‘”I think any time people just are around each other more, that bond builds, character builds, communication builds, and that’s just part of it. Anytime you really get to know one another for a couple of years, going on three years now. I think it’s going to be a great 2020 season.”‘
Archives for August 8, 2020
Bills quarterback Jake Fromm on racist text messages: ‘That’s not who I am’
‘”That’s not me, that’s not who I am,” the Buffalo Bills’ rookie quarterback said on Zoom conference call with a small group of reporters. “That’s not where my heart is. The one thing I want to do here on this Earth is love God and love people. I fell short of that. Here, I want to make amends and really be better from here on out. Hopefully I can earn (teammates’) trust and really bring something to this football team.”‘
Matt Milano, key Bills defender, hoping to stay in Buffalo as contract enters final year
‘“I think me and Tremaine (Edmunds) definitely have to step our leadership roles up this year with him being out of here,” Milano said. “And the addition of A.J. (Klein), another older guy coming in, so I think he can step into that role as well.”’
Bills predictions: With so much starting talent, guys like Trent Murphy may be gone
‘Now that the White will-he-play-or-not drama has passed, the focus will go back to the other side where Norman and Wallace will battle it out to start. No matter what happens, the Bills have a solid top three. Johnson needs to stay healthy, and if he does he should nail down the nickel spot. Jackson, the seventh-round pick, will likely struggle to make an impact with no offseason practice, so maybe the practice squad will be his destination. As a seventh-rounder, the Bills should feel relatively safe that he won’t get signed elsewhere.’
Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano ‘wouldn’t want to be anywhere else’ long-term
‘Milano may not get the national recognition that he deserves, but his importance to the defense is well-known in Western New York. Keeping him around long-term could, however, be costly. Spotrac’s Calculated Market Value for the linebacker is listed at $13 million in average annual salary.’
10 revealing quotes from the first week of 2020 Bills Training Camp
‘“We know the season isn’t going to be perfect by any means,” added Allen. “We have to have that mentality of next man up and control what you can control and put the team first. It’s really the embodiment of putting the team first, this season.”’
Sullivan: Fans way off base in ripping Bills’ White
‘White is scheduled to make $10.2 million in 2021 in the fifth year of his rookie deal. If he had opted out, his raise would have been pushed back a year and his base salary set at $1.7 million. It also would have reduced his cap hit by $7.2 million in ’21, helping the Bills in a year when the cap is expected to go down.’
Jake Fromm looks to make amends after ‘elite white people’ text
‘”That’s not where my heart is,” Fromm said Friday, speaking to local media for the first time since screenshots of the conversation emerged in June. “The one thing that I want to do here on this earth is love God and love people, and I fell short of that. I want to make amends and really be better from here on out so that I can earn their trust and really bring something to this football team.”‘
Josh Norman is ‘amazed’ by his new Bills teammate, Tre’Davious White
‘”He’s doing so many things,” Norman said of White, per the team’s official website. “I’m just looking at him and just being amazed too because I’m seeing myself in him a little bit when I was coming out early on. Just seeing how he’s really explosive and how he’s taking every rep as if this was his last rep.”‘
Bills training camp’s top five 2020 battles: Who’s the No. 2 cornerback opposite Tre’Davious White?
‘Levi Wallace is the incumbent, basically. He had an fine rookie season in 2018 after going undrafted and began the 2019 season as the No. 2 corner. Although he broke up nine passes and snagged two picks, after a few games with uninspiring play midway through the season, Bills coaches decided to rotate Wallace and veteran Kevin Johnson — who’s now on the Browns. Wallace has to play more consistently to hang onto the job. And the Bills made a low-risk, potentially high-reward cornerback signing when Josh Norman was inked to a one-year deal in March. Of course, Norman rose to stardom in Carolina in McDermott’s defense but is now 31 years old coming off a career-worst season in 2019. These two will battle it out and play a decently large role in deciding the ceiling for Buffalo’s high-end defense.’
Bills roster in-depth: Defensive end
‘The Bills used their first pick of this year’s draft on Epenesa. He was thought by many to be a first round talent, but fell to the 22nd pick of the second round before the Bills selected him. The 6-foot-5, 275 pounder led the Big Ten in sacks in 2018 (10.5) and finished third last season (11.5). He ranks sixth all-time in the conference with 26.5 career sacks. Epenesa also finished 10th in the Big Ten with 14 tackles for loss last season. Analysts have raved about Epenesa’s use of hands as a pass-rusher. He’s more of a bull-rusher than one who relies on speed to get around the edge, but still has a good first step and instincts. He’ll have to learn how to set the edge as a run defender better in the NFL, but the Bills can use him immediately as a situational pass rusher.’
Bills TE Dawson Knox ‘ready to make a big leap’ in year two
‘“I feel like year one was a tough year,” says Knox. “Just because it was my first year in the league, trying to keep my head above water, it kind of felt like I was just treading water the whole time. Finally, towards the end of the season, I felt like I was able to kind of start playing faster, not really thinking about where I’m lining up and what I’m looking at pre-snap, more just playing freely.”’
Matt Milano on 2020: ‘it’s gonna be a great year for the linebackers’
‘“Anytime people are around each other, that bond builds,” said Milano. “Character and communication builds. We’ve known each other going on three years now. I think it’s going to be a great year for the linebackers.”’