Archives for August 2015

'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.'

'“It rejuvenates you honestly, when you’re able to go to a different place,” Tomlinson said this week, after a long post-practice conversation with McCoy. “You go to a place where you’re wanted and you go to a place where they know how to play the style you’re used to—that was my case.”'

'“IK is a good guy,” said FB John Conner, who played with Enemkpali last year in New York. “From the time I was there, he was a rookie who soaked in as much knowledge as he could. I just remember him being a tough player, a tough practice player as well. A guy that I went against quite often in practice and he was just always tough to go against.”'

'The most compelling story surrounding the team the past month, other than the unending question of who will start at quarterback, has been the bizarre issue with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.'

'True, this amicable 6-foot-1, 251-pounder may be the most important player in Ryan’s defense. Because if one wire gets crossed — if those red and green lights at the intersection of a Ryan blitz get mixed up — a 10-car pile-up will ensue.'

'“Honestly, if we don’t have the No. 1 defense this year, it was a failure in my mind and that’s everybody’s mindset,” Williams said. “And I know a lot of teams out there say, ‘We have the No. 1 defense.’ They’re probably just saying that to be positive or have that encouragement, whatever. But this team and this building and this locker room and this staff, we know that if this defense is not number one, it was definitely a failure.'

'“I know our fans are excited. I expect we’ll have a huge crowd,’’ Ryan said Tuesday after practice at St. John Fisher College. “I think that will be good. I don’t want our crowd peaking too early. We don’t need to just unload on Carolina, let’s save it for our first game. But let’s get in there, get excited, and I’m looking forward to it.’’'

'"Not really, because I think we are going to look at it over at least a two-game stretch," Ryan said. "So I think that will be where they are more balanced probably. But each guy will get a shot."'

'"I just tell him to get his mind right," Tomlinson said. "Be prepared to carry the ball as much as he can take it. Also catching the ball out of the backfield. This team really needs him to be dynamic and really needs him to get back to the point where he led the league in rushing. If they can get that type of production from LeSean, this will be a playoff team. I believe they'll get a quarterback to manage the game. It might be Matt Cassel, but he can manage the game. He'll make plays. Sometimes you can even throw it up to Sammy Watkins and he can make plays. But rely on the run game and this team will have a decent shot."'

'"I think we're gonna look at it over at least a two-game stretch, so I think that'll be where they're more balanced, probably," Ryan said. "But each guy will get a shot. I know Seattle had a similar thing. Remember when they had (Tarvaris) Jackson, (Matt) Flynn and the other quarterback (Russell Wilson). Let's just hope it works out the same way."'