Archives for March 2017

'"Buffalo's fans are legendary and rank right up there with the greatest fans in the NFL," Grubman said. "Ownership there is evaluating their options, and those options are very long-term in nature. I don't want to speak for them, but I think you can see by virtue of the fact that they're not waiting and have done work on the stadium already that they care about their fans and they care about Buffalo."'

'A report from Jason La Canfora of CBS cast serious doubt over the future of general manager Doug Whaley in Buffalo. McDermott has been the lone voice for the Bills since he was hired, and it's fair to wonder whether he would want to bring in like-minded personnel people rather than continue with an arranged marriage. This issue will likely be at the forefront of all things Bills this week.'

'Along with the Bills, the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons only have six draft picks. Buffalo has the highest first pick of those three teams, making them a target for team who’d like to trade up in the draft.'

'Along with the Pegula’s, Western New York has the team’s founder, Ralph Wilson Jr., to thank for the team sticking around. Perhaps Ralph didn’t leave fans feeling as good as he could have upon his passing, but the late owner certainly could have moved the team to a more profitable location during his lifetime.'

'"Working with Andy Reid you see that there's a plan and there's a progression, and if you go about things the right way there's a chance, " McDermott said Monday. "And I think Andy modeled [that]. When I got to know Andy, I got to know his story and how he became a head coach. That gave me hope and a vision."'

'Crichton appeared sparingly over 21 games during his first two seasons and missed all of last season because of an injury. He's listed at 6-foot-3 and 273 pounds.'

'The move is significant for the Bills after the organization came under public scrutiny late last season, which Buffalo finished with a record of 7-9. A pair of news conferences — interim coach Anthony Lynn's first news conference on Dec. 28 and Whaley's season-ending news conference on Jan. 2 — created more questions than answers about how decisions involving the team were being made.'

'Crichton spent the entire 2016 season on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending concussion / neck injury during the preseason.'

'Even though 90 players will be on the training camp roster, only the top-51 salaries count against the salary cap during the offseason. Once teams cut down to their final 53-man roster all 53 players will count against the cap;'

'Crichton hasn’t done much of anything in the NFL but still remains a definitive candidate to make the 53-man roster as it stands today just because of the lack of depth at the position. Crichton is a little bit of a stiffer player that didn’t show a lot getting after the quarterback in college.'

'The organization was criticized both locally and nationally for sending then interim head coach Anthony Lynn to answer questions regarding the firing of Rex Ryan and the benching of quarterback Tyrod Taylor.'

'Pegula will speak with the media while at the Owner’s Meetings, but if there was a time and a place for it to happen, it would be in Phoenix with all of the who’s who in the NFL in one place.'

'Crichton joins the Bills after spending the previous three seasons with Minnesota. He saw action in 21 games in 2014 and 2015 and spent the 2016 season on injured reserve.'

'“Last year I had a nice opportunity to get my feet wet and get the understanding of what being a starter felt like,” Seymour said. “Now, the opportunity is here and I’m going to take full advantage of it as much as I can and I’m definitely excited about that.”'

'On Thursday, April 20, the last day of voluntary veteran mini-camp, McDermott is scheduled to talk about those workouts … AND the draft. There’s no mention of Whaley, who has been the lead voice in the Bills pre-draft luncheon for the past six years. Normally, Jim Monos, the Director of Player Personnel, also takes part as well as a scout or two.'