Archives for April 22, 2017

'Normally, the Bills-Chargers game would be carried on CBS, but the league recently flexed some games out of its regular network to balance the schedule. The 4:05 p.m. game is the only one at that time on Fox on Nov. 19, which means it will likely give the Bills more national visibility. But even that game isn't on a Fox doubleheader weekend.'

'He is experienced at playing on an island. That was how the Buckeyes liked to used him. Conley might not be the athletic equal of his former teammate at Ohio State and the draft's projected top cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, but he's plenty talented. What Conley does have is considerable instinctiveness and awareness. He does an excellent job of anticipating routes and positioning himself to use the sideline to his advantage.'

'With the Bills, there was a huge lack of discipline. There has been for many seasons. You could see it in the penalties they took, the mindset of the team, the approach they took.'

'Referring to the many Bills fans who travel to Florida for the game every year, Salvatore also wrote, “The ‘New Year’s Eve Blunder’ will cost the city of Miami a lot of money, disappoint thousands, and for me personally, it has taken the heart right out of me."'

'The fact that Watkins has battled at least seven different injuries and has been 100 percent healthy on a game day perhaps a handful of times in three years only exacerbates how dumb this move was.'

'With Bills fans still stewing about the Lamonica trade, the folly of the draft commenced, and when it was done, the Bills picked 19 players over the course of 17 rounds. Only three would ever wear a Buffalo uniform, and only one — first-round defensive back John Pitts — would contribute in a somewhat meaningful way. The other two players who made the team as rookies in 1967, second-round lineman/tight end Jim Lemoine and fourth-round offensive lineman Gary Bugenhagen from Syracuse, played sparingly and were gone before the 1968 season began.'

'Conley's draft stock has been on the rise. He has experience at both cornerback spots and could thrive in Sean McDermott's zone defense. The cornerback has good size at six feet tall and showed terrific speed by running a 4.44 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.'

'"You respect all," McDermott said. "You start off with that in mind. You respect everyone's opinion. That's why they're here. That's what leaders do. At the end of the day, that's a decision that will be made by Doug and I, together. We have to weigh all of the opinions that are in the room, and certainly Doug has great familiarity with the players because he's been looking at these players for a long time. I'm trusting Doug on that, and his staff, in terms of their experience around these players and what's happened on campus with these players over the course of the past one, two years – three years sometimes. That's a big part of it, for us, is making sure we know these players inside and out and then putting the information out there so we can make good, solid decisions."'

'Elston went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft, but was signed shortly after the conclusion of the draft by the New Orleans Saints. Elston made it all the way to the team's final cuts before being released by the team.'

'Pegula cracked a grin when he said, "we all know how that started." Clearly he hasn't forgotten the way Marrone left, but he's also not too bent out of shape about it. Much like the infamous "tank," Marrone's departure is not something anyone in Buffalo will forget anytime soon.'

'Now Pegula has to actually deliver a winner. He's appeared in over his head with both franchises at times. Maybe he's starting to learn some lessons along the way. He's certainly leaning on discipline, structure and communication as his new buzz words.'

'Jackson is projected to go late on day two by CBS Sports and early on day three by NFL.com.'

'This carousel wheel of coaching changes isn’t doing the players any favors, nor any good for the team. Besides, wouldn’t a playoff berth this coming season be a nice high school graduation gift for the fans who were born in the same year the Bills last made the playoffs?'

'He has yet to play in an NFL game. Elston initially signed with New Orleans last year as an undrafted rookie free agent, after being a four-year starter at Mississippi.'

'After being released a month later he signed to Cleveland’s active roster. Waived by the Browns in Week 15, the club signed him to their practice squad and then signed him in January as a reserve/future free agent.'