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Archives for August 3, 2020

Column: McDermott, Beane carry weight of Bills’ Covid-19 challenge

‘“Listen, I’m trying to stay healthy, too,” McDermott said. “People think that, just because you’re a coach or the head coach, as we’ve seen (the coronavirus) doesn’t discriminate. And because I know someone doesn’t mean that they can’t give it to me, or I can’t give it to them. It’s, again, a unique time.”’

Limiting spread of coronavirus will require Bills to hold each other accountable

‘“We talk a lot about accountability,” McDermott said Sunday on a Zoom call with Western New York reporters. “We talk about respect for one another, we talk about love for one another, positive energy. Every decision that I make as a coach, every decision that every teammate of mine, and every person in this building, which we’re all teammates, make has got to be with so much love, appreciation and respect for everyone else’s health and safety.”’

5 things about new Bills cornerback/special teamer Akeem King

‘King did not play football in high school until his junior year, having been a basketball player and a track athlete. His size and speed made him a candidate to play wide receiver and he also played fullback and tight end on offense and linebacker and defensive back on defense.’

Here’s what Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott had to say on eve of Bills training camp

‘“Our expectations are always high,” he said. “This is going to be a different camp, a camp like no other. But I think at the end of the day we have to still hold ourselves to a high standard and Sean and I aren’t going to sit here and say, ‘It was the COVID year, we didn’t make the playoffs, so be it.’ Nothing’s changed here; we expect playoff-caliber practices. That’s why the pressure is on us all to stay healthy and to do things right so that we can have the best 53 guys out there and not have 10 guys on the COVID list come mid-September.”’

Bills taking every precaution possible to keep players, staff safe at their facility

‘“Nobody wants to sit in an apartment or a hotel room all the time, but this is the year that we’ve got to do whatever it takes, and we’ve got to find a way to keep ourselves healthy. Hold each other accountable. Our veteran leaders peer pressure, peer leadership … I know some of those guys spoke up on a call the other day and they did a great job of stressing to everyone on the call that we can’t let our guard down.”’

Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane: ‘Cody Ford could slide in’ to replace Jon Feliciano at RG

‘“Cody Ford could slide in there,” Beane said. “There’s a lot of combinations we can do (but we have) a long way to go before it’s settled of how that would play out. Right guard, right tackle – I think Cody will be in the mix of one of those. But just have to see where he fits best. “Are we better with someone else at right tackle and slide Cody in (or) are we better leaving Cody at right tackle and someone else (inside for the right guard) job?”’

5 things to know about new Buffalo Bills DB Akeem King

‘“I did track. I was mainly a jumper, and then they put me in the 100 one time and I ended up setting the school record. No one knew I was fast. I was a really dorky kid. I had an afro, big glasses. Everybody kind of overlooked me. Once they found out I was fast they convinced me to come out for football. I ended up trying out.”’

3 things to know about new Buffalo Bills DT Niles Scott

‘Scott did not hear his name called during the 2018 NFL Draft. He signed with the 49ers following the draft, but failed to make the team’s 53-man roster. In addition to playing with the 49ers, he also spent time on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad that season.’

Former Viking Leslie Frazier could be hot coaching commodity if Bills stay on the rise

‘”His fingerprints are all over our operation, and I’m extremely grateful for all the years we have worked together,” said McDermott, who was hired in 2017. “Leslie’s impact on our team is felt every day through his guidance, wisdom and his genuine care for people. He is a great example to everyone within our organization.”‘

Bills open training camp following early setbacks

‘“We’ve got to be smart,” McDermott said. “It’s important that we onboard these players and staff in the right way with a methodical approach. … There’s a lot of planning, and we’ve got to be razor-sharp on that end.”’

Bills sign CB Akeem King and DT Niles Scott

‘Although King’s main position is cornerback, he’s been primarily used on special teams over the last couple years. In 2018, King played 29.2% of Seattle’s special teams snaps compared to just 14.6% on defense. Last season, he played 35.5% on special teams and 29.5% on defense.’

Bills CB E.J. Gaines opts out of 2020 season

‘Injuries have hampered Gaines’ career. He missed the 2015 season with a foot injury. He also dealt with a thigh injury in 2016, a groin injury in 2017 and two concussions in 2018 when he was with the Browns.’

“Back up or mask up”: How the Bills are handling training camp during a pandemic

‘“This is the year we’ve got to do whatever it takes and we’ve got to find a way to keep ourselves healthy and it’s on us all. It’s on us all to hold each other accountable and make sure we’re not doing those things and I think our veteran leaders, peer pressure, peer leadership is probably the best. I know some of those guys spoke up on a call the other day and they did a great job stressing to everyone on the call what we have to do this season and we can’t let our guard down,” Beane explained.’

Brandon Beane: 4 Notable Quotes

‘I talked to a few of them who are looking for that chance to prove their worth to make this roster or win a staring spot or a special teams spot. I think Sean has some good ideas, we have to come up with various ways to create competition, situations in games, high-impact, high-pressure moments. As we get closer to the first game and have to cut the roster down, we are going to have to come up with as many ways as we can simulate preseason games.’

Gaines opting out

‘Gaines was expected to compete for the second cornerback job along with Levi Wallace and Josh Norman. When healthy, Gaines has had plenty of success playing in Sean McDermott’s defense and had a strong chance to win the job.’

Bills sign two players, adding depth after COVID opt-outs

‘Scott comes to the Bills after two years with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in six games with the team in 2018, making 4 tackles. He did not appear in any games in 2019 after suffering a foot injury in late July. He was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.’

Bills ready for camp in a Covid world

‘“Every day you wake up… see if anybody’s positive. What does it look like with the contact tracing? Do we need to have someone sit out today just to make sure they’re safe?” Beane said. “Once we figure out who we’re going to have in the building every day, how are we doing to make the most of it?”’

Bills sign CB Akeem King and DT Niles Scott

‘Scott joined the NFL signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018 with the San Francisco 49ers. In addition to San Francisco, Scott has spent time with the Broncos and the Bengals. The Frostburg State product was signed to the Bengals active roster in November 2018 and played in six games posting four tackles. Scott did not play in 2019 due to a foot injury.’

4 things we learned about the Bills as training camp begins

‘”I think at defensive tackle and really at the right guard position we have options right now,” said McDermott. “It’s rare that even before you step on the field you lose one or two players and that’s unfortunate. We certainly respect Star’s decision and support him and his family through this. And it’s unfortunate with Jon’s situation, but that said this is why you bring players in and you try to build with depth because things like this do happen.”‘

Bills Today | Despite COVID obstacles, the Bills’ standard remains high

‘”I’m not lowering my standards, and I don’t expect anyone in this building to be lowering their standards,” McDermott told media during a Zoom call. “What I’ve seen so far honestly is an unbelievable display of a standard in our building with the effort that’s been put in by our ops staff. From leadership on down we’ve done a great job, they’ve done a great job of getting our building ready. I’ve been very impressed with the standard that I’ve seen to this point, and I expect us to carry that through.”‘