Archives for August 3, 2013

‘”No, he doesn’t have that look in his eye at all,” Kolb said. “The thing I like about him is he doesn’t have pride as far as when he doesn’t know something, he asks the question. A lot of times players don’t do that because they want to look smarter than they are. He’s not afraid to put himself out there and be vulnerable and that’s how you learn fast and get better. I commend him for that.”‘

”He had been scheduled to make $2.75 million this year and $3 million next year, numbers that would take some serious in-field convincing for the Bills to keep him. Although Smith provides stellar core-four special-teams support, his role as a receiver is pedestrian. But his base salaries are now $1.625 million this year and $1.4 million next year.’

‘an Kevin Kolb had his best day of camp, looking especially sharp in the red zone. Manuel took 30 snaps, Kolb 29 and Jeff Tuel eight.’

‘Troup reported to training camp as healthy as he’s been post-injury – which first occurred in the final game of the 2011 preseason – and he believes he’s finally in a position to be a prime contributor to the Bills defense.’

‘”He’s going to get evaluated, and it’s always tough when those situations happen,” said coach Doug Marrone, who also announced that tight end Mike Caussin left practice with a hip injury. “It would be a major concern if we were talking about it during the season. Right now, a veteran player who has proved himself, we’ll just see what the doctors say, it is what it is and we’ll deal with it from there.”‘

‘Johnson hasn’t missed a game in the past three seasons despite a variety of aches and pains and underwent groin surgery last off-season. Last spring he played through a sore back. He is the team’s only established receiver and has had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and is expected to be an integral part of new offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s up-tempo system.’

‘”Our coach said that we are the most talented group on the field after the defensive line,” said Bills second-year receiver T.J. Graham after Friday’s training camp practice at St. John Fisher College in Rochester. “We feel the same way, and we are going to play our part this year.”‘

‘Bills coach Doug Marrone said after practice that he did not know the severity of the injury and that Johnson will be evaluated by Buffalo’s doctors.’

‘In addition, tight end Mike Caussin departed practice early due to a sore hip.’

‘”Most successful quarterbacks have that ‘it’ factor. He has that ‘it’ factor,” Whaley told XM NFL Radio. “When he walks into a room, there’s a presence and people take notice. He’s going to be the face of our franchise, and it’s not too big for him.”‘

‘”He’s going to get evaluated, and it’s always tough when those situations happen,” Marrone said after practice. “It would be a major concern if we were talking about it during the season. Right now, a veteran player who has proved himself, we’ll just see what the doctors say, it is what it is and we’ll deal with it from there.”‘

‘For the first time, it seemed as though the defense were the ones being caught off-guard by their teammates on the opposite side of the ball. While it wasn’t a giant leap forward for the unit, it’s still a day the offense can look to and build from.’

‘That was, until top wide receiver Stevie Johnson went to break his route over the middle of the field, and immediately pulled up lame and grabbed at his left hamstring. The wideout took a few more hobbling steps before falling to the grass in the back of the end zone.’

‘This is not to say that Manuel is close to being a finished product. He’s still a work in progress, and there will be growing pains along the way that will result in foolish interceptions and sacks and fumbles. But I’d rather see the kid get out there and learn the ropes in real time than go through another season of watching a retread playing QB.’

‘It was the best day the offense has had in training camp and it took a kick in the pants for it to happen.’