rex Ryan told anyone who’d listen all offseason how impressed he was with Mario Butler. He wasn’t lying, because Butler came out of virtually nowhere to make the team.'

'That means the Bills will, as of right now, go into the season with only two QBs, something Rex Ryan said he didn’t expect to do all the way up until the final week of the preseason. If Tyrod Taylor gets injured or struggles, a lot will fall on EJ Manuel. This is a risky move, but after Manuel’s growth and final two weeks of camp, the organization feels confident he can steer the ship if called upon.'

'Ikard entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent of the Tennessee Titans. The 6-4, 304-pound Oklahoma product spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Ikard played in 52 games with 50 starts in his college career at Oklahoma.'

'“You lose that excitement almost, but watching my teammates the last few weeks I’ve been excited especially young guys who came in and got their work and run the ball well,” Williams said after Friday’s practice. “Getting back to it has been very fun.”'

'The investment was minimal … the savings were substantial … and the move was totally unsurprising.'

'If the Bills are forced to scramble for a veteran by, say, October, they’ll be venturing into a thrift store of options on the open market. Matt Flynn, anyone? Tim Tebow?'

'Center (1): Eric Wood.'

'Therein is the essence of Ryan’s defensive genius, which has gone a long way toward allowing him to consistently field some of the stronger defenses in the NFL. The opponent’s expectation that he will constantly blitz often works to his advantage as it prepares to face his team and especially at the line of scrimmage before the snap.'

'Projected record: 10-6.'

'“I think it’s just going out there and doing your job,” Glenn said when asked if the players on offense feel pressure to match the defense’s results. “Doing what you can be in control of. Offense worrying about the offense, defense worrying about the defense and not trying to say, ‘Oh, we’ve got to do what the defense is doing.’ We’ve just got to do our job.”'

'“We have no fear,” Bills General Manager Doug Whaley said. “That’s how our defense is going to play. We’re good. We know we’re good.”'

'“You show up and work every day,” Incognito said. “You perfect the little things. You get better at the things you’re not doing well. You grow and it, honestly, takes on a life of its own. Everyone buys in, everything falls in place. If you’re working hard, in the right mindset and getting better every day, everything else takes care of itself.”'

'“A lot of those guys are just trying to get some publicity and that’s not me,” Gilmore said. “I look at guys like Champ Bailey – the guys who have done it for a long time – and they never had to do that. They let their play do the talking. … You don’t have to brag on yourself if you know what the film says.”'