‘A late-second-rounder or low-third could help the Steelers — who have been brilliant drafting receivers for much of the last decade — identify a new vertical threat. Perhaps the Buffalo Bills, who were trying to get involved last year, could oblige.’
Archives for February 2018
Free-Agent Setup: No major concern among Bills’ potential UFAs
‘At the top of the list is cornerback E.J. Gaines, who came to the Bills last summer in the Sammy Watkins trade from the Rams. Although Gaines battled injuries, as he has most of his career, when he was on the field he was a solid complement to rookie corner Tre’Davious White and helped the Bills’ secondary have a nice season. He will get offers, but given his injury history, his price may not be huge and the Bills would be wise to stay in the mix to retain him.’
NFL Scouting Combine: Why it still matters in giant draft process
‘Bills Hall-of-Famer Thurman Thomas is a famous case of a medical red flag at the combine, because he had a torn knee ligament that never was repaired. He dropped to the second round, where Buffalo took him with the 40th pick.’
Kim Pegula: Players, owners must find ‘common ground’ in social activism for business sake
‘She did not elaborate, but added, “I wouldn’t shy away from it at all, because I think there is a common ground and I think a lot of it is just more about communicating and learning from each other on both sides and coming to some type of compromise at some points. And sometimes you won’t be able to come to a compromise, but something usually gets done when that happens.”’
Former Bills team doctor shifts focus to family, new UB medical school
‘“There’s a lower level of anxiety now,” he said.’
Don’t be surprised if Tyrod Taylor banks the $6 million bonus owed by the Bills
‘Or, they make the play for one of the top kids in the draft. And if that’s what they do, then Taylor is the best option as the bridge quarterback because believe it or not, his $18 million cap figure (after the bonus kicks in) isn’t out of line in this day and age of quarterback salaries for one with seven years in the league, three as a starter.’
Jonathan Martin taken into custody after threatening Buffalo Bills’ Richie Incognito, others (report)
‘The message tagged Incognito, Mike Pouncey and two private accounts while also adding hashtags for the Miami Dolphins and Harvard-Westlake high school.’
Old Takes Exposed: The Buffalo Bills are tanking following Sammy Watkins, Ronald Darby trades
‘On August 11, Buffalo traded away Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby in separate trades. Following the trades, hot takes were flying. One of the most popular beliefs was that the Bills were tanking the 2017 season to position themselves for one of the 2018 NFL draft’s best quarterbacks.’
5 teams that should consider trading for Buffalo Bills QB Tyrod Taylor
‘After the retirement of Carson Palmer, the Cardinals are somewhat desperate for a quarterback. New coach Steve Wilks has made it clear he would like to add a veteran quarterback given that Arizona is built to win now. Taylor would be a solid fit for Arizona, where he would be surrounded by a more talented stable of pass catchers.’
Jonathan Martin posts disturbing photo on Instagram referencing Bills OL Richie Incognito
‘Martin posted a photo on his Instagram which said “When you’re a bully victim & a coward, your options are suicide or revenge.”’
CB Vontae Davis to “reflect” on bills, other free agent visits
‘EJ Gaines, Shareece Wright, and Leonard Johnson are all unrestricted free agents. Vontae Davis, a free agent from the Indianapolis Colts, is as well and he visited with the Bills organization on Feb. 15. According to his Twitter pages, he’s now reflecting.’
Bills owner Kim Pegula seeks compromise with players on social protests
‘”So a lot of [Bills players] just didn’t understand or know the impact that it had on the business, the organization and the community — good or bad. So I do think there’s definitely an impact. I wouldn’t shy away from it at all. I think there is a common ground. I think a lot of it is more about communicating and learning from each other on both sides and coming to some type of a compromise at some point. Sometimes you won’t be able to come to a compromise. But something usually gets done when that happens.”‘
Rapoport: I do not expect Bills to cut Taylor
‘The main thing is, everyone assumes that the $6 million is up, the Bills are going to cut him and figure it out from there. That is definitely not my understanding. I would be very surprised, do not expect them to just cut him. I would expect them, like a lot of teams do, to try to upgrade at the position. He was a starter good enough last year to help them get to the playoffs. A starter good enough to get benched, and a starter good enough to come back, rebound, and play well from that. He’s not perfect, but he’s good enough to be a starter in the NFL, and they’re not just going to cut that.’
Bills Today: Tre’ named one of NFL’s top 10 cornerbacks in 2017
‘Marshon Lattimore got more headlines and awards, but he wasn’t the only rookie corner to announce his presence to the NFL with authority. The Bills’ first-round pick proved to be a key piece in rebuilding Buffalo’s secondary under the watch of first-year head coach Sean McDermott. Opposing quarterbacks registered a 68.5 passer rating when testing White in coverage, a top-10 mark among qualifying cornerbacks. White intercepted five percent of the targets sent his way, helping Buffalo rank sixth as a team with 18 picks. The Bills have their own budding shutdown corner in place as they look to give an encore to their long-awaited playoff return from this past season.’
Free agent Focus: Choices at receiver not overwhelming
‘In 2017, the story of the Bills’ pass-catching corps was more about who they lost than who they found. Trading away No. 1 target Sammy Watkins was seen as a clear case of purging for the sake of rebuilding through the draft. It provided a clean sweep of the previous top three along the free-agent departures of Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin. Newcomers Zay Jones, a second-round draft pick, and Jordan Matthews, acquired via trade, had minimal impact.’