Archives for March 16, 2016

'Eighteen years later, they're together again.'

'The shorter Kerley would be more of No. 3 slot receiver and had a down 2015 season with 16 receptions for 152 yards. But there would be a sense of familiarity in that the 5-foot-9, 188-pound receiver played his first four pro seasons under Ryan. The Jets released Kerley last week to save $1.3 million under the salary cap — he was used sparingly in offensive coordinator's Chan Gailey's offense.'

'Give Rex this: he’s trying. He’s thinking outside the box with a team that has next-to-no dough to spend. But the Bills have, no doubt, empowered Ryan this offseason. He’ll probably have a lot of say on draft day, too. And with such empowerment comes even more pressure to, once and for all, bring a winner to Buffalo.'

'Blake hasn’t coached anywhere since 2010, and hasn’t been in the NFL for more than 20 years, since a three-year run with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s. Ryan is showing a lot of faith in a guy who has been out of coaching for that long.'

'The move was announced Tuesday morning, and Ryan said in a statement, “We have agreed to terms with John Blake to become our new defensive line coach and I believe he will do an excellent job in working with the talented players we have at that position.”'

'Kerley, a former Jets slot receiver, caught just 16 passes in 2015. He had 882 receiving yards back in 2012 when playing for current Bills coach Rex Ryan but has failed to match that total in any year since then.'

'But his production tailed off when Chan Gailey became the Jets offensive coordinator last season under new coach Todd Bowles. Kerley became a forgotten man — a byproduct of Gailey’s preference for big receivers — and caught a career-low 16 passes for 152 yards. He also was a non-factor on punt returns.'

'A veteran with more than 20 years of experience, Blake made stops at North Carolina, Nebraska, Mississippi State and Tulsa prior to his short stay in Southeast Texas. Blake also spent three years as the head coach at the University of Oklahoma, and was an assistant for the Dallas Cowboys during the team's 1994 and 1996 Super Bowl runs.'

'Ryan was apparently referring to Blake’s return to the college game with Lamar from a three-year show-cause penalty stemming from an investigation into players’ relationships with an agent he worked for. The NCAA reportedly determined Blake received personal loans from the late Gary Wichard and failed to disclose them to North Carolina and misled NCAA investigators, leading him to resign from North Carolina as its D-line coach in September 2010. The show-cause penalty took effect in March 2012.'

'Ryan was Oklahoma's defensive coordinator in 1998 during Blake's third and final year as the Sooners coach. And Ryan is fully aware of Blake's recent past after he resigned as North Carolina's associate coach in 2010 in the midst of an NCAA investigation.'

'"I believe he will do an excellent job in working with the talented players we have at that position," Ryan said. "John is a heck of a coach who has worked with many outstanding players and made them better.'

'Carpenter was set to make $2.025 million this season as a base salary, but will now earn slightly less, $1.775 million, according to the report. The $250,000 taken off his salary can reportedly be earned back by hitting incentives.'

'Bell was origianlly signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2010. The Wayne State product made the team's practice squad before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks into the season. Since then, he's played for the Colts, Saints, and Lions, as well as having a second stint in Philly.'

'The Bills have agreed to terms with new defensive line coach John Blake. The team also announced Jason Rebrovich will also coach the defensive line and Jeff Weeks will now coach outside linebackers.'

'ILB A.J. Tarpley: The undrafted linebacker had head coach Rex Ryan impressed with his instincts. The rookie produced when he saw more playing time at season’s end with interceptions in each of his last two regular seasons games against the Cowboys and Jets. He’ll have a chance to compete for an inside role alongside Preston Brown.'