‘On the first day, players will be allowed to practice for a total of 90-minutes, with a 15-minute daily increase, up to 2.5 hours of maximum on-field work. The league is officially referring to this last phase as the “Contact Integration Period,” which lasts through September 6th, but with a maximum of 14 padded practices and two days off over those 20 days.’
Archives for August 2020
Bills leaning on Andre Roberts dynamic return skills once again
‘While some players start to decline as they get older, Roberts, 32, has done the opposite. He still manages to perform at a high level each season, something Bills special teams coordinator Heath Farwell is amazed by.’
Bills eager to watch Hauschka, Bass compete for kicking duties
‘”It’s a classic training camp matchup,” Bills special teams coordinator Heath Farwell said. “You have a veteran kicker that’s proved him, that’s made some big huge kicks in the playoffs and throughout the regular season of his career. Then you have this young kid that’s hungry, competitive, and that’s trying to take his job.”‘
Bills kicking battle a “classic matchup”
‘“We’re trying to put them in all those pressure situations,” Farwell said. “We’ll bring them up at the end of practice. We’ll bring them up in the middle of practice.”’
Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson has good reason to remember (some of) 2020 fondly
‘In March, he took a journey to the Holy Land in Israel. It’s something he started planning with the Bills team chaplain two years ago. “It was a life changing trip for me,” Ferguson said. “We were really excited to venture out of our comfort zone a little bit.”’
Roberts still ready and waiting to get his revenge against Jets
‘“The fire is definitely still there,” Roberts said. “As long as I’m playing for the Buffalo Bills, I’ll have that chance to play them twice. That fire still burns within me regardless of who we’re playing, but I definitely have that extra chip when I’m playing the Jets.”’
Tucson’s Levi Wallace battling Josh Norman to start in Buffalo
‘Another football challenge stands before Tucson High grad Levi Wallace. What else is new.’
Bills sign DTs Justin Zimmer and Tanzel Smart
‘Smart joins the Bills after playing for the Rams the last three seasons. During his time in LA, Smart totaled 31 games where he recorded 21 tackles and one pass defensed. The DT was drafted in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Tulane.’
5 players to watch heading into Monday’s Bills training camp practice
‘Mario Addison – The veteran defensive end is the kind of addition that’s expected to give Buffalo’s sack total a major shot in the arm. Though the defensive line rotates heavily by design, will Addison perform at a level where he ultimately unseats veteran incumbent Trent Murphy at left defensive end?’
Bills Today | A classic training camp matchup
‘”It’s a classic training camp matchup,” Farwell explained. “You have a veteran kicker that’s made some big huge kicks in the playoffs and even throughout the regular season of his career. And he’s still doing it at a high level. Then you have this young kid coming in that’s hungry, that’s competitive, that’s trying to take his job. So it’s a great matchup. It’s been fun to watch. Every day it’s cool to be out there with them, and they both bring different things to the team that can help us win.”‘
Inside the Bills: Why Brian Winters believes fate landed him in Buffalo
‘“It was very emotional,” Bill Winters told The Buffalo News during a phone conversation Friday. “It was something I was actually thinking about. He had texted me 10 or 15 minutes before saying he was coming into East Aurora. I thought to myself, ‘Maybe drive by and see mom and dad,’ but I didn’t say anything to him. The next thing I know, he sends me that picture. He was very close with my dad, so it was the craziest thing.”’
Bills Mailbag: What’s the ceiling for Tremaine Edmunds?
‘Edmunds has already made a Pro Bowl at 21 years old. The next step is making an All-Pro team. Given all the attributes Tony mentioned, there is reason to believe that is in Edmunds’ future. One thing that sticks out to me about Edmunds is how much his teammates rave about him. It’s not unusual to hear teammates praise each other, but when they describe Edmunds, it’s clear his physical talent stands out to even the best athletes. “He takes command of the defense,” newly acquired linebacker A.J. Klein said this week. “It’s awesome to see a guy like him control a room. He soaks up the game.” Klein, who is 6 foot, 1 inch, noted that it was strange to feel small standing next to the 6-foot-5-inch Edmunds.’
Bills voice Murphy most likely to call road games from Orchard Park stadium
‘The status of game analyst Eric Wood, who also worked on TV coverage of ACC Network games last season, also is somewhat cloudy. He also is expected to do all games from the Orchard Park stadium. But there could be questions over whether his commuting from his Louisville, Ky., home can work in accordance with New York State quarantine conditions. Kentucky is presently on the list requiring people to quarantine for 14 days when entering New York.’
‘Mr. Undrafted’ Quinton Spain begins new contract with Bills
‘”When I first came here, they told me straight up, ‘Nobody’s job is safe. We’re playing the best.’ Coming undrafted, that’s all I know is competition, so that’s just a chip on my shoulder and the reason I really came back here because it makes you get better every year. You know they’re bringing guys in for competition every year,” says Spain.’
Column: 5 Bills on the hot seat as practices begin
‘Though the free-agent additions of end Mario Addison and end/tackle Quinton Jefferson could be viewed as responses to the free agent losses of end Shaq Lawson and tackle Jordan Phillips, the moves could also have implications for Murphy. So could the selection of former Iowa standout A.J. Epenesa in the second round.’