Archives for August 14, 2017

'If he stays healthy, a concern Buffalo’s management clearly had when not exercising his fifth-year option for 2018, the Bills will have lost the Watkins versus Matthews value contest on sheer talent differential.'

'“When you're able to walk into that Ray Nitschke Luncheon,” Kelly said Monday at Elkdale, “and you see Roger Staubach, Bob Griese, Joe Namath, guys you looked up to. Then all the other guys, it's all the running backs, Gale Sayers and seeing Thurman there, Emmitt (Smith), I can go on and on … Troy Aikman, (John) Elway, (Dan) Marino. It's amazing that I'm a part of it growing up in a little country town (East Brady) in Pennsylvania and being able to say I'm one of them.”'

'"Yeah, it's fair to say he did earn it," McDermott said of Peterman working with the second team. "I mean, he moved the offense and did some good things. Like all of us, a lot of work to go yet, but he did some good things and he earned that."'

'However, a team spokesman informed reporters that, because of the injury, Matthews wouldn't be made available until Monday.'

'"Yeah, definitely don’t mind getting into the run game, tackling, causing fumbles, turnovers," the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Gaines said after his first practice with the Bills Sunday at St. John Fisher College. "That’s what I’m good for. Whatever these coaches ask me to do, I’ll do for sure."'

'"I've liked part of what I've see (from Dawkins)," McDermott said. "The rest of it is him getting used to playing in the NFL, just getting up to speed on adjusting to NFL techniques and adjusting to NFL life. And that's typical, so there's not any reason for concern at this point. He's doing a good job.'

'"The leadership did a phenomenal job," McDermott said, "and they understand that this is about winning."'

'"I don't know whether it was because they had a feeling they might not be able to sign (Watkins) next year, but when you've got two firsts, two seconds and two thirds for next year, there's a lot of things you can do with that whether it's players, whether it's trades," Kelly said. "It gives you room to really have something on your plate for next year."'

'It's probably not anything catastrophic, but new Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews suffered a chest injury in his first practice with the team. He completed practice – it wasn't clear when he suffered the injury – but wasn't made available to media afterward because the chest was being evaluated.'

'I thought they handled about as well as they could. They get the human element and I appreciate that. These are relationships that have been built up over time. Having said that, we’re a mentally tough football team and we’ll continue to increase in that area. The leadership did a phenomenal job and they understand that this is about winning. This is about building a football team. So, I was extremely proud of them.'

'So, now the Bills have to hope it’s nothing serious because Matthews — who was acquired from the Eagles for Ronald Darby on Friday — is being counted on to help fill the void created by the trade of Sammy Watkins to the Rams.'

'For now, his injury seems like nothing to worry about but the Bills will learn more throughout the day and into tomorrow.'

' "Just like everything else, everything's earned here, and that's the vision for every player, is to challenge for starting positions," McDermott said. "And that competition is healthy and whether it's the quarterback position or any position on this football team, competition is healthy and brings out the best in people."'

'"Man, just being somewhere that I feel wanted. Being somewhere that I feel like expects me to come in and make plays and knows what I can do on the football field, so I'm just excited for these coaches to be excited for me, really."'

'"We're still concerned about it," McDermott said on Sunday. "But we're hopeful. So we'll just take it a day at a time and we look forward to getting him back on the field."'