Archives for May 11, 2017

'An NFL source said McDermott would function in the same manner as Reid, who gave McDermott his first job in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles and has long served as his professional mentor. Unlike his predecessor, Doug Whaley, who virtually disappeared from public view after McDermott became the Bills' coach last January, Beane is expected to be more visible, as is the case with Dorsey.'

'Terry Pegula pretty much gave an ominous foreshadowing of Overdorf's future with the Bills when, during his April 30 news conference announcing the firing of Doug Whaley, he said, "Jim Overdorf, we’re going to support him as much as we can, but that decision will be made by the new GM that’s coming into the organization."'

'The fund will provide annual and ongoing support to expand and improve youth sports and recreational opportunities in the city of Rochester, Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties.'

'"Are the Bills going to be good this year?" Schein asked. "Here's a hot take: I don't know. The roster is still leaky, thanks to the faux pas of former general manager Doug Whaley. But with Rex Ryan out and Sean McDermott in, there will be toughness and accountability. The Bills won't shoot themselves in the foot with mind-numbing penalties. Buffalo will resemble a football team that the long-suffering fans in lovely Western New York will be proud of.'

'"He's well thought of by the people in Carolina," Polian said. "He's well thought of by people around the league. He has extensive experience on all of the administrative sides of the game. Salary cap, player acquisition, rules, roster. The most important thing is he and Sean know each other. They obviously have a working relationship. That wasn't the case with Doug Whaley with any of the three coaches, really, under which he served or with whom he served I should say. So this will be a happy marriage and one that bolds well for the Bills. It's a good hire. He's not there simply because he knows and worked with Sean. It's because he's done a good job in his own right."'

'That working relationship is the main reason to be encouraged by this Bills hire. Beane doesn't have experience as an area scout, but he has handled a variety of roles in football operations over the last 19 years with the Carolina Panthers. It's noteworthy that he'll control the 53-man roster, but the majority of NFL general managers control the 53. It would be naive to think McDermott's hands won't be all over every decision this team is making.'

'“I spent a lot of time with him watching film and teaching and doing those kind of things. And Brandon’s a sponge. He really listens. He’s very diligent. He works at it,” Gettleman said during a phone interview. “The only way you’re going to improve your evaluation skills is just grind tape. … It was his willingness to listen and learn that really accelerated his progress in terms of becoming a general manager.”'

'Buffalo Bills safety and Super Bowl champion James Ihedigbo, along with his wife Brittany, are opening a new Kiddie Academy child care center in Rosharon, Texas.'

'This time around, it really is different. While yes, the hires were a little more than four months apart, the Bills hired a head coach and a general manager together as a team — with the understanding that they'll operate as a cohesive unit.'

'“The people up there should be excited about him walking in the building,” said Carolina GM Dave Gettelman of Beane. “He’s very approachable. He’s a very good listener. We work collaboratively here. Brandon was a big part of that, so he’s seen what that looks like. He understands in order to get the right answer you have to ask the right question. He’s very mature and understands the power of ‘we’ as opposed to the power of ‘me.’ I think that’s a great asset that he has.”'

'“Chris Berman has been a friend of the Buffalo Bills for many years and we are all heartbroken to learn of the passing of his wife, Kathy. Today more than ever, we will Circle the Wagons for Boomer and his family.”'

'“It’s called the rattlesnake roundup,” Banyard said in an appearance on the John Murphy Show. “Basically we gather up as many rattlesnakes as possible, put them in a big bin and you auction them off for meat, skin, whatever the buyers want.”'