Archives for August 3, 2017

'"His main purpose here is competition as the punter," Crossman said of Rehkow. "The ability he has to do all three (punting, place-kicking and kickoffs) in training camp with as much work as we're trying to get done — especially situationally when that stuff ties together — his ability to do everything really plays to our benefit, which is why he's going to get work at all three both in practice and in (preseason) games."'

'"Yet, there’s a lot of work to do and we’re not there yet as a football team. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re coming off of about four or five practices and a chance, (with Monday's day off), to hit the reset button and assess where we are as a football team. We feel good about the work we’ve put in the previous four or five days.'

'"His vision, just like every coach has a great vision – I don’t care if you go all the way back to my first coaching job 26 years ago at a Division III school — that vision and how they get it through and across to the staff and to the players, it’s always so important. Sean’s done a great job, so I’m very happy with being able to stay here with the family and really like the way things are going and the competition he’s developed and the ideas that we’re trying to get done here in Buffalo."'

'It’s no challenge. We’re all competing each and every day. We’re trying to get better. The best three linebackers are going to be out there so there’s no animosity between anybody on this team. We’re all friends and we’re all going out there trying to help this team win games.'

'"I hope that never happens throughout the year, but we got to practice with some younger guys getting some snaps," Wood said. "We had one running back (Jonathan Williams), (Ryan) Groy's in at center, which he did a bunch last year for us. But then what that does is it brings the three guy up to the two, so now we see what the guy can do with the two.'

'I like to focus in on one-on-one battles between two players. Maybe a tight end blocking, a corner-wide receiver battle. That’s what I like to look at. You know, then I watch film afterwards with the guys and learn something from them too.'

'Offensive tackle Michael Ola left practice early with an injury, and didn't return. Meanwhile, cornerback Greg Mabin is listed as day-to-day with a hamstring injury, while defensive end Ian Seau is still rehabilitating an injured foot.'

'"I don't know when she said that," Pegula said. "But we just got through with a remodeling and major contribution from the state of New York in the stadium. I feel that, in light of that, we're not in any planning session at all right now for a new stadium. We're still enjoying what's been done to New Era Field."'

'“Nothing can prepare you for that news,” Austin said. “It’s a really tough pill to swallow.”'

'He spent the past six seasons with the Oakland Raiders, who made him a fourth-round draft pick from Eastern Washington in 2011.'

'Metz, a native Philadelphian, went undrafted out of Shippensburg University in 2014 — not exactly a college football factory — and so began the laborious task of trying to get noticed by an NFL team. He had tryouts with the Giants, the Lions, and his hometown Eagles, but nothing came of it, so he gave indoor football a try in the long-established Arena Football League.'

'“I think that’s part of any winner,” Pegula said. “People respect organizations and teams that win and that’s where we have to get. We have to earn the respect of the rest of the league. Earning respect and working hard; that’ll translate into wins. When teams come into Buffalo to play, they need to be talking about on the way up, ‘Oh gosh, we gotta go to Buffalo. Let’s hope we can get one outta here.’ ”'

'After a tough practice on Tuesday, Tyrod Taylor bounced back on Wednesday, completing 15 of the 18 passes he threw. He looked particularly sharp in the two-minute drill. Taylor did have one ugly pass that ended up as a spectacular interception from Micah Hyde, but otherwise, Taylor was solid.'

'In his career, Jones has returned 75 kicks for 1,751 yards. His best season came in 2015 when he averaged 26.7 yards per kick return. Jones led the AFC in kick return yards that season with 829 yards.'

'"No, but that's what you need to win," Pegula said. "You need to have respect. When teams come in to Buffalo to play, they need to be talking about it on the way up saying 'oh gosh, we've got to go to Buffalo. Let's hope we can get one out of here.'"'