Olean Times Herald

‘His teammates went wild on the sideline. It was a strong reminder of why Hamlin decided to resume his football career after that traumatic, life-threatening night in Cincinnati.’

‘“I thought that we moved the ball at times, and then we stalled out or we weren’t, more than anything, probably, productive enough on early downs in the first half,” McDermott said. “And then in the second half, I felt a little bit better, moving the ball on a more consistent basis, Matt getting the ball out. I thought he got into a good rhythm, and my hat goes off to him.”’

‘That was no more obvious than when he stalked out of the locker room after the defeat by Cincinnati, before coach Sean McDermott had even spoken to the team. He had to be corralled by Isiah McKenzie and brought back in.’

‘On Friday, the sixth-year GM had to take a turn as faux head coach.’

‘What’c certain is, the Bills got the respect they so desperately crave from the schedule-makers.’

‘Of the 53 players on the active roster for the postseason game against the Bengals in Orchard Park last January, 11 are gone. Quarterback Case Keenum and running back Devin Singletary both signed with Houston, middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds went to Chicago, tight end Tommy Sweeney to the Giants, safety Jaquan Johnson to Las Vegas and slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie to Indianapolis. Wide receiver Cole Beasley, running back Taiwan Jones, safety Dean Marlowe and offensive linemen Rodger Saffold and Greg Van Roten are all still free agents.’

‘The controversy involved Kincaid, arguably the best tight end in the draft but seemingly not playing a position of need with starter Dawson Knox having been signed to a $52 million extension.

‘According to NFL.com’s analysis, Torrence is “a broad guard prospect whose physical limitations are balanced by his feel for the job and ability to use his size in his favor.’

‘That the Bills would seemingly waste such an important pick on a player — even if they had a first-round grade on him — when having just extended a blossoming tight end in Dawson Knox, whose best is yet to come, is inexplicable and reckless.’

‘The biggest is middle linebacker with the Bills having lost incumbent Tremaine Edmunds to Chicago in free agency for a 4-year, $72 million contract the salary cap-strapped team couldn’t have come close to matching. However, the best two collegians who fill that need — Iowa’s Jack Campbell and Arkansas’ Drew Sanders — are projected more as high second-rounders.’

‘Because it’s been winning, Buffalo finds itself up against the salary cap and with only six draft picks in the seven rounds, the fewest in general manager Brandon Beane’s tenure. Worse, the Bills are selecting 27th in a particularly weak lottery where as few as 15 players might have legitimate first-round grades.’

What’s certain is that Bills general manager Brandon Beane is facing his cliched make-or-break draft. He has only six picks, his fewest in a single year, and has to make every one count.’

‘The passing of the former Bills defensive tackle wasn’t unexpected as he’d battled Parkinson’s disease for 28 years.’

‘They touted McKenzie as some sort of super weapon and he “acted” the celebrity part via community appearances and podcast interviews. And though clearly a bit of a self-promoter, he was a genuinely good guy. But his numbers didn’t speak to his reputation.’

‘“You understand every year people are going to come after you, especially if you’ve won it. We’ve won the division three years in a row and it’s going to get harder and harder every year. We feel we’ve got some good continuity and we’re just trying to add the right pieces. But we understand winning the (AFC) East, this may be the toughest year yet to try and pull that off.”’