‘“The decision I made to retire from football is about coming to terms with the totality of my concussion history and what is asked of me as a linebacker,” he wrote. “My position put me at an elevated risk for further injury with the likelihood that I would be exposed to hundreds of even thousands of similar situations. I understand that in order to continue playing at the level expected of me, I would have had to put myself in those exact scenarios.”‘
BillsBeat - February 15, 2019
Buffalo Bills should keep close tabs on BC OL Chris Lindstrom at NFL Combine, says draft analysts
‘“The Bills are in dire need of interior offensive linemen, and Lindstrom is a very steady, reliable prospect. He was outstanding at the Senior Bowl.”’
Can we at least talk about Antonio Brown?
‘To say the Bills are not the Patriots is the understatement of the sports century. You can hold yourself as a disciplined outfit, and I suppose also find players who would consider that appealing, but if you don’t have wins to show for it, what are those players buying into?’
Bills Today: How Buffalo impressed recent free agent signee Spencer Long
‘“He just told me general stuff about Buffalo,” said Long of his conversation with Sirles. “How the building is and how he likes working there. The quality of life. How everybody is aligned with how we think. He had nothing but good things to say. If you appreciate hard-working, smart football players then you appreciate Jeremiah Sirles. That was enough of a sale for me.”’
BillsBeat - February 14, 2019
Bills largely avoided injury bug in 2018
‘Bills starters lost a total of 30 games to injuries in 2018. That’s an improvement over the 39 games lost during the 2017 season and ranked tied for fourth fewest in the NFL, according to roster analysis by The Buffalo News. The league average was 51 games lost to injury by starters.’
Bills' coaches pitch in at Buffalo City Mission
‘”Any time you can get out there and you can support your local community, wherever it may be, I think is a really fulfilling thing,” offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “As a staff, I know among coaches, the support that we have as an organization from the people around this area is important. This is obviously just a very small gesture of appreciation, but any time you can do that, I think it’s important.”‘
Buffalo Bills among neediest teams in NFL, says Sports Illustrated
‘The Bills must use their big, strong, swift QB, Josh Allen, on designed runs behind man-to-man blocking (similar to the ways the Panthers deploy Cam Newton). Success there starts with a mobile guard. Buffalo must find one who can pull-block across the formation, lending dimension to power runs and counters, as well as to play-action passes—tactics that best benefit Allen.’
Capaccio: Examining 8 potential free agent TE targets for the Bills
‘Considered by many to be the best free agent tight end available, Cook is coming off a big year, catching 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns. At 6’ 5”, 254 pounds, he’s always had the measurable and ability to be a standout at the position. But he’s already been on four teams in ten years, probably because he’s never really had the kind of season he did last year and had too many dips in production along the way.’
What are the chances the Bills will repeat as a top five defense in 2019?
‘The question now heading into 2019 is how likely is it that the Bills defense can remain in the top five?’
5 noteworthy numbers on where Josh Allen and the Bills defense led the NFL in 2018
‘Allen and Dallas QB Dak Prescott were tied with six rushing touchdowns heading into the final week of the regular season, but Allen’s pair of rushing touchdowns vaulted him to the top of the QB rushing TD list.’
Bills Today: Where Bills fans can watch Kyle Williams during the NFL Combine
‘Williams will provide analysis on the defensive linemen when they participate in their on-field drills Sunday, March 3.’
BillsBeat - February 13, 2019
Bills sign C/G Spencer Long, re-sign CB Lafayette Pitts
‘Long, 28, spent the 2018 season with the New York Jets, with whom he started all 13 games in which he played at center and left guard. Last March, the Jets signed him to a four-year, $28 million contract. However, they decided to release Long on Feb. 5 after watching him struggle, thanks in part to a finger injury that impacted his snapping, and not wanting to pay a $3 million bonus he was owed three days after Super Bowl LIII.’
Kyle Williams will be TV analyst during NFL Scouting Combine coverage
‘Williams’ role will be similar to the one set for retired Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas. He will be joined by the NFL Network’s Shaun O’Hara in providing analysis of the on-field drills for offensive linemen on March 1.’
