Niagara Gazette

‘“I was just excited and I was ready to play,” Hamlin said. “I don’t feel like I have nothing to prove at all. I don’t. But in a way, you know, it’s kind of like proving it to myself and just accepting a challenge of just being able to go through something so tough and just to be able to come back and overcome that. And then just to prove to yourself that nothing can stop you, nothing can stop you from doing what you want to do and reaching the heights that you want to reach.”’

‘“The road that I had to go through, I never for once thought that my talent level was low or anything like that,” Ray told the Gazette after practice Thursday. “I always felt like this is where I was supposed to be. I still feel like I’m grinding to be one of the best pass rushers I can be, football player I can be every day. … I was very grateful for every moment (of training camp), just taking it in and I was even more grateful for this to show everybody that I still got a lot to bring to the table.”’

‘“I remember, last camp, I was dreading getting out of bed and going to practice and just surviving through the day,” Brown told the Gazette after practice Wednesday. “Now I wake up, I’m like, ‘Gosh, I feel great. I’m gonna go workout at 6:30 and then have a great practice, push through it, wear myself out and then I know I’m going to feel good tomorrow.’ So instead of surviving, trying to thrive.”’

‘“I like this the organization and the way they do things,” Boeheim said. “We’re not quite that organized in basketball. We’re a little bit more spontaneous. Here, you got a lot of guys, everything’s orchestrated step by step. I learned from football, we chart our practice and we time our practice, too, but not quite like this. We’re working with fewer guys. So it’s a little bit easier, but it’s fun.”’

‘During practice, Bernard got his third consecutive day with the No. 1 defense — although he and Dodson both got No. 1 reps with Matt Milano out of practice Friday — and played exclusively with the presumptive starters Sunday.’

‘“Man, just seeing the fans out here and how they’re going crazy,” said Williams, a rookie linebacker. “It’s a great experience and there’s a reason why you want to be in Buffalo. The fans and the culture.”’

‘This season, however, Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has said it’s important to get Davis so easier opportunities this year, while teammate Stefon Diggs says Davis would be a No. 1 NFL wide receiver anywhere else. Davis showed why on Day Seven of training camp Thursday at St. John Fisher University.’

‘Overall, Bills quarterbacks were sacked three times, while Damar Hamlin undercut a route and picked off Matt Barkley. All of this also occurred without Jordan Poyer practicing due to vet rest and with head coach and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott missing practice for a family personal matter, but was slated to return for meetings in the afternoon.’

‘“You can’t hit that field with no hesitation,” Hamlin said. “You’re putting yourself in more danger by doing that. Like I said, I made the choice to play. But I’m processing a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say that it crosses my mind of being a little scared here and there. But like I say, my strength is rooted in my faith and my faith is stronger than any fear.”’

‘“That was the reason why I signed,” Sherfield said. “I talked to Brandon Beane and he was like, ‘No, I want you to become a contributor on offense.’ That was one of the main reasons why I came here. This is probably the first organization that I’ve been with, where they see the potential of receiver and being able to continue to take steps and take those leaps.”’

‘Pegula watched practice from an SUV parked behind the end zone. Her husband, Terry, split time between Kim and watching from the sidelines, while their son, Matthew, stood next to the car.’

‘“I’m just trying to take it all in, be present in these moments,” Poyer said Friday. “Not worried about what’s going to happen this offseason or next year. This is my time, this is our time to be here to learn, to grow and to evolve as people and as a football team. Let the dominoes fall how they fall. We’re gonna play hard and there’s gonna be some ups, there’s gonna be some downs.”’

‘But no matter who starts with the first group, Jackson eventually works his way back into the lineup by the end of practice.’

‘“None of us want to be labeled as, ‘Oh, this guy is for this situation, this guy’s from this situation,’” Harris said. “… That’s why we come out here and work so hard and you know, not just running the ball, but catching, blocking, doing all these things to make us complete backs. Because we all are gonna have to do a lot of different things.”’

‘“Forcing my way out of anywhere is not my goal,” Diggs said. “I don’t feel like I have to at this point. I feel like I’m in a great space, a great place, I’m loved and I’m appreciated. At the end of the day that’s all I want. That’s all anybody would want in any job that you do.”’