Niagara Gazette

‘Hamlin took part in stretching, which was customary the first two weeks, but then he was an active participant in special teams and then again during 11-on-11 portions of practice.’

‘From Bills brass like the Pegula family to general manager Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott to politicians like Gov. Kathy Hochul and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, they all took turns sliding shovels into the dirt and tossing it into the air to start a new era of Buffalo Bills football.’

‘“Coaching is being honest, not only with your players, but yourself and making sure that if you didn’t like something, ‘OK, we could probably get away from what we’re doing here,’” Dorsey said. “I think you look at those things … and evaluate it and if it’s not something that fits our personnel, fits our identity, then we’re not going to run it as much. If it is then we’re going to continue to grow.”’

‘The Bills started six different cornerbacks and six safeties during the season as a unit that was once one of the best secondaries in the NFL was ravaged. But when Poyer returned to the field during voluntary organized team activities, the Buffalo was at full strength for the first time since Thanksgiving 2021.’

‘If the Bills are interested in Hopkins, the first thing to understand is that they aren’t getting the same player who made five Pro Bowls in six seasons.’

‘“Josh taking his game to another level really means being a great decision maker,” McDermott said. “… It’s been talked about adjusting his style of play enough to keep himself healthy and to play smarter at times, as well. And then I just think overall approach to the game. I’ve seen a different Josh this offseason. Not that it was bad before, but he’s got a new sense of focus, I would say, and determination, which is good.”’

‘Miller went on to say that he’d be happy to be ready by the season opener, but he’d also be ready if his return came on Week 6, adding, “But I can guarantee you it won’t be any later than that.”’

‘The 30-year-old Marlowe appeared in four regular season games, with three tackles in one start. He also started both playoff games after Damar Hamlin collapsed against the Bengals in Week 17.’

‘“I didn’t say I was going to do this, it kind of just happened, you know?” Johnson said. “And when I met with these guys, it was like, ‘Okay, we got to do more and let’s make the most of it.’ But we didn’t have any thoughts about, ‘This (has) got to be our plan.’ It just kind of happened.”’

‘The Bills have signed players brought in for rookie minicamp in the past, including Kingsley Jonathan and Ja’Marcus Ingram, but evaluating players on a limited sample and minor football activity makes it difficult to make a splash. “It’s just more watching the guys move,” Beane said. “Some guys are moving a little easier than others, different skill sets too. So I don’t want to call out one player, it’s one day, first time out. You look for who was consistently doing it right versus who had a good day today, not a good day tomorrow, you know, or vice versa.”’

‘The new feature on the schedule this season is four 4:25 p.m. Sunday games outside of the Pacific time zone. Buffalo hosts the Jets on Nov. 19 and travels to Philadelphia the following week. It also travels to Kansas City — the week after the Bills’ bye week — for a 4:25 p.m. game on Dec. 10 and hosts the Cowboys in the same time slot the following Sunday.’

‘Buffalo currently has 78 players on the roster and should announce its undrafted free agent class this week since rookie minicamp begins Friday. The Bills will get close to the 90-player limit for the offseason, but Beane said after the draft that he didn’t want to get to 90 so there was more flexibility before camp.’

‘For Imagine for Youth, Northtown Auto and Equitable Advisors combined to donate $400,000. Then, Imagine for Youth donated $50,000 to OiShei Children’s Hospital and $20,000 to King Urban Life Center on Genesee Street in Buffalo. The benefits of the event, Hyde said, are immediate as the money raised for the game goes right back to the Western New York community.’

‘On paper, Williams seems to lack everything but the size to replace Tremaine Edmunds as Buffalo’s on-ball linebacker. He might get a shot eventually, but it doesn’t appear the Bills are in a rush.’

‘How Buffalo was going to help Allen with salary cap limitations and minimal draft assets was the main question, but general manager Brandon Beane found a way. Seven of the team’s new free agent acquisitions are offensive players and four of their six draft picks are offensive players.’