Bills begin offensive line overhaul by signing ex-Jet Spencer Long
‘In one memorable game against the Dolphins — who were then coached by Gase — Long flubbed several snaps, which caused former Jets coach Todd Bowles to pull him. Thereafter, he played guard the rest of the year.’
9 things to know about new Buffalo Bills OL Spencer Long
‘The tendon injury in Long’s right hand affected his play in 2018. Long struggled to snap the ball out of the shotgun formation with the Jets.’
Did Buffalo Bills improve offensive line by signing C/G Spencer Long?
‘As a center, Long hasn’t received rave reviews. He had six errant snaps to quarterback Sam Darnold in a 13-6 loss to Miami last November. He was pulled from that game and returned as a guard when James Carpenter was injured later in the season.’
Former Buffalo Bills DT Kyle Williams covering 2019 NFL Scouting Combine
‘Williams will likely be featured during the defensive linemen drills on Sunday, March 3.’
Bills’ Jerry Hughes takes issue with Tom Brady video; asks for explanation from NFL commish
‘On Tuesday Hughes tweeted a video of Brady arguing with a referee and took issue with the exchange because Brady wasn’t penalized by the league (the video is unavailable to watch because it has been blocked by the NFL for copyright reasons).’
Bills sign OL Long to 3-year contract week after cut by Jets
‘The 28-year-old Long has 44 starts in 53 career games over five seasons. He spent his first four seasons in Washington, which selected him in the third round of the 2014 draft out of Nebraska.’
Bills sign Spencer Long, who was released by Jets last week
‘Financial terms of Long’s contract with the Bills were not disclosed. Buffalo entered this offseason with about $80 million in salary-cap space and was expected to address their problematic offensive line. Starting right guard John Miller and right tackle Jordan Mills will both become unrestricted free agents in March, along with backup guard/center Ryan Groy.’
Bills sign an offensive lineman, extend Pitts
‘According to NFL insider Adam Caplan, Long’s deal is worth $13 million, but he has the possibility of earning $15 million overall.’
Buffalo Bills sign free agent OL Spencer Long
‘Considering Long’s experience as both a center and guard, it gives them a safety net for the way the offseason plays out. Teams will try as hard as they can to control the offseason, but letdowns of missing out on targets to help the roster are inevitable.’
Bills sign for Jets center Spencer Long to three-year contract
‘Long, who reunites with fellow Nebraska offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles, spent last season with New York before being released.’
Bills sign center/guard Long
‘He battled leg and finger injuries during much of 2018 and missed three games. Long had trouble connecting on shotgun snaps at times, including a disastrous game in Miami where more than a half dozen snaps were off target. Sam Darnold threw four interceptions, including a game deciding pick six that followed one of Long’s poor snaps.’
Bills sign free agent C-G Spencer Long to three-year deal
‘With a new coaching staff in New York, Long, 28, was released in a cost-savings maneuver by the Bills division rival.’
Bills re-sign CB Lafayette Pitts'
The restricted free agent was a core special teamer for the Bills for the past two seasons, Pitts was second the team in special teams tackles with six during the 2018 campaign. Set to enter his fourth NFL season, Pitts also served as a reserve cornerback and made nine tackles last season in spot duty on defense.’
Bills Today: NFL.com offers this grade for the Bills 2018 draft class
‘Shook called Phillips an “excellent grab in the third round” expecting him to overtake Kyle Williams’ role next season while Johnson has “plenty of upside” as a cornerback opposite of Tre’Davious White. Edmunds looks to be a “mainstay” of Buffalo’s defense for years to come.’
