Archives for December 30, 2016

'Kouandjio has looked excellent the past two weeks starting in relief of Cordy Glenn and didn't give up a single pressure to the Dolphins on Saturday in 46 pass-blocking snaps. The former second-round pick has been somewhat of a forgotten man on the line, but he may well be playing himself into a starting role for 2017.'

'But if Taylor suffered an injury on Sunday, the team would be required to pick up the option, causing the decision to start Manuel. You can also add the Buffalo News report about Taylor’s “serious” groin injury as another curveball that the team might be stuck with.'

'The scary part for the Bills is the fact Taylor has to pass an off-season physical by March 11 to avoid his contract from becoming guaranteed, with the franchise also needing to decide by that date whether or not to exercise options for 2018 through 2021.'

'“I don’t know what kind of adjustments they make or game plans they make on a week-to-week basis,” he said of the Bills. “But I can tell you that I loved playing it. I definitely loved playing in Rex’s defense and a lot of guys did.”'

'Keion Eric Carpenter, 39, died Thursday morning, a day after he fell in a “freak accident” while running with his son, a relative said. He struck his head, lost consciousness and slipped into a coma while on vacation in Miami with his wife and four children. Carpenter died at Jackson South Community Hospital in Miami, a family spokesperson said.'

'Bush has minus-3 yards on 12 carries.'

'"It's definitely frustrating," linebacker Preston Brown said. "You never want to see a coach go, especially one that we all loved here in Buffalo. You don't want to see that happen, but we know that we didn't make it work, so hopefully whoever comes here next year makes this thing work and we get it rolling."'

'"There was a scuffle on the sideline," Rizzi said. "I was clearly just trying to be a peacemaker there, trying to stay between our guys and their guys. Things like that on the sideline sometimes happen. Good job by the officials getting everybody out of there quickly. Move on. No big deal."'

'That would keep Taylor under contract with the Bills, and they might be stuck with Taylor even if the incoming head coach does not have Taylor in his plans.'

'Jets, 20-13.'

'Carpenter was taken to Jackson South Community Hospital and remained in a coma for 24 hours, spokesman Casay Vaughn told the Baltimore Sun.'

'"It's a lot easier to be off your feet, staying inside, rather than being out here for two or three hours, standing on the turf field doing nothing," Lynn said. "So we — I gave him the veteran's day off."'

'Maybe it's the culture that needs to change or maybe it's the players, but something hasn't been right there in quite some time. They've tried offensive coaches and defensive coaches; nothing has worked. They've only even finished over .500 in two of those seasons (2004 and 2014) and they went 9-7 both times. We'll see if they can find the right recipe moving forward.'

'Taylor himself told the News that he's not looking to leave Buffalo, but it may not be up to him. Whoever is hired to replace Rex Ryan as the team's coach (Lynn reportedly has the inside track on the full-time job) may want to bring in his own quarterback to start fresh. That desire could get complicated by Taylor's surgery and contract guarantee, so it's no surprise the Bills want to get this sorted out as soon as possible.'

'While Ryan’s firing was almost inevitable, it won’t change the turmoil-filled culture in Buffalo. Those issues go higher up the chain, beyond the head coach. They haven’t drafted particularly well and a few players have had character flaws brought into the spotlight.'