Archives for May 25, 2016

'“Guys, he can play right now. If we never had the surgery, he could play right now. But what we’re trying to get is Shaq Lawson at 100 percent,” Ryan said. “That’s why we decided to have the surgery when we did. We could have waited during the season and then at some point if he had to go with the surgery, he would have been lost for the rest of the year. This way, we get him and we know at some point we’re going to have him – and not just have him out there playing, but at 100 percent.”'

'Left unsigned from the team's seven-player draft class are first-round pick Shaq Lawson, a defensive end/outsider linebacker from Clemson, and fourth-rounder Cardale Jones, the Ohio State quarterback.'

'"I get it," Ryan said. "It looks like it hit people across the face that, hey, here's an injury to Sammy Watkins. But we knew about it. He's not going to miss any time. By the time the regular season comes around, Sammy Watkins is not going to miss any time. Now, do we have a timetable on when he comes back specifically? No, we're not going to give you that. But I'll tell you this, he'll be ready to go in the regular season."'

'“I know the retired players are fighting their own battle against it and it’s something that doesn’t concern me,” Incognito said. “It’s one of those things where I could step off a curb tomorrow and break my ankle but it’s one of those things where I kind of block out and in all honesty, I’m in a little bit of denial about, because I don’t worry about that.'

'"I am not going to put him in that (Darby) class yet, but we are close," Ryan said. "And so we bumped him up to the first team (Tuesday), and he has done a great job."'

'And I think offensively, all the shifts, motions, all those things that are offense is, we are doing at a high level. We have got all of it down. The mental part of the game, a lot of that is down. So I think we are going to have a heck of a football team, I am excited about I and that is pretty much my message.'

'Just to give you all a heads up on what to expect through OTAs, minicamp and training camp, here are a few excerpts that were just released to the media. Some points seem reasonable, others not so much.'

'Predictably, reaction to the Bills' new policy that would make North Korea proud has been overwhelmingly negative among both media members and fans.'

'The Bills do not want you to know who is playing with the first, second or third team because, apparently, it’s none of your business. However, it’s been their business to take your money, time and energy while you’ve supported a losing product that has been lousy or downright laughable during a 105-151 run over 16 seasons.'

'Ryan will never be convinced his defense is flawed. And without any prompting, he made it clear that Bills defenders were already dialed in mentally. “I think we are a zillion miles ahead of where we were last year … especially in the communication part on defense,” he said.'

'Ryan scoffed at Whaley’s rather odd comment, made in response to a question regarding all the injuries in the sport. “This is the game of football; injuries are part of it,” Whaley said. “It's a violent game that I personally don't think humans are supposed to play.”'

'"Well my understanding is he has the number one jump in the world I think at this point," Ryan said Tuesday. "So that is one way to represent Buffalo, our community and our football team. But you know what this is a once in a lifetime shot for a young man to get an opportunity to represent our country in the Olympics, I am certainly not going to take that opportunity away from him. When he comes back with us we know that he is training specifically for the long jump and things and that is fine. But we will be excited to get him back here and on this thing and work on his football skills. I think for the young man yeah we are paying the bill and all that we get it, but you know what this is a great opportunity for him to represent our country and we are excited to see him go."'

'Rex Ryan was happy with the team's attendance, but there were a handful of notable players missing from the voluntary practice Tuesday. Sammy Watkins (foot), Shaq Lawson (shoulder), Stephon Gilmore, Seantrel Henderson (illness), Marcell Dareus, Karlos Williams, Marquise Goodwin, Charles Clay, Greg Salas, Kyle Williams and Marcus Easley all didn't practice. Karlos Williams recently had another child, Gilmore is abstaining from OTAs as he recovers from a labrum injury and works on a new contract and Goodwin is training for the Olympics. Meanwhile, Rex Ryan didn't comment on why Dareus wasn't in attendance. The rest of the players are nursing injuries of various degrees.'

'He then pointed to Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold. When he was asked where the policy came from, Berchtold said it was his idea and did not come from ownership, the coaching staff and personnel people. Either way, the Bills became one of the biggest stories in the NFL Tuesday, drawing criticism from every corner of the NFL world.'

'"It's the game of football. Injuries are part of it," Whaley said. "It's a violent game that I personally don't think humans are supposed to play.'