Archives for July 2017

'“He has a strong arm and is accurate down the field. He can make every throw in the book. He can pick up the offense, and he’s more mobile than people give him credit for."'

'Yates has a firm working knowledge of Rick Dennison's offense having played in it for three years. Peterman is clearly a player the team is interested in developing. It left Jones on the outside looking in.'

'If there is a criticism amongst Bills fans about Tyrod Taylor’s game, the common refrain has been that he has not sufficiently utilized open targets in the middle of the field. In his first year as a starter that criticism had merit. As last season wore on however, Taylor’s vision between the numbers noticeably improved.'

'Some things that they did here that Juan [Castillo" target="_blank"> and I have talked about in the run game that they’ve done very well that we’ll try to carry over,” said Dennison. “Whatever we think we need to do for the 2017 Buffalo Bills to move the ball, make first downs and win games. I think it’s a blend of everything, but it’s always going to be all about the Bills.'

'Rambo, 27, played in four games with the Bills in 2014, earning his first career interception — and later adding another one — during a 21-13 upset victory over the Green Bay Packers in December. He had a career-high 62 tackles, 11 passes defensed and two forced fumbles the following season, when he appeared in 15 games and made eight starts. The Bills elected not to re-sign him after the 2015 season, however, and Rambo spent last year with the Miami Dolphins. He started five games and appeared in nine overall, making 42 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed.'

'Here was his explanation: "The Bills have a pair of interesting drafted quarterbacks on the roster, as both 2016 fourth-round pick Cardale Jones and rookie fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman are vying for top backup duties behind Tyrod Taylor. Veteran T.J. Yates was signed this offseason and gives Buffalo its most experienced thrower behind Taylor, but it's unlikely the Bills will keep four QBs."'

'I'm not saying the Bills shouldn't have a high standard for behavior. But cutting Washington after his arrest in Cincinnati would be a gross overreaction, a transparent attempt to show there's a new sheriff in town. And I wonder, would they have done the same thing if it were one of Beane's draft picks, rather than one of Doug Whaley's reaches?'

'Benoit did not include special-teams players or rookies on the list, explaining that "special teamers change jobs so much from year to year, plus there are significantly fewer special teams snaps each game than offensive and defensive snaps. And rookies cannot be evaluated on jobs they have not started yet."'

'"He's gonna be given every opportunity," Beane said. "He is very talented. Where he was drafted, where he was paid, he's a talented guy, and he's shown what he can do. Obviously it's up to us to try to get that out of him, find out what makes him tick. We got to communicate with him to help put him in the best situation. It's a two-way street. Some of it is on us, some of it is on him. I'm looking forward to continuing to get to know him. I've been running a hundred miles an hour. I can't say I know him well. But as a player, he's so talented. You want to see him be the leader of that D-line and defense, at some point."'

'Note: Mendon and Sutherland will serve as primary lots and Barker Road and Calkins Road as overflow lots, with the exception of July 27, when Mendon and Barker Road will be the primary lots.'

'Barrington spent the first three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers. The linebacker was a seventh round pick of the team in the 2013 NFL draft. He appeared in seven games as a rookie, but ultimately landed on the team's injured reserve. His best season came in 2014 when he appeared in 14 games (7 starts) and recorded 53 total tackles. Barrington was among the Packers' starting linebackers in 2015, but he would suffer a foot injury in Week 1. He'd once again land on the Packers' injured reserve.'

'Jonathan Williams is the favorite to win the No. 2 running back job behind LeSean McCoy, but there are still one or two running back jobs to be won. Cedric O'Neal stood out at times during OTAs and is a player to keep an eye on at training camp. If O'Neal carries his strong spring into camp, the running back could land a spot on Buffalo's 53-man roster.'

'Make no mistake, Tyrod Taylor is your starter, behind him is where this battle will ensue. The Bills have three more fighting for (likely) two spots. TJ Yates was added as a veteran presence as the journeyman has spent six years backing up in the NFL, including a sliver of postseason experience. Cardale Jones barely has six minutes of NFL experience, but the second-year thrower did make an appearance in the season finale last year. Rookie Nathan Peterman was selected fifth-round in this year's draft. Early odds has Jones as the odd-man out, but that could change in Pittsford.'

'“This is a very special deal for so many of our players,” Riverdale head coach Terry Herrod said. “A large number of our guys before today had never owned a new pair of football cleats. We have been recycling cleats for the past five years. Cordy impacted a lot of young men today with his gift.”'

'The Bills also signed offensive lineman Karim Barton and outside linebacker Sam Barrington. Barrington has four years of NFL experience and split last season between Kansas City and New Orleans.'