Archives for September 2016

'No one is confident of anything in Buffalo. Tyrod Taylor is a bit like Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater in that little was asked of him in 2015. His 20 touchdowns and six interceptions indicate the Bills could ask more. Will they? And if he goes down, it's unclear whether EJ Manuel has any tricks left.'

'Yes, Rex Ryan, Rob Ryan and some of the star players on the team got the unfiltered opinions of the fans who pack the stands each week. Among those featured in this video are the Ryan brothers, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, guard Richie Incognito, safety Aaron Williams, defensive end Jerry Hughes and cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore.'

'"But am I thinking about that? No. I can't think about that because if I think about it, it's going to happen," he added. "I love this game to the bottom of my heart, and would do anything to keep playing."'

'In Buffalo, Tate gets the opportunity to take over the return job ahead of veteran running back Reggie Bush, who was signed last month. Tate has returned two kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns, and has 57 catches for 901 yards and six touchdowns.'

'Tate, who turns 29 next month, will likely get a chance to become Buffalo's main kickoff returner. Veteran running back Reggie Bush has secured the punt-return duties.'

'"I just remember being hit and then getting up and being in the training room," Williams said of the "freak accident" with Lewis. "I couldn't even tell you what I was thinking, probably, because I wasn't thinking. It was just one of those things that just happened. I couldn't really tell you what I was thinking or what was going on in my mind because the whole time, my head was ringing. I was just trying to make sure that my neck was actually good. I was more concerned about my neck than my head."'

'In terms of a player and team’s style marrying up to one another, you can’t do much better in the draft than Reggie Ragland and the Buffalo Bills. It’s a shame the second-round rookie suffered a season-ending ACL tear in camp.'

'Safety Aaron Williams, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, running back Mike Gillislee, offensive tackles Cordy Glenn and Seantrel Henderson, and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman all participated without limitations. Williams, Goodwin, and Gillislee were all in concussion protocol recently, while Henderson has been dealing with an illness. Glenn missed most of training camp with an ankle injury and Robey-Coleman was out with a quad contusion.'

'Tate, 28, was released by the Cincinnati Bengals last Tuesday after spending the last four seasons with the team. Throughout his career, Tate has been used primarily as a return specialist with the Bengals and also the New England Patriots. Last season with the Bengals, Tate returned 27 punts for 171 yards, and returned 18 kickoffs for 413 yards.'

'Of course, he'll still have to go through the full paces of a game before it's determined if he's all the way back from both his neck injury and this summer's concussion, but this is fantastic news to start off the week for the Buffalo Bills.'

'Some will ask about Kouandjio, but the former second-round pick is a more natural fit at left tackle and has had his fair share of struggles on the right side as well. Of course, with something as complicated as Crohn's disease, you never can really be prepared for potential twists and turns. But if Henderson keeps improving and practicing, it's not so far off to think he can help the Bills at some point in 2016.'

'On kick returns, Walt Powell is one of the team's best options — before Tate, that is — and it was part of the reason he was kept on the 53-man roster to begin with. Tate, at the very least, provides some competition for Powell at kick returner, and some insurance at punt returner in case Bush flops in that role.'

'Fields, a 6-1, 248-pound Winston-Salem State product, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014 with the Oakland Raiders. Fields saw action in five games last season while with the Washington Redskins. Fields, 25, is a native of Henderson, North Carolina.'

'The Bills also announced that the team has signed CB Marcus Roberson to the team’s practice squad.'

'“I see him getting better and better and I think that’s just, he’s playing more,” Ryan said recently. “He actually looks quicker. He’s definitely taking to the defense. I love the temperament he has. I think that’s a real positive.'