Archives for August 2016

'But the numbers don't tell the entire story: Darby has shown the requisite ball skills, confidence and aggressiveness that star NFL cornerbacks possess. If he continues on his current path, he will be a star.'

'Rex said the norm for starters is to see their most playing times in terms of preseason games to happen in the third one of the season. However, he did not state a for sure answer in regard to how long to starters will play.'

'Mooney said he understands the league is a business and for the most part appreciates the name. More than anything, though, “I’m still looking forward to going and having fun,” he said.'

'There’s no injustice or disrespect to Mr. Wilson with this name change. As Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly pointed out the other day, it’s 2016, not the 1980s. Still the face of Buffalo’s historic professional football franchise, Kelly spoke, arguably, for a collective Bills community when asked about the name change.'

'Ryan expects Watkins and linebacker Manny Lawson to make their preseason debuts Friday. Watkins has practiced the past two weeks since recovering from surgery in April to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Lawson missed the first two weeks of training camp with a partly torn chest muscle.'

'The third-year receiver underwent foot surgery this offseason that kept him out of organized team activities, mandatory minicamp and the first week of training camp.'

'RT Jordan Mills was checked out briefly by trainers then watched the rest of practice from the sideline. Ryan said he has a knee injury.'

'What a change this has been from this time last year. After the 2015 version of training camp, Duke Williams had fallen behind so much that he was buried on the depth chart, and in a season that he was expected to push for a starting role, he fell remarkably short. That was 2015, and whatever changed for Duke Williams this summer, he needs to keep it going.'

'“I think Sammy will (play),” said head coach Rex Ryan. “He probably won’t be in there a whole lot, but he’s scheduled to play.”'

'“Goodwin is now in the concussion protocol. So that’s what happened there on that last play,” said Rex Ryan following Tuesday’s practice. “It wasn’t legs or anything else so we’ll see how that goes.”'

'He didn’t miss a practice and didn’t take a rep off. Preston Brown was sitting in the middle of Buffalo’s defense from the time of the first OTA practice session to the end of training camp. A player who now looks well versed in the defensive scheme is also a linebacker projected for stardom by Assistant head coach Rob Ryan.

'"Early on, I had some of those doubts," Henderson told reporters after the Bills' final practice of training camp at St. John Fisher College. "I didn't know exactly what the future had set for me. I just kept doing everything that the doctor said, eating right and just moving forward getting back ready to on the field."'

'"You know, any time you get hurt in camp and you’re taking some time off, guys are on you and they’ve been on me nonstop," Incognito said. "So, it’s good to be back and quiet down all that chatter. I felt good. The ribs felt good, everything felt good. It’s good to be back out here with the boys. Now it’s my time to get in the best playing shape possible."'

'You know, you see how much a guy wants it. Obviously you’ve got a major adversity in front of you but there’s only one way to do it and he’s got to be the guy that does it. So you know, it’s great to see.'

'But here's the good news: The Bills' defensive line can function reasonably well without him. His absence will be felt, no question about it, but there appears to be enough depth to keep things on track for a quarter of the season and longer if necessary. In fact, it's fair to say that Corbin Bryant and Jerel Worthy tend to play the scheme as it is designed and stick to their assignments more often than Dareus, whose greater talent sometimes causes him to do things his way because he usually can succeed. Rookie Adolphus Washington, who is having a tremendous preseason, also should do plenty to help pick up the slack.'