Archives for October 2017

'"This coaching staff is all about hard work and grit, making sure everybody is reliable and doing their job at all times," Henderson said. "That's most important with this coaching staff. No shortcuts, everything is about being on time, doing your job, and taking care of what you have to do in order to keep the team going."'

'"We're going to have to see," McDermott said. "He still has that deal with the thumb going on. It's day-to-day. We just have to see and make sure things heal up the right way. We'll know a little bit more tomorrow. Just coming off the bye, he made a tremendous amount of progress. We just have to see at this point how he looks going into Wednesday."'

'Officially, Matthews (thumb) is listed as day-to-day. Tight end Charles Clay (knee) and linebacker Ramon Humber (thumb) are listed as week-to-week. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will also miss practice on Monday due to a personal issue.'

'“I see it every now and then. My buddies back home I think they check it more than me. They always tell me,” Reilly said. “It’s like how everyone will let you know they love the backup quarterback until he gets in. Hopefully if I do get moved up I can prove I belong and make a name for myself.”'

'"I'm trying to make sure I hone in on all my other skills," Matthews said. "My left hand is my off hand, so I feel if anything, this is time for me to actually work on one of my deficiencies."'

'Staying there, however, could be tricky. While the defense has played well all season, the offense has been unwatchable at times, with neither the running game nor the passing game able to establish much consistency. The two go hand in hand, and in the Bills' case, their complete lack of explosiveness through the air has directly affected their once strong ability to run.'

'"I think it gave us a good chance to do some self evaluation of ourselves as coaches, and look at our schemes and fundamentals. All of those areas were good for us to [take time to” target=”_blank”> look at," McDermott said at his press conference on Monday at One Bills Drive. "We worked Monday through Wednesday, players were in here, and we got on the field a little bit as well. Just really to build some self-awareness as to what we did well, what we didn't do well and what we need to improve moving forward."'

'"From a standings aspect, its good to see some teams that are usually in the playoffs not playing so hot, but we haven't talked a whole lot about it in the locker room."'

'"Plan was to dress him, start Dion Dawkins. Allow him to get his mind around playing, and gave him another week and the bye week to get better. Opportunity is there for him to start at left tackle."'

'“My conditioning is there," he said. "I’ve been going at it like every day. Really, no days off. So I know conditioning-wise I’m good. As far as techniques and things like that, that’s really what I need to get back. The speed and just working at my craft so I can get out there and play.”'

'When the Bills opened up practice, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was not among the participants. According to McDermott, Dareus had been excused from the practice for “personal reasons,” to the extent of which we aren’t entirely sure at this time.'

'The tackle was using marijuana to help battle the pain symptom’s associated with the disease. Though legal is some states, using marijuana is illegal under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.'

'The 4-year veteran wide out gave credit to the power of positive thinking. “I’ve been having a lot of close people around me praying for me. We’ve been speaking positively about the entire deal. I think that helps the healing process.” Matthews has not been cleared to catch footballs yet but if that happens he could return to the field for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.'

'In a statement released on Twitter, Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander wrote the protest by players “have not been about our military nor our allegiance and appreciation for our country’s principles and privileges, but to start a conversation to begin the process of understanding, equality and love.”'

'“My conditioning is there. I’ve been going at it like every day. No days off really, so I know conditioning-wise I’m good,” Henderson said. “As far as techniques and things like that, that’s what I need to get back. The speed and just working at my craft so I can get out there and play.”'