Archives for June 10, 2016

'They had picked up a running back off waivers, Dri Archer, but he so far has chosen not to report to the team.'

'“He was my guy,” Dareus said. “We went to high school together. He helped me with a lot of stress off the field. He was my security back home. A real, real close friend. He worked at Wells Fargo. Just a real close friend of mine. When I’m home, we’re together somewhere just relaxing.”'

'Clay is their only viable tight end. He's the best they have there as a receiver and blocker. Take him away for any length of time, and the Bills' offense would suffer greatly. For that matter, take him away for a day — as was the case at Wednesday's OTA practice when Clay was missing for an undisclosed non-injury reason — and you saw the less-than-attractive results.'

'Whigham, a multi-year starter for Syracuse, was signed as a free agent after going undrafted in April. He participated in rookie camp and spent more than two weeks with the Bills in organized team activities.'

'"I mean, he's a big deal to me," Dareus said when asked about his reaction to Williams leaving. "He's a real close friend of mine. I wish we could have did something, but at the same time, hey, it's a business. They're going to do what they have to do. It hit us all different ways, but that's how it is."'

'The signing was announced a day after starter LeSean McCoy was the only one of Buffalo's five running backs present for a voluntary practice session.'

'To create a roster spot, the Bills waived former Syracuse defensive back Julian Whigham, the first of the team's 14 undrafted free agents in the 2016 draft class to be released.'

'With the addition of Herron, the Bills now have six RBs on their roster: LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams, Mike Gillislee, Jonathan Williams, James Wilder Jr, and Herron. They also have two fullbacks – Jerome Felton and Glenn Gronkowksi.'

'“Definitely,” he said about using his his father’s tutelage now as he and his teammates face the task. “You want to go out there and be the best, and we weren’t that last year, we all know that, and take it into account and seeing what I can improve on and what the whole defense can improve on. And I’m going to make that effort to try to make it happen.”'

'To keep everyone fresh, there's a chance Herron could stick on through training camp. However, the odds for him making the roster by the end of the summer are long with McCoy, Karlos Williams, Gillislee, and Jonathan Williams all ahead of him at this point.'

'"We've got a heck of a football team, but you can't win if you're not on the football field competing and playing," Kelly said. "I just hope we stay healthy, because if we do, and we don't make it, there's no excuses whatsoever."'

'As for the upcoming season, though, as long as he stays healthy McCoy should be an impact player for the Bills on the offensive side of the ball. This is still a run-oriented offense when things are going their way, and McCoy will be the centerpiece for that system. He showed both an ability on the ground and in the passing attack, which will continue — all while the Bills have a competent second running back in Karlos Williams to take some pressure and carries off of him. As long as he stays healthy, the Bills should get a big season out of McCoy in 2016.'

' In the upcoming season, Incognito will once again be the starting left guard between Cordy Glenn and Eric Wood, and be chraged with the duties of being the main pulling offensive lineman in Greg Roman's run-heavy scheme. There haven't been any indications of Incognito slowing down this year, and armed with a brand new contract and talent around him, it appears as though Incognito can continue his dominant ways from 2015.'

'Herron returns to Buffalo after spending time with the team during the 2015 season. The 5-10, 212-pound Ohio State product has played in 35 career games, starting three, and racking up 468 yards and one touchdown on 112 carries. He has also caught 31 passes for 277 yards. Herron, 27, originally entered the league as a sixth round pick (191st overall) of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft.'

'“That was a moment that he had been waiting for,” said Williams mother. “Every kid is excited about graduating high school and moving onto the next stage. I had been there too. I remember having a good senior year and I went to the University of Oklahoma and I had the best time there. So you want to put your kids before you in a situation like that. You always know the circumstances are going to change.”'