Archives for May 10, 2016

'“He’s definitely going to be competing and he’ll be up for some of those jobs,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said of Lewis. “His work ethic in the weight room, all that – he’s a small-college kid – but he’s really, really taken off. He’s definitely here to compete for one of those jobs.”'

'Lawson, Ragland and Washington are three handpicked saviors of sorts by Ryan and GM Doug Whaley. For a peak at that thinking, here's more from Bart Scott…'.

'"It doesn’t matter what bravado or what you want to say or whatever mantra you want to have," he said, "at some point you have to deliver to back it up. And that’s where it comes from, as opposed to the personality of the individual players. By nature, defensive players are going to be aggressive and confident and want to get after you. But to take it to the level we had there in Baltimore, you’ve got to follow it up with the productivity.”'

'Zimmer, a defensive tackle out of Division II Ferris State, had to fight for every bit of attention he got coming from a small school. He had to contact his own agent to help get interest out there. He wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, so he had to attend the NFL Regional Combine, where he impressed in nearly every drill. From there, he had to compete at Michigan's pro day because Ferris State didn't have one.'

'Heck, the Bills might well be the NFL's only team with an official chicken-wing sponsor: Duff's.'

'But at some point, paying big money for your own players will cost you others down the road. The Bills had to let go of Mario Williams and Leodis McKelvin this offseason, and allowed Nigel Bradham to leave as a free agent.'

'Just as we did last year, a list of five players currently on the Bills roster that will likely need either a big summer in training camp and preseason, or a change in circumstances to crack the 53-man team…'.

'The team's top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, cornerback and second-round selection Ronald Darby, was ranked as the 82nd best player in the NFL by PFF. Among some of the standout statistics according to the website, Darby held the eighth-highest grade in pass coverage, and surrendered only 11.6 yards per reception last season.'

'“At Ohio State I didn’t really have a stance under center because I was never under center,” said Jones, who has a clear respect for Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach and wants the coaching. “I talked to him after practice and he showed me two things I was doing, which was showing up every once in a while. Those things were dropping my elbow and staggering my feet.”'

'“I’m very excited about my camp to just to see the young guys out there participating and having fun, and learning other guy’s names, learning how to play with other players and just giving back—I think that’s the most important part,” said Watkins. “Us athletes here, playing the game and these kids seeing us, we need to give back not only on the field but they need to see our faces and see us interact. Just to see the joy on the kid’s faces, they’re dancing, they’re having fun, they’re joking with me—I mean I get a kick out of it just having fun with the guys.”'

'“We think we’ve added some pieces that will help us get to where we need to go,” said GM Doug Whaley. “Just because of how we see them as football players and what they bring to this team. They love football and they come from winning programs. That an infusion of something that we need.”'