Buffalo News

‘”As far as third downs, completions is what you need. You have to first find a completion to be able to get past those markers. Sometimes it’s catch-and-run; sometimes it’s past the line, past the yard to get, so I’m really not sure what they’re tracking with that.”‘

‘Game temperature: 75-78 degrees.’

‘That’s because the two players taking up the most space under it are producing at a level far below what’s demanded from their lofty salaries. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and left tackle Cordy Glenn this season account for $30.6 million on the Bills’ salary cap, more than 19 percent of the team’s $159.3 million limit.’

‘Their bond dates back almost two decades to their time working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia. And the connection never waned, even as they set out on divergent paths in the coaching world before finally converging in Buffalo. But their current working relationship is admittedly a delicate one, an arrangement that could test the boundaries between adviser and assistant.’

‘“I like his speed. You look at what he did in his time in Chicago, you see the ability to separate and the speed element is certainly a factor there,” coach Sean McDermott said. “Then how physical he is and his willingness to block in the run game and also play special teams. Felt like it was a good addition.”’

‘At his current pace, he will end this year with the third most passing yards of any quarterback through his first three NFL seasons, behind only Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning (and ahead of Dan Marino).’

‘“His mobility. Like you said, they just don’t turn the ball over. That’s very impressive. I think maybe the Saints are the only team that [has] fewer turnovers than the Bills on offense this year. Tyrod does a great job with his feet [and] does a great job moving around. He is a shorter guy, so it is a little bit harder for him to see in the pocket. He does a good job of getting himself out of the pocket. As we said the other day, he is so dangerous in his ability to flick it down the field or to run with it. Their wideouts aren’t catching a lot of balls. They’re just a different-style passing game than the last two teams we’ve played, not that there is anything wrong with that. Every team builds their system around the strength of their players and Buffalo has done a nice job of that.”’

‘Amazingly, Fitzpatrick has started at least half of his team’s games in each of the last nine seasons. The only other quarterbacks to do that – Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco and Eli Manning – are all Pro Bowlers or Super Bowl winners who have spent the entire span with one team. Fitzpatrick has played for seven, and only one brought him in with a chance to compete for the No. 1 job.’

‘Clay plays in all situations for the Bills, having taken part in at least 80 percent of the offensive snaps through the first four games before getting hurt early against Cincinnati.’

‘“I don’t necessarily hear (the criticisms). I stay away from the media,” the Bills quarterback said before Wednesday’s practice. “We’re here to talk about Tampa Bay and getting ready for that. So any questions that pertain to that, I’m ready to answer.”’

‘”I still love this game,” Fitz said. “I love being out there, so I’m really happy with the decision I made.”‘

‘Don’t shake things up by instituting a new policy that requires players to stand. Don’t be confrontational with what seems to be less of an emotional powder keg than it was earlier this season.’

‘“It’s something that I’ve really put my mindset on, getting going and getting back to just playing my ball,” McCoy said before listing off all that entails. “Finding the end zone. First downs. Big runs. Big chunks. Making guys miss, You know, highlight plays. All that, even it’s good for me, but it’s good for our team. It keeps the offense on the field. … Just got to get going, man, get back to just playing our football.”’

‘McDermott is sure to couch his remarks, but he seems to be saying that Taylor’s marginal weapons are no excuse. He’s an inferior passer in a passing league. I suspect the Bills have already made their minds up on Taylor, and the quality of the team’s receiving corps will not alter their opinions on his future.’

‘Thompson spent one game in 2014 and 2015 training camp and preseason with Buffalo before an injury in practice in the week before the regular season led to him being waived with an injury settlement. Last year with the Chicago Bears, Thompson caught 22 passes for 249 yards with three touchdowns on 36 targets. Included in that stat line was an eight-grab, 110-yard performance against the Packers.’