Archives for October 3, 2017

'One option at receiver won't be Walt Powell. Buffalo released the player on Monday, when Powell was eligible to return after serving a four-game NFL suspension for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances.'

'His teammates are loving him. "Hauschka's the man," guard Richie Incognito said. "He's a true professional. The guy works his butt off. He's probably the hardest-working kicker I've ever been around. He's passionate about it, and you know, we believe in him. When he makes those kicks, man, I mean they're huge for the team. It changes the whole tenor of the game."'

'"I don't think we're going to sneak up on anybody anymore after the last couple of wins," Bills center Eric Wood said.'

'The surgery will be the second for Matthews since he was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Ronald Darby on Aug. 11. Matthews had sternum surgery in the summer.'

'Without Matthews, rookie Zay Jones is now the Bills' top healthy wide receiver. Jones has four catches on 14 targets this season for 57 yards. The Bills are expected to start sixth-year wideout Andre Holmes opposite Jones this Sunday.'

'This doesn't say much for the Bills, but it may say even less for the Falcons. Going up against a 4-2-4 defense would, presumably, leave at least a few holes for the Falcons. Whatever the case, the result of the play was an incomplete pass from Matt Ryan that was intended for Taylor Gabriel. The Falcons turned the ball over on downs, clinching the win for the Bills. It's just another notch on the belt for the suprising Bills defense, which has shown drastic improvement under McDermott in the early going of the 2017 season.'

'Humber leads the Bills in tackles (37) through the first four games of the season. The nine-year veteran is in his second season with the team, but first as a starter after winning that role during training camp. With Humber sidelined for an uncertain amount of time, Buffalo will rely on rookie linebacker Matt Milano to fill in for the veteran linebacker. Milano registered four tackles in relief of Humber Sunday.'

'"I'm just swinging nice and free out there. That's what I've been trying to do everywhere" Hauschka said with Howard Simon and Jeremy White on Buffalo Football Monday on WGR. "Sometimes it's easier to do from long distance than it is from other places on the field. There's something about the visuals of what you get, but that's something as a kicker I'm constantly working on is getting that free-flowing swing from everywhere on the field, regardless of the situation."'

'"We have a lot of turnover, but the guys we brought in are all similar. Long hours at the stadium guys. Guys like Poyer, Hyde, Gaines, Matthews, etc. They've made their transition easier with their work ethic."'

'"We have to continue to get better, not happy about that, it's hard to win a football game with 10 guys on the field."'

'The thought was Powell would be part of a group that would fill in for Jordan Matthews after the news came down that he will have surgery on his thumb, and will likely miss at least a month of action. With Powell no longer on the roster, the Bills' receiving corps now includes Zay Jones, Andre Holmes, Kaelin Clay, and Brandon Tate. An addition via free agency, trade, or a signing off the practice squad seems likely. Preseason fan favorite Brandon Reilly is one of two wide receivers on the practice squad.'

'“I think even before the season, the increase was crazy because Bills fans are crazy for Zubaz, but it has increased as the seasons go on. We’ve sold out of a lot of stuff.”'

'“He’s played well to this point. I love his approach, he puts in a lot of time in the film room,” Head Coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Monday. “The success he’s had is not a mistake. He’s wired the right way and that’s why we drafted Tre. He’s got a lot of work to do, too, just like the rest of our team.”'

'Humber, who was a special teams star for the first nine seasons of his career, has been this year’s version of Lorenzo Alexander. The athletic linebacker has shined in McDermott’s 4-3 defense had with six total tackles before leaving the field.'

'Powell had been serving a four-game league-imposed suspension for violation of the NFL’s performance enhancing substance policy. At 4 pm he would’ve have reverted back to Buffalo’s active roster. Instead the Bills chose to release him.'