Archives for October 2016

'“When you look at it, they’ve been the standard in this league, not just our division,” Ryan said. “Everybody’s going, ‘No Tom Brady, this team is going to be a disaster.’ Well, they’re 3-0 last time I checked and beat some pretty good teams.'

'In addition to Hunter, the Bills will look to Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Walter Powell, Brandon Tate and Greg Salas to step up in Watkins' absence.'

'In other injury news, wide receiver Greg Salas and offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio will also be out for the Bills' Week 4 game. Offensive tackle Cordy Glenn, tight end Charles Clay, safety Aaron Williams and cornerback Ronald Darby are considered questionable for the game.'

'"It's just something that he was born with," Dwyer coach Jack Daniels said. "He's been put in situations like that in high school and college and he's always thrived in the biggest games. I know that league is very hard and they protected him, but I think he's worked for that moment, and like I said, he's a guy who doesn't go out, he doesn't do anything. He's 100 percent football. That's what he wants to do and he can do it all the time, I just think his preparation and the fact that he's with a great organization."'

'McCoy averaged 6.5 yards per carry as he rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 17 rush attempts in Buffalo's 33-18 win. His performance earned him the NFL Week 3 FedEx Ground Player of the Week.'

'Dwyer was set to travel to Columbus, Ohio, to play in the Kirk Herbstreit Classic at Ohio Stadium. The game was nationally televised between two nationally ranked high school programs. Dwyer was coming off a 2009 state championship in which Ravens safety Matt Elam was the team's star running back and Bills practice squad tight end Gerald Christian added to Dwyer's passing attack.'

' I think you have to chalk it up to a few different things. The genius of Belichick, and incredibly questionable game-planning/coaching from the Patriots first three opponents.'

'When he has been able to play, Watkins has been one of the top young receivers in the league with 131 receptions for 2,092 yards and 15 touchdowns. But in one game this season, against the Jets, Watkins wasn’t a downfield threat and Ryan admitted Friday, he’s uncertain when — or if — Watkins might return.'

'So the Bills gave him a congratulatory slap on the butt, and Hogan has set the tone to take his career to a new level with the Patriots’ passing attack. He has been a featured receiver, and his chemistry with Tom Brady throughout the offseason suggests he’ll continue to take off in the coming months.'

'Although his playing time fluctuated in Buffalo, he still has a lot of love for the area and the Bills organization. He was cut in San Francisco, with the New York Giants and in Miami before the Bills gave him his first real opportunity.'

'The Bills used the lowest restricted free-agent tender on Hogan, giving them the right to match any contract offer he received from another team, but up against the salary cap they were financially strapped to match the three-year, $12 million offer sheet he signed with the Patriots in March – one that carried a cap hit of $5.5 million in its first year.'

'“I will be forever grateful for (the Bills),” Hogan said. “That organization, they gave me my first chance. That’s really where I started my career. And I was there for four years. I established a lot of relationships with those guys and to this day still do. I will always look back on my career, and that’s where I started.”'

'“Those guys [the Bills] are all my friends still, but we’re playing a game now,” said Hogan. “Once that whistle blows, 60 minutes, I’m going to be playing football. Afterwards we can talk and do all that. My focus is on doing my job and taking advantage of all my opportunities on Sunday.”'

'Bills general manager Doug Whaley and Demons’ defensive coordinator and associate head coach Daryl Daye worked together in Buffalo on the Bills staff for two seasons.'

'A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Watkins won't require surgery and will instead use the time off to rest the injury. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have not revealed any details of the injury or Watkins' rehab process.'