Archives for June 2016

'"Hey, I don't think new stadiums correlate with competitiveness, or greatness. Green Bay has been playing in Lambeau Field forever and they're in the playoffs every year. And with that great stadium it's not like the Cowboys are good or anything.'

'Taylor will be the starting quarterback for the Bills, and if he makes the progress they're expecting him to, could be the difference between a season that ends in a playoff berth or one that ends with another year on the outside looking in. Expect a lot of the same from Taylor this season as the Bills will work with him to continue his efficient, low-turnover style of play (seven in 14 games), but they'll also try to get him in the habit of being more comfortable in the pocket, seeing the whole field, and taking advantage of the middle areas more than he did in 2015. If he can do that, the contract situation (playing on the final year of his contract) is one that the Bills will gladly rectify for 2017 and beyond.'

'Williams will once again resume the role as a starting defensive lineman for the Bills when he gets the green light to begin practicing in 2016. He said he's not looking to rush back to practice in favor of letting it heal all the way, and there is no real timetable for his potential return. A safe bet would probably be for him to return at some point during August, but we won't know until we get there. However, whenever he does, he'll pair with Marcell Dareus to try and get the Bills defense back to their lofty level from the 2014 season.'

'If the Bills elect to build a stadium in downtown Buffalo, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is one that makes a lot of sense to model a new facility after.'

'“I am going in here knowing that that Tyrod [Taylor" target="_blank"> is our starter,” said Jones. “I am going in here knowing that EJ [Manuel" target="_blank"> is our backup. I am going in here learning, working as hard as I can working with Coach [David" target="_blank"> Lee in the film room, on and off the field. Whatever happens after that I guess is just a product of great circumstances.”'

'"We feel great about our draft, but again this isn’t a devastating thing. I think if we see the big picture this is not a devastating injury at all. We just think it is what it is. He is not going to be available for how many games, we can’t even tell you that. But we know at some point he will be 100-percent healthy and combine it with the really good players we have, that is going to be good for us."'

'“When you come in, you have to be committed to what you’re doing," Williams said. "You have to dance with who brung you. It’s so volatile and so demanding that if you leave or you get asked to leave, you look back and if you didn’t do it your way, you can only point at yourself. So everything’s been good this spring.”'

'"It's interesting, (Sunday) night when we were at the (tournament) banquet, I looked at the one big banner on the right side of the stage and then I saw the five, the 10, the 15, the 20, the 25 and the big 30," Kelly said. "It's amazing that we've been able to sustain it and get the people that we get to come out here each and every year.'

'"Bruce goes, 'You got your number retired and you're not even the best Buffalo Bill ever,'" Kelly recalled of Smith making the point that the honor went to the wrong former Bills great first. "I said, 'I know, O.J.'s in jail.' I had to throw that at Bruce. … I thought Thurman should have gotten his number retired before Bruce."'

'"For some reason or another, I don’t think we’ll ever get to that," Smith said. "But obviously there’s some light that can be shed on the subject. But for reasons that may be too sensitive, for reasons that may be too damaging, we won’t ever get to that point. However, I do think they’re taking steps to move in the right direction in the protection of players and future players in the present time. But there are some guys who are suffering that we need to make sure are taken care of."'

'"Stadiums are important, just to making sure that the team can continue to compete, not only throughout the NFL but also compete in this environment. Because we’ve got great facilities here now and the Bills have to stay up with that.”'

'Perhaps the defining part of Incognito's comeback is what Bills tight end Charles Clay told Banks. Clay was on that 2013 Miami team. He knew Incognito and Martin. He felt the bullying saga was blown out of proportion, and he offered the consummate ringing endorsement of Incognito: "I tell the young guys on the team, 'If there's one guy to emulate, to look at, to see how it should be done? You look at that guy. He's the ultimate professional.'"'

'“You want all hands on deck when you start, anybody that we would lose, but especially a guy like that where that time is so important to develop (as a rookie),” said Williams. “But we’ll be on him, stay with him in meetings and make sure that when it’s time for him to go, that he’s up to speed and he’s ready to go because he’s going to be an important part of what we’re doing.”'

'“I think the world of Terry and Kim, they’ve made a big difference in the NFL already, they’ve been very active, and I know they feel strongly about this region, as I do,” Goodell said. “They’re looking to find the right solutions, they’ll do it patiently, but they’ll find the right long-term solution, ultimately.”'

'"The media looks at it [like" target="_blank">, 'Well, we have to win this year,'" Ryan said. "Or what? Oh, I am going to be fired? I don't think so. I'm not going to worry about it, because we are going to win anyway. But it's like, that is an ultimatum. No."'