Archives for May 20, 2017

'"We’re giving him every experience we can," offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. "Asking him questions in the meeting, making sure he’s on task, and he has been. Asked him a question today that was a little obscure and he answered it fine. He’s been studying, he’s been working out, so all we can do is give him all the experience we can on video – let him see some things, if we get a chance to do anything only in a walk-thru, and when the time comes he goes out to compete we’ve got to get him healthy and get him on the field."'

'“Maybe the only time it was ever odd to me was when I went in to the locker room and mine was the only name tag still on the locker,” Crossman said Thursday of being the lone post-Rex survivor. “I never looked at it that way. In my mind, and the way I approach my job is, I’m going to do the best job I possibly can, I’m not going to worry about anything else and something good’s going to happen.'

'The Bills also brought back three members of their personnel department who were not retained last month after the NFL Draft. Veteran scout Doug Majeski, who has been with the team for 28 years, was hired as West Area Scout. Brian Fisher, who joined the team in 2007, returns as a Midwest college scout. Gerald Dixon is back in the same role as a Pro Scout which he was originally hired for in 2014.'

'"I’m happy to be employed and have a job," Dawkins told the Bills' website. "I’m just going to work my tail off and whatever needs to be done, I’m willing to do it."'

'Time will tell how good they are at finding players, which is the real issue. The Bills have a weak roster; they're paying for the excesses of the previous regime, much as Tom Donahoe and Gregg Williams did when they took over as seemingly competent men a generation ago.'

'The decision means the cheerleaders' 2005 agreements that they were required to sign as a condition of their participation on the team are unenforceable and that the plaintiffs were non-exempt employees mis-classified as independent contractors, wrote State Supreme Court Justice Mark A. Montour.'

'“I tried not to be critical,” Dennison said in his first remarks to the media since being hired by Sean McDermott back in January. “I was looking at personnel only: What do we need to do, who do we need to keep on this team that I think can make some plays?”'

'I know it’s a whole new world over there at One Bills Drive, but everyone needs to get on board right now with the fact that Taylor is the starting quarterback for 2017. Barring an injury between now and Sept. 10 when the New York Jets come to New Era Field, there is no way that won’t be the case, not when your depth chart includes middling veteran T.J. Yates, raw as ever Cardale Jones, and rookie fifth-round draft pick Nathan Peterman.'

'Dawkins lined up at left tackle during the team's OTAs this week, but he's expected to compete for the right tackle job during training camp. Buffalo's current starter at right tackle, Jordan Mills, has struggled for the Bills. If Dawkins can show consistency during the summer, he has a legitimate chance to win the starting job.'

'"It's very tough," Ragland said, "because I'm a competitor and then coming from Bama, playing at the highest level you can play in college football and then coming to the pros and playing with some great guys like LeSean McCoy and Richie (Incognito), then the GM and everybody has you pegged to start and you get out there and you're playing and that happens, it's very tough. It's very tough, but I know it happened for a reason and I know I've just got to keep getting strong and keep coming back mentally stronger also."'

'Buffalo has now signed five of its six draft selections, leaving fifth-round pick, quarterback Nathan Peterman, not yet under contract.'

'"I always thought he had a lot of talent when we had him in Baltimore," said Dennison on WGR. "I knew he had a chance to be a really good player in the NFL, and I'm just looking forward to working with him right now."'

'Shaq Lawson has noticed a big difference from last year. He said McDermott moved forward right away, “Just a change in culture, soon as he came in, day one. It’s something that we needed here and it’s been great ever since day one. He’s holding everybody accountable, making sure everybody do what they have to do.”'

'Dawkins was a second-team All-ACC player at Temple in 2015, and earned first-team honors in 2016. Dawkins is regarded as a strong run-blocking offensive lineman with a 35-inch arm length. He is 6' 4", 314-pounds.'

'You know, all these guys have some different qualities… there's not one thing, but, at the end of the day, quarterbacks in the NFL must be able to throw from the pocket.'