Archives for May 28, 2017

'“If you look at our roster, I mean, from top down, it’s all new faces,” linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. “I mean the whole secondary is different. A bunch of the linebacker corps is going to be different. … You have to take it year by year, good, bad or indifferent and always step up and try to reinvent yourself for that next season.”'

'For one thing, I didn't think a linebacker of his caliber would be available this late in the offseason. It seems pretty clear that he entered the free-agent market expecting to get the big money paid in the early going, and as more and more time passed without him receiving an offer to his liking, he finally resigned himself to accepting a lesser deal but with the best possibility of starting.'

'"I limit it to 10 because teaching 10 kids how to do the Rubik's Cube at one time is difficult, but my second-grader and my fourth-grader come in and help me," Fitzpatrick said. "It's just something that's kind of a hobby of mine that I have a lot of fun with, and there's a ton of interest in my son's school, people trying to learn it.'

'However, for a span of 10 years, many to the chagrin of me and my football sister wives, a little spot occupying the northeast corner of Abbott Road and Big Tree Road was a refuge after a long day of meetings and practice for marquee Bills players before heading to their homes. The Big Tree Inn was an extension of the Buffalo Bills locker room of the '80s and the '90s. A place where members of those acclaimed teams unwound and ribbed each other about game play – good and bad. And occasionally it was a place for shenanigans too unsavory to print here.'

'The interior of Buffalo's offensive line takes the No. 1 spot on the Bills' strongest position entering the season. Richie Incognito remains one of the best guards in the NFL and John Miller was named Pro Football Focus' most improved second-year guard. Between the Bills' guards will be Eric Wood. Wood will be returning from an injury, but he's played well in the last two years. Putting the Bills over the top is Ryan Groy. The reserve offensive lineman played very well when Wood was injured last season and has the ability to play guard as well.'

'“I know this: I know that the margin of winning in the NFL is so small that you can't beat yourself, and that speaks to pre-snap penalties, post-snap penalties, discipline, accountability – all those things that you're probably referencing, we spent a lot of time emphasizing that through different avenues when we teach.”'

'“When he did his first workout, I saw him out there and I told McDermott ‘This is Luke Kuechly, just maybe not quite as fast but this is Luke Kuechly.’ Just joking around with him. I don’t know if he’d like those expectations put on him but I did tell coach that.” Wood said smiling.'

'Lindsey is trying to do what only two others have done—graduate from Harvard and play linebacker in the NFL. Isaiah Kacyvenski had a good run from 2000-06 at LB with the Seahawks and the Rams. And the Bills drafted Harvard LB Joe Azelby in the 10th round in 1984-he played 14 games that year.'