CBS Sports

‘McDermott’s aired out his frustrations shortly after the Miami Dolphins announced they will welcome around 20% capacity, which is up to 13,000 fans. The Bills face the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 2.’

‘The arrow is pointing up for Sean McDermott’s team, the club with the most continuity in the NFL according to ESPN, for a season in which continuity will likely be significantly more important than it’s ever been in the history of the league. With the start of the regular season only a few weeks away, here are three bold predictions for the 2020 Bills.’

‘The Bills have done everything they can to put Allen in position to succeed. He has a solid offensive line, a No. 1 wideout in Stefon Diggs, a deep burner in John Brown, and a shifty slot man in Cole Beasley. He’s got a play-caller (Brian Daboll) who seemed to figure some things out down the stretch of last season and should continue to make things easier for Allen as he moves forward. The talent is there to make any throw that exists. It’s a matter of making the right ones, at the right times, and getting the ball in the right location so his guys can catch it and the other guys can’t. We’ll see if he can take advantage.’

‘Allen is a polarizing figure when evaluating quarterbacks as the Bills starter does possess a ton of talent, specifically with his arm strength and rushing ability. When looking at the advanced statistics, however, those numbers are not so kind to the 24-year-old. Last season, PFF gave Allen a 63.9 grade, which put him 27th among all players with at least 250 dropbacks (including postseason).’

‘What’s interesting is that the 1982 and the 1987 seasons were both full of uncertainty — and Gibbs was able to win a Lombardi Trophy both times. In 1982, the team (then known as the Redskins) went 8-1 and placekicker Mark Moseley won the MVP award — making him the only kicker to ever be honored in that way. The 1987 season was much more interesting, as another strike occurred, but the league tried to move forward with replacement players and conducted a 15-game season. Washington trounced the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII, 42-10, as former USFL signal-caller Doug Williams became the first Black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.’

‘The $15 million average annual value to Dawkins’ extension does put him among the elite left tackles in the NFL and within the top-10 when looking at AAV. It’s also a massive leap from that four-year, $4.2 million rookie contract he is just wrapping up as a second-rounder. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network relays that Dawkins will see $34 million guaranteed in this new deal.’

‘McDermott has brought success to a Bills franchise that had fallen on hard times earlier this century. The Bills coach snapped an 18-year postseason drought — which was the longest in the NFL — in his first season as the head coach in 2017 and he has compiled a 25-23 record in his three seasons at the helm with two playoff appearances.’

‘”He’s doing so many things,” Norman said of White, per the team’s official website. “I’m just looking at him and just being amazed too because I’m seeing myself in him a little bit when I was coming out early on. Just seeing how he’s really explosive and how he’s taking every rep as if this was his last rep.”‘

‘Levi Wallace is the incumbent, basically. He had an fine rookie season in 2018 after going undrafted and began the 2019 season as the No. 2 corner. Although he broke up nine passes and snagged two picks, after a few games with uninspiring play midway through the season, Bills coaches decided to rotate Wallace and veteran Kevin Johnson — who’s now on the Browns. Wallace has to play more consistently to hang onto the job. And the Bills made a low-risk, potentially high-reward cornerback signing when Josh Norman was inked to a one-year deal in March. Of course, Norman rose to stardom in Carolina in McDermott’s defense but is now 31 years old coming off a career-worst season in 2019. These two will battle it out and play a decently large role in deciding the ceiling for Buffalo’s high-end defense.’

‘According to Garafolo, the Bills are increasing Diggs’ 2020 compensation by $3.3 million (now $14.8 million). Buffalo is also reducing Diggs’ 2021 cash by $300,000, but increasing the guarantee by $7.7 million — making it a total of $11 million. Additionally, the Bills reduced Diggs’ 2022-23 cash from $25.55 million to $22.67 million.’

‘”Yes, I’m game,” Allen said of competing against Mahomes. “We’re working on it. We had something in place actually, supposed to be going this summer, but obviously some COVID restrictions had that kind of shot down, but yes, I’m game.”‘

‘Despite his reputation within the organization, the Jets decided to released Winters on Monday, saving themselves about $7.3 million in cash and cap space. Winters didn’t stay unemployed for long, however, as he is reportedly staying in the AFC East by signing with the Bills, a team that recently lost Jon Feliciano, the team’s starting right guard in 2019, to a torn pectoral injury. Before signing Winters, Bills general manager Brandon Beane alluded to the possibility of second-year lineman Cody Ford, the team’s starting right tackle last season, moving into the inside to help fill the void left by Feliciano’s injury. Daryl Williams, Spencer Long, Ike Boettger, Evan Boehm and Ty Nsekhe will also vie to receive more snaps on the interior of Buffalo’s offensive line.’

‘Players began reporting to team facilities last Thursday, and they must record three negative COVID-19 tests before they are allowed to begin physicals and get their hands on team equipment. On Tuesday, the NFLPA announced that there have been 21 positive tests in the testing conducted as part of the training camp reporting process. Rookies, injured players and quarterbacks were allowed to start reporting last week while veterans from most teams began reporting to camp on Tuesday.’

‘A Sheriff’s Deputy located and pulled over the vehicle, which Oliver was driving, and then requested a DWI Certified Officer to the scene to perform a field sobriety test on Oliver, who had an open container of alcohol between his legs. According to the report, the officer who administered the test noted that Oliver may have been impaired by something other than alcohol. A subsequent search also revealed a pistol in Oliver’s vehicle.’

‘The teams must, however, take a coronavirus test and have it come back negative before they can participate. Training camp is currently set for late July.’