BillsBeat - February 12, 2019
How Josh Allen's rookie year compared to final college season
‘“Yes, he did improve as the season went on this year, which tells me he is working on these things,” said Kubiak, who also analyzes the Bills’ quarterbacks for The News. “If he understands the footwork, placement and the technique he is striving for he can definitely achieve better consistency and accuracy.”‘
Former Bills lineman Mike Jasper finds path in coaching
‘”In this profession, not a lot of coaches get that opportunity,” Jasper said. “I’m blessed and look forward to it. I have a phenomenal staff. … The administration is 100 percent behind me. I’m comfortable and eager to get to the season because I feel like I can’t fail.”‘
Capaccio: 10 free agent wide receivers and how they might or might not fit the Bills
‘Here are 10 wide receivers whose contracts are set to expire who may be targets for the Bills, and my feelings on each…’.
Bills Today: PFF: Jerry Hughes one of best pass rushers in NFL
‘Hughes finished with a 19.7 percent pressure rate. Hughes had his lowest tackle output in his Bills career but finished with more quarterback hits than he’s had since 2014. Hughes’ final stat line included 37 tackles, three forced fumbles, seven sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and 18 quarterback hits.’
BillsBeat - February 11, 2019
Analysis: Josh Allen has more short completions for the taking
‘There are many reasons the Bills’ short passing game was poor in 2018. And there’s no doubt Allen has plenty of improvement to make in his accuracy.’
Bills Today: Who are the top pass catchers in the 2019 NFL Draft according to Sports Illustrated
‘Part of fixing the Bills’ 31st ranked passing attack in the NFL last season not only includes the further development of Josh Allen but includes getting him more weapons to throw to. While this year’s NFL draft does not boast any projected Top-10 talents according to draft analysts there is still talent to be found. Here’s a summary of what Sam Brief from Sports Illustrated wrote about the top receiving talent in this year’s draft.’
BillsBeat - February 10, 2019
Jay Skurski's Bills Mailbag: Is Buffalo going to Carolina's well too often?
‘So my long answer to a short question is I’m not overly concerned about the number of players or coaches with ties to Carolina.’
One-on-One Coverage: Bill Polian on starting new league, direction of Bills and Josh Allen
‘There’s no question that this executive and coaching team have a plan, it’s sound, they know what they’re doing. Sean McDermott is unbelievable. I mean, to get six wins out of the personnel group that they were effectively forced to inherit is amazing. And there’s still a lot of work to be done. I saw Brandon Beane say that the other day; he’s clearly cognizant of that. But it’s the right plan with the right people executing it. It’s just a matter of time before they put it all together. The fact that they made the playoffs a year ago and the fact that they got six wins out of a team that probably shouldn’t have been counted on for any more than three is witness to the fact that the coach coaches the living daylights out of them. He’s tremendous. So stay with it. Good days are ahead.”‘
Fan Mailbag: An added role for Tremaine Edmunds?
‘I think the comparison to Khalil Mack might be a bit strong, but there’s no question that Tremaine Edmunds can serve Buffalo’s defense as a blitzer. In the Bills scheme, Edmunds and Matt Milano are frequently positioned in the ‘A’ gaps prior to the snap to show blitz in certain down and distances.’
BillsBeat - February 9, 2019
Vic Carucci: Bills continue to keep a lid on expectations
‘Translation: Cool your jets on thinking the Bills will be cherry-picking other rosters for game-breaking wide receivers, dominant offensive linemen, a reliable tight end, a top-level running back, a transformative edge rusher, and a cornerback who can play as well as the one whose interception sealed the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl victory last Sunday – yup, that former Bill named Stephon Gilmore.’
Roth: When son said 'Go Bills,' father knew The Drought was history
‘And then came the text: “Go Bills.’’’
For Jim Kelly it's 'surgery after surgery,' this time for his back
‘“Maybe you’re thinking what I’m thinking…not another surgery,” she continued. “I know. Another mountain to climb. But…also, another opportunity to trust God and walk by faith.”’
Millard West grad and NFL defensive tackle Harrison Phillips returns for pushup contest
‘Phillips, a Millard West graduate who recently finished his first season with the Bills, was back home for a visit during the NFL offseason. He stopped by the school to catch up with former mentors, support the girls basketball team and compete in the halftime challenge.’