Archives for August 30, 2016

'"I feel good about where Dan is kicking field goals," Ryan said. "I like the way Gay's been handling the kickoffs. It doesn't necessarily mean that we'll keep both of them, but both those guys have done a nice job."'

'"I think you've got to look at the big picture," Ryan said. "You have a game to play as well (Thursday night's preseason-finale at Detroit). There are some (cuts) that I guess you could make, but at the same time I think it's best to really look at everything, see where you're at. If, all of a sudden you have an injury, maybe you have another guy.'

'No, we’re still having discussions and we’re not going to make any moves, any roster moves today.'

'But Kaepernick's game has regressed badly since, and it isn't only because he has missed Roman's coaching. He has had multiple surgeries. He has lost all kinds of weight. And he has developed some extremely bad quarterbacking habits that, even as a backup, wouldn't serve the Bills any better than they've served the 49ers lately.'

'“Foot is fine, I’m healthy, I’m cleared,’’ said Watkins after practice. “I’m out there practicing; that’s all mental. So for me it’s just really getting in shape and getting honed in on the plays that we’re going to be running and getting back on the right page with (quarterback) Tyrod (Taylor).’’'

'Before that the record was 57,500 during the height of the Bills' four-year Super Bowl run. The top two years for season ticket sales in team history have now occurred under owners Terry and Kim Pegula with Rex Ryan as head coach.'

'"You can't simulate that but I go against some of the top guys I think, Darby and Stephon Gilmore. I'm not worried about getting open when it's time to play in the game. More so, I need to get in shape, game shape. That's what I'm doing in practice. I'm just going six or seven reps in a row, four plays in a row. And I wasn't doing that in camp. I was going one play here, one play there. I was like, 'Coach, I need to be out there.' In camp I might only need one play, but now I need every rep."'

'Bills general manager Doug Whaley said that "releasing Karlos Williams was strictly performance based. He came in behind the eight ball and never caught up and there was other guys on the roster that moved ahead of him. So in light of that, we thought, why hold on to him? Why don't we give him a chance to maybe find another job out there in the league? We weren't going to hold onto him until then knowing he wasn't going to make the team."'

'"I think you have to look at the big picture," Ryan said. "You still have a game to play as well. There's some that I guess you could make, but at the same time, I think it's best to really look at everything, see where you're at. If all of a sudden you have an injury, maybe you have another guy that, um, you just don't want to cut yourself short. You have this extra time, so let's get another practice in and see where we're at. Will we possibly make moves tomorrow? Absolutely. I think that's when it's going to have to be."'

'As King mentioned, Buffalo's first-unit defense is performing well without multiple starters. Players who will start on Buffalo's defense in 2016 that have rested at times this preseason include Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Jerry Hughes, Preston Brown, Aaron Williams, Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby. Rex Ryan has already said that he'll rest many of his starters in their preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.'

'If they do, they won't finish last in the AFC East. They will be contending for a playoff spot.'

'"Oh, I mean, I'd score a couple of touchdowns," Watkins said after practice Monday.'

'Ryan fully revamped the unit after it underperformed last year, but the Bills' two top draft picks are injured. Outside linebacker Shaq Lawson, a first-rounder, had shoulder surgery in May and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season. Buffalo's second-rounder, inside linebacker Reggie Ragland, is out for the season with a knee injury.'

'Meanwhile, the Bills suffered two more season-ending ACL injuries in their loss to Washington. Cornerback Jonathan Dowling, who was probably a longshot to make the team, and tight end Chris Gragg, a fourth-year player who was enjoying a very good preseason and was firmly on the roster.'

'"I really like the way he played," Ryan said. "I like the way he competes. He has a great look in his face, man, he loves playing. Guys, you know what, sometimes quarterbacks take a little longer to develop, and I think this is the best EJ Manuel that I've seen."'