Archives for February 2017

'"For Tyrod Taylor, who some people assume is gone from Buffalo, this is pretty good news," Rapoport said. "This was the quarterbacks coach in Baltimore when Tyrod Taylor was the back up to Joe Flacco in Baltimore, so there's a lot of familiarity here. It would make no sense if the Bills hired Rick Dennison and then get rid of Tyrod Taylor, one of the reasons he signed there."'

'On Good Morning Football, Rapoport said the Bills are an unlikely landing spot for Tony Romo while adding “from my understanding, it’s probably a better chance they keep Tyrod now than actually cutting him.”'

'I really don't know what's going on with this. I'd like to think it's possible Whaley is telling different reporters different things, just to have fun with them, but I don't think he's quite swift enough for that. Maybe it's always been decided, decided since Miami came back and won here in Week 16, decided since Oakland came back and won from 24-9. Maybe it's not been decided. Maybe their third choice for offensive coordinator (at least) will decide whether the Bills will pay Taylor 30 million dollars, or more.'

'Here’s a look at where each of the team’s in the top 10 of the draft have holes they’ll be looking to fill, and which prospect could be most strongly considered by those respective clubs.'

'“New Bills coach Sean McDermott has a terrific track record with safeties who can do a little bit of everything. (He tutored relative unknown Eagles safety Quintin Mikell to make second-team All-Pro and helped castoff Kurt Coleman earn big coin in Carolina.) Jefferson can be deployed in a variety of ways, making big plays near the line of scrimmage or in coverage,” Rosenthal wrote. “He makes a lot of sense for a team that could be starting from scratch at safety.”'

'Without Watkins for half the year (and him playing hurt the other half), the Bills finished with just 35 catches of 20-plus yards in 2016. Only Houston had fewer, with 34.'

'If the team needs Spikes again as the 2017 season draws near, they should be able to sign him to a low-cost, one-year contract.'

'"Among this year's cornerback class, Gilmore is the closest thing there is to a sure thing. As a rookie, he was the Bills' starting right cornerback in Week 1. Since then, he has either been their right cornerback or tracked opposing No. 1 wide receivers. He has 48 combined interceptions and pass breakups since entering the league in 2012, tied for ninth-most. He allows a few too many big plays to be an elite cornerback, but the good plays he makes against the competition he faces far outweigh the bad. While he earned a lower grade in the 2016 season than most other CBs on this list, his larger body of work elevates him to the top of the ranking."'

'Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has gone to Haiti, following up on a recent donation to the Hope for Haiti charity with a first-hand look at conditions in the country.'

'The Bills believe Cardale Jones has a chance to compete for the starting job, but if Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel leave in free agency, the Bills have big problems here.'

'All Gillislee has done for his one-plus season in Buffalo is lead the league in yards per carry and score bunch of touchdowns, earning him the nickname “Touchdown Mike” in the locker room.'

'By picking up the option, the relationship becomes a marriage between player, team, and GM. And if it's Whaley making the final call, I think he'd be strongly inclined to have the Bills move on. If McDermott has more of a say than most head coaches would, then hope remains for bringing Taylor back.'

'"I love giving back, especially to kids in need, but this is extra special because I've never been on a trip like this before,” Dareus said. “The Haitian people have seen hardship after hardship, with the earthquake and then the hurricane. Being able to meet with them and show them that I care about them is really important to me."'

'Buffalo's kicking game shoulders most of the blame for the low ranking. The Bills ranked tied for 28th in made field goals (19) and 30th in field-goal percentage (76 percent), as well as 27th in extra-point percentage (88.9 percent).'

'Of the Bills’ firing of Rex Ryan, Levy knew nothing of the particulars, but did say that at some point, the organization has to stop starting over. “There has to be a degree of patience,” said Levy, who coached the Bills for 11 ½ years and won six AFC East division crowns and four AFC championships before retiring after the 1997 season. “I used to say ‘Don’t keep shaking up the coke bottle, it’ll spray all over the place.’”'