Archives for August 13, 2015

'The Jets look like a dysfunctional bunch with varying degrees of respect for a quarterback that hasn’t earned universal respect. The Bills look like a welcoming center for the discarded and disgraced.'

'By claiming Enemkpali off waivers, Ryan adds another troubled player and tweaks the Jets in the process.'

'He joins a locker room that features other talented, but controversial, athletes. The Bills signed offensive lineman Richie Incognito and former Jets receiver Percy Harvin this past offseason. The addition of Enemkpali immediately raised questions about the stability of the Bills' locker room and team chemistry.'

'Just when you thought this story couldn't get any crazier …'.

'All of this is nothing new for Ryan, who has taken in many players with baggage during his tenure as a head coach.'

'Ikemefuna “IK” Enemkpali might get another shot at taking out Jets quarterback Geno Smith. And he would have the blessing of former Jets head coach Rex Ryan.'

'"It'll be really exciting because I know I worked tremendously hard to get back to this point," he said. "And to also have another opportunity to be on the field, it's always a blessing, and I don't take it for granted."'

'An NFL spokesman said Wednesday that the league is reviewing the situation. Any incident involving workplace violence that occurs off the football field falls under the NFL's personal conduct policy. That means any team interested in signing Enemkpali, a sixth-round pick last year out of Louisiana Tech, might have to weigh a possible suspension.'

'"IK wouldn't be here if we didn't think he could be successful on the football field and in our community," Ryan said Wednesday. " … We had IK last year. He was a good teammate."'

'Mark Poloncarz, the Erie County (N.Y.) executive who has been involved in the Bills' stadium negotiations in the past, expressed disappointment via Twitter.'

'Ryan was very serious during his press conference on Wednesday and he said, “It was a terrible thing that happened and IK made a mistake, there’s no question about that, but instead of listening to this person or that person or whatever, we had IK last year and he was a good teammate.” Ryan added, “In his background he was a former captain of his team, I know he had an issue, but the big thing about this is if we didn’t think this young man would be successful on the football field, in our locker-room and in our community, he would not be here.”'

'Between the three quarterbacks, Tyrod Taylor provided the best, and most accurate day. Taylor hit his receivers in stride through team drills, and even though there weren’t any huge plays for him, it was a consistent effort. He also provided a few sparks while running the read option and getting out into the open field. He even high stepped in the middle of his runs a couple of times, which sparked some cheers from the crowd.'

'“I hate to say this because it’s going to sound like I’m tooting my own horn, but it’s the play of our top two picks,” Whaley said in a recent radio interview on Bills flagship WGR. “With the Leodis McKelvin injury Ronald Darby has stepped up and exceeded our expectations and John Miller has been rock solid. To go against the two Pro Bowlers every day in practice and hold his own has been very exciting to see.”'

'“The big thing about this is if we didn’t think that this young man or anybody else could be successful on the football field, in our locker room or in our community he would not be here,” said Ryan. “I know I’ve said that before about other people and I mean it.”'

'Enemkpali entered the NFL in 2014 as a sixth round (210th overall) draft pick of the New York Jets. The 6-1, 261 pound Louisiana Tech product appeared in six games as a rookie last, recording three tackles on special teams.'