Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“I was going to college in Australia, originally, and we got bored one summer and found an American football at my buddy’s house and we went down to the field and started throwing it,” Edwards began. “Back then I couldn’t really throw it so we just started punting it because I played Australian football and that’s how we moved the ball down the field, we punted it.”’

‘It wasn’t until the next day when it was revealed that living and dying with each play took on a whole new meaning. Not only was Everett paralyzed by the hit, he nearly died on the field, and only the heroic efforts of the Bills’ medical staff prevented what would have been the greatest tragedy in team history, perhaps NFL history.’

‘“I’ve seen in the past where Von Miller’s posted things about his pass rush summit that he does every year and I saw the link to it this year,” Epenesa said Wednesday. “He put it on his Instagram and said, ‘College and pro guys DM me for an invitation.’”’

‘“Well, I think that’s understandable,” he said. “Until you’re able to silence that, it’s going to continue to come up. I think at the end of the day Josh wants to prove himself inside the building first and I think he continues to do that and show his teammates who he is and what he’s capable of.”’

‘“He finally got a full year under his belt last year so he’s playing more confident than ever,” said Beasley, who in his first season with the Bills caught 67 passes for 778 yards and a career-best six touchdowns from Allen. “He’s making throws that he wouldn’t even have tried to attempt last year. He’s starting to throw guys open a little bit.”’

‘“Five-, six-hour days, working, sweating, crying, throwing up from how hard that I’m going,” he continued, trying to paint a picture of the grind he endured to make sure Monday arrived. “There was definitely some depression through there. There was definitely a lot of anxiousness, anxiety, fear.”’

‘While contact was minimal as it often is even in non-COVID-19 21st century NFL times, there was bumping and pushing and shoving, and it looked like football. Up to this point all they had been allowed to do was strength and conditioning work, and then walk-through style drills without pads, essentially touch football as they installed their systems and dug into the playbooks, mainly from the mental side.’

‘The topic: How did he and his staff negotiate the strike-shortened 1982 season and ultimately lead the Redskins to the championship. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier revealed that nugget of information Friday during a Zoom call with reporters.’

‘Dawkins and Milano are clearly two of the core players on the roster, and getting them signed and sealed ensures additional stability in those two position groups.’

‘“Each and every head coach in the league would tell you that to be a good coach is one thing, to have a good staff is one thing,” McDermott said. “But to have the opportunity to work with a general manager that knows what he’s doing and is at the top of his game, and being fed players that we can then mold and develop as coaches, it goes without saying that’s a critical piece of what we’ve done here and what we’ll continue to do, and Brandon has had a big hand in that.”’

‘The reliance McDermott and Beane have had on their days in Carolina regarding some of their personnel moves is not new in the NFL as many other coaches and GM do the same thing.’

‘Terms of the deal are not yet known, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the extension will run six years through 2025, a massive commitment to the 46-year-old.’

‘But with Fitz throwing for 369 yards and two touchdowns, the Bills put on a stunning rally culminated by Rian Lindell’s 28-yard field goal as time expired to slay the dragon 34-31.’

‘“Well, I’m not sure, but to be honest in Montgomery County, they have a no-refusal law so you can’t tell them, ‘No I don’t want to go to jail,’” he said. “That’s how it was explained to me so I don’t know. Maybe so, but the law in Montgomery County, I would hope to believe that whatever color you are, you’re going to jail. I was on the way to my house and not expecting to be arrested. You never know, you can be doing anything and life could just hit you.”’

‘Oh, the Bills have flattered us, making much of the Twelfth Man, the thousands of pilgrims who come to the stadium and fervently believe they influence the play.’