Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Because for all that Allen accomplished in 2020, for all the questions he answered about his viability as an NFL quarterback and the corresponding proving of naysayers wrong those answers provided, now comes his greatest challenge to date: Showing us it wasn’t just a one-off, a once-in-a-career year that can never be matched, or bettered.’

‘Before the team made its announcement, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted on Sunday that, “Based on few new Covid-19 cases (0 on Friday and 4 Saturday out of thousands of tests), low hospitalizations and good vaccination rates, we are rescinding the vaccination requirement to attend Bills games and stadium events. We will revisit in future if circumstances warrant.”’

‘It’s not certain where, but it seems likely that it would be erected somewhere on the current footprint of Highmark Stadium, given that all the infrastructure is already in place at that site.’

‘As the Bills head into their summer vacation – which ends July 27 when they return to One Bills Drive for the start of training camp – they look very much like a team poised to defend their AFC East division title and perhaps take the next step and get to the Super Bowl. Maybe even win it.’

‘“There’s definitely been a gap in terms of his playing of late, just in terms of him being here,” said coach Sean McDermott, who seemed a bit disappointed at the start of OTAs when he was asked about Lotulelei’s decision to skip.’

‘The Buffalo Bills, like many other NFL teams, have developed their own version of bullpenning with the way they liberally rotate defensive linemen. It’s so prevalent in Buffalo that last season, Jerry Hughes playing 58.9% of the snaps led the team, and 10 linemen played at least 20% of the snaps.’

‘“How I look at that stuff is whoever they bring in, that’s just great competition for the room,” Knox said. “I love that Jacob’s (Hollister) here now, he’s a great dude. No matter who they bring in, whether it’s a rookie or an All-Pro like Zach, I think it’ll be great just to elevate the competition. Iron sharpens iron and that’s a big philosophy that I have.”’

‘“What we’re concerned with is the things that we do to install, the things that we ask the players to do, are we doing that the proper way?” he said Tuesday during a Zoom call with reporters. “And are we going out there and executing the proper way? Whether it’s the run game or whether it’s third and long or red zone, you can look at rankings and all these stats and things like that, but ultimately it comes down to putting the players in the best position we can with a good plan and then them going out there and executing it.”’

‘“Tough decision,” said Beane, who clarified that the decision was not based on vaccine thresholds within the team. “We sent a crew up there a few weeks back. They looked at everything based on what the protocols are today. We’ve been in constant contact with the league because we really wanted to make it work at St. John Fisher. I think you guys have heard Sean and myself, how much we think it’s a great setup for us.”‘

‘But Kelly never had a season like the one Allen put up in 2020, a year so impressive that Allen finished second to Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers in the NFL’s MVP balloting and re-wrote the Bills’ record book.’

‘“I’m concerned about it, being very up front,” he said. “It’s something we’ve talked about and I don’t think the right word is trying to convince (people to get the shot); I think the right word is to educate and build awareness and then let people decide. It’s kind of two-pronged, if you will, with health and safety and then what you’ve got to do to do your job. I think those are the two prongs of the fork right now that must be considered and considered seriously.”’

‘Obviously, that would extend to the Pittsford campus where thousands of fans show up each day to watch practice. McDermott said several members of the organization have visited Fisher to discuss how things might operate if the Bills decide to come, but those talks are in the preliminary stage.’

‘“It’s definitely something I pride myself on, being competitive and going out there and preparing myself like I’m the starter,” Anderson said when the Bills conducted their rookie minicamp two weekends ago. “That’s something I’m excited about, the opportunity of just going out there and earning my spot.”’

‘And while the number of league-wide injuries increased slightly in 2020, it’s awfully tough to pin that on lack of offseason practice time, given that injuries are basically random and can happen at any point – practice or games – for a wide variety of reasons, one of which can be bad luck.’

‘Unless the Bills add some veteran competition before training camp or perhaps at the end of training camp once league-wide cuts are made – which is not out of the question – Hamlin has a great chance to earn the fourth safety spot.’