Archives for August 22, 2016

'“This football team works extremely hard but with that, there’s no guarantee of success — we understand that. But it’s great to see the hard work pay off. I was extremely happy. That’s two weeks in a row I thought they played well.”'

'“My focus right now is just finishing whatever I have here,” Manuel said after a recent training-camp practice at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford. “Whatever my situation is, wherever I’m at, I have to put myself in the best position moving forward, but also help this team win. That’s the most important thing.”'

'Saturday's surprising release of Karlos Williams has brought some clarity to this position. Gillislee looked to have the inside track on the No. 2 job, with Bush serving more in a specialized role, but a possible concussion against the Giants could change things for Gillislee. Jonathan Williams has distanced himself from the others for the fourth job.'

'Marcell Dareus: Whether he's being dragged there or voluntarily checking himself in, a stint in a rehabilitation facility hopefully will be just what the Bills' talented but troubled defensive tackle needs to sort out his issues. Nobody, regardless of how much money they make or their position in life, is immune to needing help sometimes. Good for Dareus that he'll get it.'

'“It hurt me man, it hurt me,” said Wilder. “I couldn’t reach out to him, but I know he’s going through it right now and he has a lot going on. It’s unfortunate to have someone like that get dismissed from the team, somebody that’s like my brother, somebody who’s been helping me the whole time since I’ve been here, putting in the hours studying the playbook and watching film. I’ve known him since 2010 so we’re like brothers, I lived with him for a minute. He’s gonna get a shot, it’s not like it’s over for him.”'

'The Bills have taken a slew of chances over the past few seasons on players with checkered pasts. Some have panned out. Williams is the latest who did not. Odds are, he won’t be the last. It’s just math. Wiser Bills fans won’t get fooled again. They know it’s probably just a matter of who’s next.'

'I don’t think Eric Striker is making the final 53. He’s been passed by several other outside LBs as far as practice reps and Saturday night he played the fourth fewest snaps on defense (9) and was only on the field for 5 special teams snaps. He just doesn’t have the length needed to play OLB at the NFL level, especially in Rex Ryan’s defense, and he’s not stout enough to move inside. He’d be the perfect practice squad player because he will go all-out every day and make others better, but I’m not sure if he’ll even have a look there since the Bills probably won’t feel he can replicate other defenders they will see on any given week, and that they just won’t view him as fitting in, so therefore not worth developing.'