Archives for September 9, 2017

'“Obviously growing up there I grew up in a Bills family, no question, and as I've been here with the New York Jets, my family has supported us as New York Jets fans in the Buffalo area in the Southern Tier. It's really cool to go back. As a kid being in the stadium with my dad and then being on the field is a really unique opportunity that I relish when we get to go back to Buffalo and play and I have a huge family and I'm very fortunate because they're very supportive. Family and friends back there, they cheer for the Jets and it is a really unique experience and I really do relish that.”'

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'“You saw the game last night and that’s really the start of our season in the NFL,” he said. “I’m very thankful, very thankful for the opportunity, thankful for the support from my family to everyone. Thankful for this building, thankful for the opportunity to lead these players onto the field, and these coaches. Just a long journey. That said, excited about the opportunity. Excited to get in front of our fans. First game of the year, first home game of the season.'

'According to ESPN, the Bills enter Week One tied with four other teams for the third-lowest number of injured players. Not counting McCoy, who returned to practice Thursday after briefly dealing with a stomach bug, but was required to be listed by NFL rules as limited, Buffalo has seven injured players. Quarterback T.J. Yates (concussion), tight end Keith Towbridge (ankle) and wide receiver Jeremy Butler (concussion) are on injured reserve, joining Dareus, Anderson, Worthy and Vallejo.'

'The Bills secondary takes a hit in the athleticism department going from Darby to Gaines, there's no doubting that. But Buffalo's coaching staff pinpointed Gaines as a worthwhile part of the compensation package it received from the Rams in the Sammy Watkins deal, possibly due to what the cornerback put on display as a rookie and his fit in Sean McDermott's zone-based scheme.'

'6-10.'

'So reports of a Chiefs demise appear to have been exaggerated. They might not be a Super Bowl team, but they're still very good. They have won 23 of their last 27 regular-season games. The chances of that draft pick being in the top half seem remote.'

'They're still the Patriots and they're still the most talented team in the AFC East and better than most, if not all of the rest of the NFL.'

'McCoy's 4.72 yards per attempt rank fifth among the crew of 31, behind Hall of Famers Jim Brown (5.20), Barry Sanders (4.92) and former Bill O.J. Simpson (4.82). McCoy, who has 8,954 career rushing yards, also trails 32-year-old Saints running back Adrian Peterson (4.86 yards per attempt). Peterson last played a game Dec. 18, 2016, and last rushed for 100 yards in a game Dec. 27, 2015.'

'Cosell talked to Murphy and Jones about the dearth of quarterbacks throughout the league, as well as his view of the differences between the NFL and college game. Cosell also discussed Pats-Chiefs, noting that on the coaching tape the touchdown attributed to former Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore seemed to be a blown cover-2 call, where Gilmore was to stay in the flat and his safety didn't get over the top in time.'

'Sometimes I'm amazed that we still have to have a discussion about what tanking is after two years of going through it with the Sabres. Tanking involves management – not players or coaches – making moves to willfully and shamelessly drive a team to the bottom of the standings for a desired purpose, whether it be acquiring high draft picks, slashing expenses or relocating to a warm-weather city.'

'The sports book rated the Bills as having the fifth-worst chance of winning the championship, tied with the Bears at 150-1.'

'The VR masks will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at four stations: two at the Fan Zone inside the ADPRO Training Center, and two at the new Billevard area off Abbott Road, near gates 3 and 5.'

'Flash back to 1946.'

'“It’s a little disappointing that I’m not going to be there, but perspective is what we need to keep in this hurricane game, so to speak,” Tasker said in a phone conversation this week. “ … With what happened in Houston, I think that takes precedence over what happened 25 years ago, despite my love and respect for the guys that I played with and the fans that are going to be there.”'