Archives for July 29, 2016

'“Being the quarterback, guys look to you for motivation, they look to you for a number of things,” he said. “But more so, the execution starts with you. If you can get everybody in the right place, if you’re going out there and executing at a high level each and every play, the guys can trust you and rely on you. So it starts with me and I have to lead by example out there on the field and continue to spread the message to my teammates, offense and defense.”'

'General Manager Doug Whaley has made no secret about the tremendous amount of faith he has in Manuel as a backup. He has gone as far as to describe him as the best No. 2 QB in the NFL.'

'Defensive coordinators are going to play a safety over the top of Sammy Watkins a lot. But if Listenbee or Goodwin is a legitimate threat on the other side, opposing defensive coordinators will experience extreme pucker factor. I have to defend elite speed on both sides of the field? And I have to worry about LeSean McCoy’s elite speed? If the defense has to respect all three of those speed options, it will be as if the field is 70 yards wide and 120 yards long. It would give Buffalo a critical mass of elite speed.'

'Defenses will double Sammy Watkins and dare Taylor to make tough throws. He needs another playmaking wideout. Woods doesn’t fit the bill.'

'How many of the Browns' 14 draft picks will stick on the 53-man roster. Answering that question will begin to show just how far along the Browns' rebuild really is.'

'“We’re in the elevator and my dad goes, ‘My son is going to be the next Bruce Smith,’ " Ragland said of the chance encounter. “It’s crazy how it worked out. I’m going to play like Bruce, be like Bruce, but at the same time I know I have to create my own legacy.’''

'Foles would be an upgrade, though maybe not a drastic one. After a breakout season in 2013 in which he threw 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions, Foles has come back down to earth. He's started just 19 games the last two seasons and thrown 20 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.'

'"With this injury it's more mental than physical," Watkins said. "There's going to be good days and bad days, but I feel great."'

'Break: For a guy who’s as proven as Shady, it comes down to staying healthy. In one year as a Bill, Shady’s headlines have included the words ankle, hamstring, knee, and shoulder, to name a few.'

'The offense should be good enough to catapult the Bills into the playoffs. It’s the defense that remains the biggest question mark, and the success of the Bills will largely be defined by their performance on that side of the ball.'

'“I think I just needed a change. I wanted to get out. I kind of got a little complacent where I was, and this really has kind of (been) a rebirth of me as a football player.”'

'The first three games against the Colts, Giants and Redskins give Ryan’s defense a chance to get reps against some dangerous passing games. Will the unit be able to get consistent pressure on Luck, Manning and Cousins in the short time it’s on the field against them?'

'It appears as though Gilmore is healthy and ready to go, but we won’t know until we actually see him on the field after recovering from shoulder surgery. That is, assuming he will even be at camp as he could possibly make a statement about his contractual situation. I expect him to be there day one, or shortly after if he misses any time at all. And as soon as he is, he’s immediately the team’s number one CB with Darby right behind him and lined up across from him. Last year, that tandem made up one of the best duos in the league and both will get the unquestioned starters’ reps at Fisher.'

'"I think a veteran guy needs to probably be in that leadership role for the Bills to sign, but I'm looking forward to what they have. It's not like they don't have running backs back there. There are young guys, are you looking for a veteran guy? I don't know. At this point I would maybe just wait and see," he said.'

'"We went in [to minicamp" target="_blank"> with the idea that we're going to get better, focus more, and learn our assignments to the best of our abilities, and we did that," Ryan said on the John Murphy Show on Thursday afternoon at training camp. "As we were leaving, it was like, 'Man, I guess we got this little bump in the road called summer vacation.' Everybody looks forward to it, but to me, I couldn't wait for [training camp" target="_blank">, to get back with the players. It's good that they get away a little bit, but they did so well. I just can't wait to see how we are, and if, in fact, we're taking off from where we left off."'