Archives for September 14, 2016

'"The big thing is we know each other better," Ryan said. "I've always been a guy that treats people like men. That's what I've always done in my life. I'm not sure if I'm treating guys differently or whatever, but I feel we're more accountable to each other.'

'"Somebody pointed out many times we won more games when I was heavier, so I'll do anything for the squad," Ryan joked on Tuesday.'

'Buffalo needs a bounce-back game on Thursday night against the Jets in a desperate way.'

'The Jets' green jerseys are still available to purchase and are marketed as their "Color Rush" uniform. Meanwhile, the Bills will be in their all red uniform for their home opener at New Era Field on Thursday night. All of the NFL's proceeds from the "Color Rush" jersey sales will fund health, safety and wellness programs for youth.'

'The numbers are ugly, but the issues the Bills' offense had are more concerning. Taylor completed two passes of 10 yards or more. The offensive line couldn't hold up in run blocking or pass protection. The Ravens' plan for Taylor was to "make him be a quarterback,' and it worked. Now the Bills have to play a game on Thursday against a Jets defense that might be even better than Baltimore's. The whole world saw what the Ravens did to Taylor and Roman's offense.'

'In all, more than 250 armed officers will be patrolling New Era Field as part of security measures that were implemented during the preseason. Officials say these measures aren't meant to impede fans' experience on game day, but rather for them to have a safer game day.'

'Gilmore is an all-purpose corner who will not be on this list for long because he should have Pro Bowls in his future. If you need coverage and tackling from this CB position, this is your guy.'

'“Last year, I thought it was different,” Ryan said. “I was going back to New York, it seemed bigger. This is just a football game now and I think that’s kind of how everybody views it.”'

'Watkins could go on to have a very successful career that justifies the pick, but that move by Bills general manager Doug Whaley feels like a microcosm of the Buffalo franchise as a whole — a near miss.'

'Some knuckleheads have acted as if Ryan were to blame for a decade and a half of failure. Newsflash: Rex wasn’t the one who drafted J.P. Losman.'

'“Leger is always one of those guys that can produce. You just have to get him an opportunity to,’’ Ryan said. “He had 1.5 sacks in the [Ravens] game, but almost had two others.’’'

'“We all have that person that has our number,’’ Bills cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman said Tuesday. “You always have that one person that seems to get the best of you, and that’s how Rex is with [Fitzpatrick" target="_blank">. He seems to get the best of Fitz every time. Rex just knows that guy. He’s just got him dialed in.’’'

'“I get it. I think when you put everything you had into a place and you leave it, it was more emotional,” he said. “But right now, it’s been a year away that I’m firmly — well, firmly, maybe some people don’t think I’m firmly situated here — but I feel that I’m firmly grounded here and this is my new team and my new team in Buffalo. All the other stuff is not in play as much as it probably was last year.”'

'Statistically, Ryan has the quarterback’s number. So is that a sign that Fitzpatrick doesn’t feel as confident going against his defenses? “I hope a lot of people have less confidence through the years,” Ryan told Bills reporters on Tuesday. “That’s probably smart.”'

'If there has been one overwhelming criticism of Rex Ryan the coach, it has been his assumed leniency with the players on his teams. Sure, Ryan has put on a good front and said all the right things, but on game days, Ryan's teams were usually among the more undisciplined in the league.'