Archives for September 2017

'Vigil, Pruitt, and Pericak were added Monday morning, while the other seven players were all initially on the team's roster, but released over the weekend. All practice squad players are considered free agents and free to sign with any team at any time, but must immediately be added to that team's 53-man active roster and guaranteed three regular season game checks.'

'McDermott did add that he believes the quarterback is getting better, but with concussions, there really is no way of knowing when a step forward or a step back might occur. So for the Bills, they are preparing as though they’ll be without the starting quarterback for the time being, which means the focus now gets placed on rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman for the time being.'

'Whether you include the 2013 draft class, the fact still remains: New GM Brandon Beane and Head Coach Sean McDermott have done their best to move on from the Doug Whaley era.'

'The Buffalo Bills announced shortly after Noon Monday that Tyrod Taylor has returned to practice.'

'Quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and T.J. Yates remain in concussion protocol, but McDermott said he feels confident in QB Nathan Peterman if he is needed as a starter on Sunday. He also expressed confidence in Webb.'

'Do I think there is a chance that they hold a fire sale during the season? Sure. But the only move that signals they do not want to try to win would be shipping off Lesean McCoy. He is the best player on the team and he can win games for you (and for other teams). But if you are thinking someone is going to send you a first round draft pick for a 30 year old running back you have not be following the NFL very closely.'

'“I believe in the first year, when you look at it, you’re always looking to make sure that you get the right people on board, on the bus, and get the people that are already on board in the right seats,” said McDermott. “That’s a natural occurrence, if you will, [in] the first year at times. Some of those are tough, difficult decisions and unpopular in some ways. I recognize that. Brandon and I both recognize that, but it takes some of those decisions for us to get to where we’re trying to go.”'

'League guidelines state that a player may be considered to return to practice only after the player has returned to baseline status with rest and exertion, has repeat neurophysiological testing, which is interpreted by the team neuropsychology consultant as back to baseline levels of functioning, and has completed the Return to Participation protocol. He also must be cleared by the Team Physician and the Independent Neurological Consultant.'

'Buffalo made quick work of filling out the remaining three openings on their 10-man practice squad Monday signing G Will Pericak, TE MyCole Pruitt and LB Zach Vigil.'

'Webb, 30, is a player very familiar to GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. He’s played the last three seasons for the Carolina Panthers serving as the third-string signal caller behind Cam Newton and Derek Anderson.'

'“You have to be careful when you put together a team,” said Beane. “Don’t just draft talent because if they don’t have everything that goes into making a team – the hard working, the character. Sean uses it and I like, ‘chin above the bar.’ It’s perfect. When you look at the good teams, it isn’t always the team with the most talent, or pro-bowlers, it’s the team that is playing the hardest, working together.”'

'The Patriots made the 6-foot-8, 307-pound McDermott a sixth-round draft pick from UCLA. His older brother, Kevin McDermott, is the long-snapper for the Minnesota Vikings.'

'Sunday's forecast from the National Weather Service calls for sunny skies with a high near 72 degrees. AccuWeather concurs with the sunshine. It projects a 68-degree day.'

'Lacey was undrafted out of West Alabama and wound up playing in the Canadian Football League for Edmonton the last three years. Last season he had 114 tackles, 7 sacks, and 3 interceptions and that warranted a signing by the Dolphins in the spring.'

'Giving Whaley the 2013 draft – because we all know his fingerprints were all over it as he was already in line to become the GM a couple weeks later – there are now only six players left on the Buffalo roster of the 28 he picked in his four drafts. I’m not real proficient at math, but that’s 21.4 percent, and that’s simply horrendous.'