Niagara Gazette

‘During that period, the Buffalo Bills have gone from scary inept to scary good. The first 17 seasons of the millennium went without a playoff berth and now they have become one of the league’s elite teams, with two AFC championship game appearances, five consecutive AFC East championships and seven playoff berths in the last eight seasons.’

‘The white tape went from his forearm all the way to his palm and wrapped around his thumb. Once he got to the end of the tape, he wiggled free a black composite brace. Carter insists he doesn’t need the brace and only uses it when he doesn’t feel like taping his wrists completely.’

‘“It’s been a culmination of every single event,” Hawes said. “Ran triple-option in high school and we were bashing skulls then. At Yale we were in pads all the time and bashing skulls then. And then I went to Tech and Coach Key loves to run the ball. So it’s a culmination of everything just kind of progressively helping me get more physical in this game.”’

‘Torrence maintains a weight between 340-345 pounds during the spring and summer when the heat can wither away a body, but on game day, he’s never lighter than 335 and never heavier than 340. But when Torrence returned for minicamp, he appeared slimmer.’

‘Buffalo announced training camp is set to begin Wednesday, July 23, at St. John Fisher University in Rochester. It is the 24th training camp to be held at St. John Fisher, with the exceptions coming in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.’

‘Solomon doesn’t only have to prove to the Buffalo Bills coaching staff that he can be a contributor Week 1, but he needs to play well the first six weeks to ensure his roster spot is secure once Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi return from suspensions.’

‘The Bills won’t have Hoecht for the first six games because of a PED suspension. That gives young players like Jackson and Solomon an opportunity to make an impact. There’s no one currently on the roster that could unseat Solomon before Week 1, but he has to show the Bills they need to keep him when Hoecht returns in Week 7.’

‘The average age of Buffalo’s defense in Week 1 of 2023 was 27.5 with five players over 30 — and that didn’t include Von Miller. But this year, the Bills’ defense could be as young as 25.9 and just three players who have eclipsed 30.’

‘“It’s a personal thing for me,” Coleman said. “What I can do is between me, my coaching staff, quarterback and stuff like that. … I’m not really here to impress (doubters).”’

‘In a sea of massive humans, Landon Jackson stands out.’

‘James Cook likes his money. Who doesn’t?’

‘Just when it seemed there were no more players left to sign from McDermott’s Carolina days, the Buffalo Bills found another one.’

‘The problem for Cook is that for all his success, the Bills haven’t shown an urgency to keep him on the field during critical situations. Cook was one of two players (along with Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving), to have 1,000 yards rushing and play fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps last year.’

‘Bobby Babich managed to field questions for 25 minutes without saying much. He’s mastered the art of using a lot of words to reveal very little. The Buffalo Bills can only hope his defense is just as stingy this year.’

‘Going by the results, Joe Brady and his offense had a superb season.’