Archives for June 2016

'"Right now, it's a case where Seantrel's sick and Mills has started at Chicago for me and started for us this year," offensive line coach Aaron Kromer said. "He's doing a solid job. He understands what to do and how to do it."'

'The event was part of the new NFL Rookie Transition Program hosted by each of the 32 clubs for drafted and undrafted rookies. The program replaces the Rookie Symposium, which was held in a central location (most recently in Ohio) and was open only to drafted rookies. The new program, which has the players hearing all sorts of cautionary tales about life as an NFL player, runs through this week, providing the rookies a chance to get to learn more about the communities in which they play and to give back.'

'EJ Manuel and Cardale Jones both struggled in the practices open to the media. Manuel threw multiple pick-sixes and was hesitant in 7-on-7 drills, a familiar sight. Jones unleashed one eye-popping throw deep, yet floated several passes high and short in addition to footwork problems in other drills. One play, he smashed into his fullback. Jones is clearly a project. Granted, a lot of teams would be waving the white flag if their starting QB went down but the back-up plan is especially worrisome here in Buffalo.'

'If nothing else, the hope might feel a little more real than it did before. For many people, that will do. For now.'

'All three coaches were asked about the situation and their roles after the team’s final minicamp practice last week. Here’s what each of them said…'.

'“There’s a good reason he’s here,” said Lee of Manuel. “He’s here because we still believe in him. The general manager believes in him, the head coach believes in him, I believe in him, Greg does. He’s got a big arm. He’s one of the finest people I’ve ever met in my life. He’s such a great person, and he studies he does everything right.'

'“For training camp, I think I’ll definitely be available,” Watkins told TSN.ca. “I might sit out two or three days. It’s all about how I feel within those days. The goal is to come back and be prepared for training camp.”'

'“It’s always good to be big and use my size to my advantage, so that’s the main thing. Just trying to stay big,” Lewis said. “My main thing is to give (the coaches) options, so that’s why I continue to stay in the weight room over the offseason and workout.”'

'You can roll your eyes and shake your head. You can sigh, smirk, sneer, sniff, spit. Do whatever you like to express your disgust because your football purity has been violated by the suggestion a coach should stick around simply because he's great copy. But that's exactly what Rex is, and it's exactly what those of us who are expected to produce more and more Bills content need. Desperately.'

'"This is the most important time for football players, especially in the NFL," Ragland said. "During the break, the guys who are going to stay disciplined are the ones that are normally successful during the season. So you've got to stay disciplined, get the extra cardio in, make sure you're ready for the conditioning test. Because when training camp comes, the next thing you know, a couple of weeks of training camp you're right into the preseason, and once the preseason's over, there goes the season."'

'“It’s important, especially growing up here and knowing how it was when I was coming up,” said Reddick, who plays for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. “We didn’t really have this but it’s good to be able to come back and do this."'

'“He’s a very gifted athlete,” said Bills tight ends coach Tony Sparano Jr. “His speed, his athleticism are there for all to see. But the fact that he’s able to pair that with his work ethic and with being as coachable as he is and being a student of the game that he is, is why I’m a big believer in his ability and his potential.”'

'I’m just trying to better myself. At the end of the day, I play this game to be one of the greatest players to ever play. I have goals for myself and I feel I can meet those goals if I do the things necessary. I take it one day at a time, just keeping a level head. Never getting too high. That’s what I did last year—never getting too high, never getting too low. Just staying even keel through all situations.'

'You probably have seen the tweet.'

'But the point is, the Bills don't have to go to wall for Gilmore. Nor should they. He's a top-level cornerback, a critical component of a defense that requires its corners to constantly play man-to-man coverage. But just because he wants to use Norman as the standard for his salary doesn't mean the Bills have to.'