‘“Those are necessary evils, if you will, that you’ve got to go through sometimes,” McDermott said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “You’d like to have more flexibility — whether it’s cap, draft capital, so it is nice to be in a position now where we can move forward and continue to climb and get this organization where we’re trying to get it to and give the fans what they so much desire in Western New York.”’
Archives for March 2019
Free agency preview: Tight end addition would give Bills versatility
‘The tight end crop in free agency is thin. The tight end crop in the draft is deep, especially with pass-catching prospects.’
Bills’ free-agent shopping list: LB, CB might be best of what remaining positions offer
‘An obvious candidate is Anthony Barr of the Minnesota Vikings. While his early tenure might be spent answering questions about when Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdled him to pick up a first down last September, Barr could be a good fit in Buffalo. He has shown effectiveness in rushing the quarterback, where Alexander has excelled in his time with the Bills, and in pass coverage.’
One-on-One Coverage: Micah Hyde ready to help Bills find focus, identity
‘“Defensively, we had some ups and downs,” Hyde said. “Offensively, we were trying to find a quarterback. And special teams, it was the same thing; we weren’t really sure what our identity was. So I think, going into this season, we need to find that identity quicker, in training camp, so in Week 1 we’re ready to go.”’
With 1 TE on the roster, the Bills need to upgrade; here are 8 free agents to consider
‘“You want to make sure you’ve got the young quarterback, or any quarterback, protected,” McDermott said, referring to tight ends who can block. “If you start there and start building out from there, the tight end is an important position for a quarterback. You see how that helps a young quarterback whether he becomes a security blanket, he can turn a 5-yard completion into a 15-yard gain. Obviously, the work on third down and in the red zone, I think it goes without saying how important the position is.”’
Ralph Wilson’s local impact
‘The foundation’s generous grants have helped grow both the community garden and STEM education at Wellsville Secondary School with its STEM 2035 grant. The foundation started with a total of $1.3 billion to spend-down over 20 years (by 2035) and focuses its impact on Western New York and Southeast Michigan.’
What Bills fans can look for in the 2019 free agency period
‘“We have money, but we have to be judicious and cautious with it,” Beane said. “You can’t go on spending sprees for two reasons. You don’t want to overpay guys because then they can’t live up to expectations and two you don’t want to get into the cap hole we were in before. We also want to grow our own, so we have to be smart.”’
Inside the trade that never happened: Why Antonio Brown is not a Bill
‘According to multiple NFL sources who spoke on the condition they not be identified, the inability for this deal to be consummated involved three parties: the Bills, Steelers, and Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The Bills and the agent discussed a potential renegotiation of the receiver’s contract with the Steelers that has three seasons remaining for base salaries totaling about $39 million.’
What Bills fans can learn from the Antonio Brown saga
‘Let’s not forget that this is a team that has been unwavering in its support of running back LeSean McCoy amidst allegations that he is a serial abuser of women, children and animals. The Bills can stand by McCoy while those investigations continue, and if he is found to not be involved, nothing more comes of it. If he’s charged and found guilty of the accusations, they can simply say that new facts came to light and that’s why they are moving on.’
Roth: Bills deserve credit for pursuing Antonio Brown
‘The tweet storm that raged through the night — those memes depicting the look on Brown’s face when the Florida native learned the Steelers dealt him to a city even farther north than Pittsburgh that’s in a rebuilding mode — sure were hilarious.’
Only one Bills WR had more than 27 catches in 2018; here are 10 free agents who could help
‘Wide receiver, as we all know, has to be a priority, even in the wake of both Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott saying at the combine that they don’t really believe in the concept of a No. 1 receiver.’
Brandon Beane: In the end Antonio Brown trade didn’t make sense for Bills, Steelers
‘The big question that most insiders posed was if the trade was made would Brown show up to Buffalo? He said he wanted to go to a contender and the Bills finished 6-10 last season. Quarterback Josh Allen had an up-and-down season in 2018 and the future looks bright, but there are still plenty of question marks.’
Buffalo Bills don’t land Antonio Brown; so who should Brandon Beane target now at WR?
‘Let’s run through 11 names that might make sense for the Bills to target (via trade, free agency and the draft) in the coming months as they try to forget about Brown and move onto other possible solutions at wide receiver.’
Buffalo Bills interested in acquiring pass-rusher Frank Clark (report)
‘Clark, 25, is coming off of the best season of his young career after recording 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception in 16 games. In the last three seasons alone, Clark has racked up 32 sacks.’
Buffalo Bills, Antonio Brown and bad reporting
‘In the aftermath of this rumored trade, the same anti-Buffalo messages have been posted or tweeted by those on the outside, a vast majority of whom haven’t spent any significant time (or any time at all) in New York’s second-largest city. Despite what these aspiring travel agents say, there’s plenty to do in Buffalo and it’s not a city defined by snowfall.’