Two Bills Drive

'In 2017, he'll get another chance to show us what he can do. And he should be healthy. As long as he stays on the field, he won't have to worry about these silly labels.'

'To make room for Mabin the Bills have released defensive back Jonathan Dowling. Dowling was signed to the Bills practice squad at the end of the 2015 season. He tore his ACL in the third pre-season game in 2016, and missed the entire season.'

'“Well, Derek Boyko does a great job reminding me year-in and year-out,” he said with a laugh while gesturing to the Bills new PR Director who worked for the Eagles while McCoy was in Philadelphia. “I remember when I first got into the NFL as a rookie, he didn’t talk to me that much. Then my next year, when I was playing, he always would tell me that I have a shot. I have a shot, as a talent, to be a Hall of Famer. So that was kind of his motivation for me. Now we’re here and he feeds me the numbers and stats. The only thing we’re missing is a couple more years, a couple more thousand yards, and some winning games. You know, that’s what every player strives to do is have a great career. The only thing I’m missing is a ring and some more yards.”'

'A two-year starter in college at Iowa, Mabin (6-2, 200) is a long cornerback who posted 144 tackles, three interceptions, 19 pass breakups, a pair of forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He saw a lot of passes thrown his way playing opposite Desmond King, a fifth-round pick of the L.A. Chargers.'

'"Of course, I would love to be the [number" target="_blank"> one guy," Barnidge said. "I've showed the last two years, with multiple different quarterbacks, I was still able to produce without one single guy, whether it be injuries or just things not working out. I've shown I've been able to produce with multiple guys throwing the ball. But I don't think that's an issue, but if they want me to come in and help mentor, I've got no problem doing that, either."'

'It doesn't take much to conclude that Barnidge is looking for more money than the Bills, and other NFL teams, are willing to pay at this point. He knows he has something to offer that the Bills could use, which is the ability to make a difference as a receiver. The Cleveland Browns cut him right after they drafted tight end David Njoku, and their youth movement didn't have room for the 31-year-old Barnidge.'

'For years, left tackle has been regarded as the premier spot on the offensive line and the pay scale (left tackles make double what right tackles make) reflects as much. The lofty status is rooted in the fact most quarterbacks are right-handed, and left tackles protect "the blind side." That was the title of the book, which became a movie, chronicling the life of tackle Michael Oher.'

'While it might look odd on the surface to replace so many players signed as a free agents this offseason, it would be worth it. It’s not like those players would necessarily be gone for good, either. Let’s say the Bills release Ducasse, Davis and Holmes before Week One. They would carry some dead money on the salary cap and potentially lose those players to other teams, but if they didn’t sign elsewhere, the Bills could simply bring them back in Week Two, which is exactly what they did in 2016 with fullback Jerome Felton. And if they do sign elsewhere? Oh well. A third-round pick is probably worth it.'

'“People assumed I couldn’t run routes. So when they actually see me run routes, they’re like, ‘Wow, this dude’s fast and he can stop fast and he can run routes, and he can catch.’ It sickens me that people would think I’m just this fast dude who can’t run routes or can’t catch.”'

'Talley is so excited about McDermott the 14-year linebacker said "he's the best thing the Bills have gotten since Marv. He reminds me of a younger version of what Marv Levy would have been like."'

'"When players know that you’re pulling for them and trying to get them to do their best, that's usually a pretty good combination," he wrote. "I know I’d rather play for somebody I like than somebody I don’t like."'

'Watkins is trending toward becoming a bust because he's missed so much time, and when he has been on the field, he's struggled a bit – particularly this past season. It's unfair to call a player a bust simply based on injuries, which is why Watkins has avoided that label up to this point, but another injury-plagued season – or one with fewer than 1,000 yards – and Watkins will be in the conversation after going fourth overall in 2014."'

'"When the off-season began, it looked for all the world like Taylor and the Bills were headed for a divorce," said Burke. "Instead, Taylor agreed to a restructured deal that could keep him around through 2018–the final three years (2019-21) all will be voided, at a '19 dead-money penalty of around $5.6 million. He's penciled in atop the depth chart again, but the Bills have been hesitant to go all on him as QB1. Earlier this month, in an interview with The MMQB's Peter King, new GM Brandon Beane promised "open competition" under center. Taylor, 28 in August, is fighting to keep his job and trying to pin down enough value to buoy his post-'18 contract demands."'

'However, don't expect Seymour to just be handed the job at nickel. That's where our 'Don't Sleep On' candidate comes into play: Leonard Johnson. The former Buccaneers and Panthers player, Johnson has familiarity with Sean McDermott's system and has even worked with the first-team during OTAs as the nickel corner — over the likes of Seymour.'

'"Go Cubs Go" is Levy's new book described as a "heartwarming story about the journey of a Chicago Cubs fan", which echoes the life of Levy. The book teaches kids to never give up – much like the Cubs franchise.'