Archives for March 2017

'"I think the hardest part has been our fans not having a winner," Pegula said. "It's very difficult. We're not happy with what we've been doing on the field. We need to get better. We're going to work harder, and the whole organization is behind that philosophy: work harder, day by day, week by week, Sunday by Sunday and just try to get better."'

'"That hasn't been discussed in any detail," Pegula said. "Everybody knows we're new owners. We're a smaller market in the league, so we just need to be happy with what we have right now with our stadium and call it home."'

'Andre Holmes: Why he could emerge as the team's No. 2 receiver: Holmes signed the most lucrative deal among the free agent receivers signed by the Bills. Before the Raiders drafted Amari Cooper and signed Michael Crabtree, Holmes showed he could be a contributor by catching 47 passes for 693 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. Although it could change based on the 2017 NFL draft, Holmes seems like the likeliest option to start across from Watkins.'

'"I'm a big believer in analytics and technology," McDermott said. "Again, just to try and gain that competitive advantage. I think to ignore that is irresponsible. That's going to guide us in our decisions at the end of the day. You combine that with your gut instinct and you put yourself in a position to make those sound decisions."'

'"It's really been seamless," McDermott said. "Doug and his staff laid a nice foundation for us in terms of free agency and really you kind of rewind and look at the roster first. We were able to get in. Doug and his staff went to the Senior Bowl and we stayed back so we could get a handle on our roster, which is key. We have to understand our situation first and then look to improve our situation. We did that, I believe, exponentially. Through free agency and then at the Combine they laid a nice foundation again with who we were going to look at. We had those nightly meetings where we were able to meet some of the young men, and it's been seamless so far."'

'"You respect that about him and that whole organization in terms of their drive to be the best year after year," McDermott said. "It's one thing to have success. It's another thing to sustain it. That to me starts from leadership. They set the tone really. I'm sure he does a great job in that regard. Obviously, it's out there. They've been able to sustain success and we're all scrambling to try to catch up with them."'

'In other linebacker news, McDermott said he didn’t know why an NFL team hasn’t signed Zach Brown, but the coach didn’t take it off the table, mentioning shortly a “third wave” of signing across the league will take place.'

'“We had a guy at Carolina that agreed to come in. So he and I would kind of go at it in the mornings and do some sparring and what-not. I enjoyed it. It was a heckuva workout. I haven’t found that in Buffalo yet but I’m sure in due time that will open itself up.”'

'Speaking with reporters Tuesday at the owners meeting during an early morning coaches breakfast – not as early as his MMA sessions – McDermott sounded like a teenager turned loose on the new Kong ride at Universal Studios (or a man freed from his first Buffalo winter).'

'McDermott said Hyde will start at safety in the Bills' defensive backfield. He figures to be the Bills' starting strong safety, but eventually Hyde could be used similarly to how he was in Green Bay.'

'"I had our video guys tape it last weekend, the [NCAA] finals," McDermott said at the AFC Coaches Breakfast today. "I was at the NCAA basketball tournament, so I didn't know if I'd get a chance to watch it. … And I watched it and I was tearing up, because you know what the young men have put into it with the preparation and dedication to the sport and you look at their bodies and they're warriors, just animals, in terms of what they put themselves through. And they're hugging their coaches.'

'McDermott also dismissed the report at the AFC coaches' breakfast earlier Tuesday, saying, "Like I said at my opening press conference, I'm comfortable with the situation. That hasn't changed at all. I look forward to working together."'

'“We just spent the afternoon working together, the three of us,” Pegula said, referring to McDermott, Whaley, and himself. “Those guys get along great. They’ve been making some key decisions, and they work well together.”'

'“Reggie had the setback last year. I know Reggie from from tape in college and what he can do and we'll start at the middle linebacker position, really, is where we see him,” McDermott said. “And in what innately comes with that position is the leadership skills. I know that his character, really, he possesses those leadership skills – to get us lined up, be the antenna so-to-speak of the defense….and over the years when you look at that position in this system. Guys like Luke Kuechly, guys like Jeremiah Trotter, that can check the defense, get us in and out of bad calls, bad defenses, set us up for success. That's an important part of that position, and Reggie, from what I can tell, what I’ve observed and been told about him, he has that DNA.”'

'Among the highlights, the owner touched on the relationship between general manager Doug Whaley and head coach Sean McDermott, new stadium talk, and much more.'