Archives for September 2016

'"Obviously when Shaq Lawson comes back that role might be a lot different, but I can tell you this right now, he earned it. You guys know it, I know it. You put the tape on, all he did was make plays, show up. He's smart. I think it's more about him than anything else."'

'nless the Bills stay remarkably healthy, this season has 8-8 written all over it, which would mean that not only did the Bills not win the offseason, it's possible they won't be winning much in the regular season.'

'As of right now, Vitale joins Glenn Gronkowski as the only other fullback listed on the roster. To make room for Vitale on the 53-man roster, the team has released linebacker, Jamari Lattimore.'

'There are also reports that former Bills center Gabe Ikard has also signed on with the practice squad, but the team has yet to confirm that transaction. Ikard was claimed by the Bills off of waivers last season before being released in December.'

'A sixth round pick in this past year's draft, Vitale was with Tampa Bay in the preseason.'

'In addition, the team has signed K Jordan Gay and WR Dezmin Lewis to the team’s practice squad. Gay was released by the team on August 31 and Lewis was released by the team on September 2.'

'“Glenn had a really strong game (Thursday in Detroit) and I saw some things in him,” Ryan said of the brother of Rob, the Patriots’ star tight end. “I thought he was more physical in the game and he ran the ball well. Without question, it was his most physical game, so that was impressive.”'

'Under current General Manager Doug Whaley, the Bills’ philosophy has been to draft and develop, then re-sign their own. In theory, it’s a sound strategy. But it’s not foolproof, as several of the following examples show.'

'Projected record: 8-8.'

'“It’s kind of funny,” he says, smiling. “Last year, nobody even knew who No. 5 was. Y’all were probably calling me Tyrone Taylor at the (media interview) podium.”'

'Watkins isn’t proud of Dunbar, but he’s proud to have emerged from there. Dunbar helped make Watkins the man he has become, the place that horrified him enough to live as straight as someone could from such serpentine streets.'

'Quarterbacks are judged on winning. If the Bills go 6-10, it’ll be because Taylor hasn’t won the games that matter. If you think six to eight wins and 4,000 yards passing is progress, you must love Tannehill.'

'Anyone who watched the Bills' reserve offensive line Thursday against Detroit might be panicking about the depth, but the truth is outside Groy, none of those players made the team. The starting offensive line is healthy, and the top backups are ready to step in. Headerson and Lewis are candidates to be healthy inactives.'

'While social media has been very kind to me, I do get the occasional tweet from a disgruntled fan, their avatar Ted Kaczynski or Beavis and Butt-head, who lost money on the Bills during their Super Bowl runs. When that occurs, I’m forced to summon my last thimbleful of dignity to not tweet back, “I didn’t tell you to bet your paycheck.” Regrettably, there have been times when common sense didn’t prevail and I hit “send.” Trust me, it’s futile to get into a Twitter feud with someone whose avatar is the Unabomber.'

'Buffalo fell into the fourth category, "If Everything Breaks Right …" at No. 23.'