Archives for November 2015

'"Man, that was so long ago," Marshall told a reporter. "You just reminded me that that happened. We're just focused on winning. You've got to understand, he was a teammate of a lot of guys in this [locker" target="_blank"> room, too. People make mistakes. Hopefully, he grew from that, and he's a better person for it."'

'Could there be retribution against Enemkpali? Marshall didn’t think so. “It’s not a soap opera,” Marshall said. “It’s not TMZ. This is just football.”'

'“He coaches his team,” Bowles said. “He can name whatever captain he wants. We just coach our guys.”'

'That was the case in both of Buffalo's games against Miami this season, when guard Richie Incognito was one of several former Dolphins players designated as captains. Incognito was suspended for his role in a bullying scandal while with the Dolphins.'

'Coach Rex Ryan said McCoy's condition will be monitored over the next two days. Ryan wouldn't rule out McCoy and noted the running back wanted to return to play after being hurt in the fourth quarter of a 33-17 win over Miami on Sunday.'

'"We got our guys back, obviously," said Ryan. "This just in – it kind of helps having Sammy back, and Karlos Williams back, and Tyrod back. We think we have a lot of talent and unfortunately we had so many injuries that we haven't necessarily seen that. When we're healthy we're gonna be pretty tough."'

'"Because I think for them, you put him out there, that was recognized by their teammates and their former teammates. So I do, if there's a kid that's on our roster from New Jersey, it's pretty safe that he'll be a captain also. If there's a guy that went to high school in New Jersey, there's a pretty good chance he'll be there.'

'If Ryan had even an ounce of respect for Smith, there's no way he'd name Enemkpali a captain because, by doing so, he's rewarding Enemkpali for taking Smith off the field with an action that occurred nowhere near it. In essence, Ryan is saying, "I wish you'd done that while I was still the coach."'

'Ryan has made it a practice to name former players of the Bills opposition, as well as players either from the home area of the other team or who played college football there, captains for the game that week. He also confirmed tight end Matthew Mulligan will be a captain Thursday night. Mulligan played for the Jets from 2009-2011.'

'McCoy was on the practice field with his teammates, who did not wear helmets or pads as they started the short work-week, but was listed as a non-participant. Bills players typically have off on Mondays, but will have only three days to prepare to play the Jets at Met Life Stadium.'

'The Bills head coach confirmed as much on Monday, telling reporters that defensive end IK Enemkpali — the man who punched then-teammate and Jets quarterback Geno Smith so hard that he broke Smith's jaw — will be a captain for the Bills on Thursday night.'

'The Bills called it a situation that they’re going to have to monitor through the week, but McCoy was insistent after the game that he’d be able to play against the Jets. Tuesday’s practice, one in which the Bills will ramp up the intensity a bit, will loom large.'

'“Obviously a very short night when you’re playing on Thursday,” said head coach Rex Ryan. “You do some lead up stuff, but you really get into the game planning after the Sunday game. (It’s a) short day and the challenging part now is your practice is basically walk through more than anything else. I don’t know how much we’re going to get out of it, but we’ve got to get all the mental part now and there is where we’re at.”'

'“That’s kind of the look we wanted … pounding the ball. And every once in awhile letting Tyrod show his true talent … throwing the ball, and actually running the ball. That’s the type of offense we want to have.”'

'“It’s about the game plan,” he said, “ Coach (Greg) Roman is a great offensive coordinator, Coach (Anthony) Lynn’s a great running backs coach. And when you put those things together and the kind of offensive line we have, the quarterback leadership we have, great things are going to come out.'