Archives for March 28, 2018

‘”I’m an engineer, so I understand science, so I’m really into numbers. When I see something that I don’t understand or I want clarified, obviously I talk to them. But I bring stuff up to them. I’ve got my stopwatch out, timing passes as best as I can. … I like to do the science part of it. I contribute whatever I can, either analytically, mathematically, into anything we do. I like to get involved that way.”‘

‘”I’m excited about AJ and Nate, I really am,” McDermott said during the NFL Meeting’s annual coaches breakfast with the media. “Nate, coming off of his rookie season, I think sounds like he’s had a good offseason to this point. He’s invested in himself and has worked with some (QB gurus) outside of the building, which has been good in terms of guys meeting some of those quarterback-type guys out there.’

‘”This build is taking time,” McDermott said Tuesday during the NFL Meeting’s annual coaches’ breakfast with the media. “Look, we all wish we could snap our fingers and be there yesterday, but this is a process, as you’ve heard me say a number of times. So I like what we did in free agency with the acquisition of (defensive tackle) Star (Lotulelei) and the different players we were able to not only sign but also re-sign — the players like Ramon Humber and the guys like that that were Bills a year ago and helped us establish some of this foundation.”‘

‘”When you look at it, it’s an opportunity to get game-changing players at every position,” McDermott said. “It’s a deep draft in that regard and quarterback position no different. I’m still going through the work involved at all the different positions, but I can tell you that there are some game-changing players that are going be at or high in the first round right there.”‘

‘On potential trades: Conversations with GM Brandon Beane are happening this week at meetings about possible draft trades. McDermott said he has been in meetings in Orlando and has seen GMs and coaches from other clubs looking at “trade charts.” On Monday, Beane said regarding potential trades: “I’m not locked in that I would or I wouldn’t trade up, but we will do anything we can to make this team better.”‘

‘When plugging potential trades into our draft calculator, the first thing that becomes apparent is that any team trying to move to the top of the draft is going to pay a fortune. The high demand and limited supply of top draft picks almost guarantees teams will significantly overpay for a trade up.’

‘Rivera sat with reporters Tuesday morning during the coaches breakfast at the annual NFL owners meeting and took time to praise Lotulelei’s unheralded presence. “He’s one of those guys you can’t judge” through analytics, Rivera said.’

‘A new NFL rule passed Tuesday at the league’s owners meetings appears to be an effort to right that wrong. Beginning with the 2018 season, an authorized member of the league’s officiating department can instruct on-field officials to eject a player “for a flagrant non-football act when a foul for that act is called on the field.”‘

‘As part of the renovations, the Bills are expected to sell the naming rights to the club areas that are named after Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Bills broadcasting legend Van Miller and former Bills punter Paul Maguire.’

‘The long and complicated surgery involves the removal of part of Kelly’s upper jaw and a segment of his palate. Using a technique called microvascular reconstruction, doctors plan to take a portion of the fibula from one of Kelly’s legs — along with attached soft tissue and blood vessels — and insert it in his upper jaw.’