Olean Times Herald

‘“Terry and Kim have, to me, modeled that they are committed to winning,” McDermott said. “I can’t comment on what goes on at the Sabres (but) I can comment on what goes on here and that is, I see every day, not only from what they communicate to me and Brandon (Beane, general manager) but also what they do … their investment here in the Bills (is unquestioned). They are committed to winning and that’s really all I can go off of is my experience.”’

‘Yet I know full well, in buying the Bills and Sabres, the teams of which he was a lifelong fan, he felt he was doing absolutely the right thing for Western New York.’

‘“That’s the goal every week,” Daboll said of increased scoring. “Offensive football is assignment football and execution football. You have to get as many reps as you can to perfect the craft you need.”‘

‘Of Allen, specifically, Daboll said, “He’s our quarterback, but you can’t force leadership. You can improve it. You can learn about it. You can grow from it. But Josh has innate leadership qualities that guys gravitate towards, and he understands his role on the team … being one of the guys, being there for the players around him, helping them with the system, getting them together so that you can build that team chemistry, (it’s) not all about football.”’

‘“IT’S THE same in some ways as 2011 but it’s far different in a lot of other ways,” said Frazier of his first full season of his three as head coach of the Vikings. “We can communicate with the players whereas in 2011 you were slapped on the wrist if you tried to communicate with a player. So, if there is a better, this is better than it was back in 2011, especially if you’re a new staff. Fortunately for us we’ve been together as a staff now for the last three years going into our fourth season.”’

‘“For our team, and it may be different for other teams, we’ll start with rookie meetings just to give them their chance to get comfortable with their position coach and ask questions they had from the day before,” McDermott said. “Then, on normal days, we’ll come together in a team meeting format, or we’ll go right into unit meetings (for) offense/defense and then special teams.”‘

‘“We talk about leadership (and) to get the quarterback position to pull all that together and for the guys to meet them, I think it was outstanding and a big step for Josh and his leadership … just a phenomenal job.”’

‘“When you’re away, it just kind of frees you up a little bit,” McDermott said. “Specifically to kind of give you the look behind the curtain when you’re away at camp. I know myself, it’s a little bit of a different dynamic. When I go back to my room to go to bed, it’s just me. It’s not going home to my family … I think there’s a bit of a pull for husbands and fathers and that’s all good when home, but when you’re away it’s nice to have that.”’

‘“There’s certainly a business side where you add players to a locker room, six to 12 or more every year based on the draft or free agency. These guys know I love every last one of them the same and that doesn’t change, but it is competition. Part of the goal of competition is that it brings out the best in all of us. If someone was fighting to take your job, it’s going to motivate you to be better at what you do and develop a better set of habits.”’

‘NFL players can use Adderall for specified medical conditions, but only if they apply for and are granted a therapeutic use exemption. It’s not known if Oliver petitioned the league to use it.’

‘This has to be McDermott’s worst nightmare. Two years ago he admitted that the time he worries most is the six weeks when they’re on their own between when players depart from minicamp and return for training camp. COVID-19 has forced a longer period of distance from the team, and this was the result.’

‘Sunday, Nov. 1, 1 p.m. Here it is. After nearly two decades of soul-crushing losses to the Patriots, this will be Buffalo’s first meeting with its divisional rival sans Tom Brady.’

‘There were several players in attendance along with some coaches, and the service was by a priest who traveled with the team. During the service, the first Bible reading was done by Bob Griese, who, out of uniform, looked more like a member of the choir than a pro football player. Then Coach Shula took the pulpit and did a very respectful job on the second reading. It was one of the nicest Masses I’ve ever attended. The priest never did entreat the Lord to help his team, but as usual back then, the Dolphins beat the Pats.’

‘For only the fourth time in the franchise’s 61-year history, the Bills have four national games on their slate with the possibility of a fifth and all but one are in the season’s final five games.’

‘“I’M MAYBE a little bit different than some defensive head coaches. A lot of defensive head coaches, and maybe head coaches overall, have a tendency to pad their side of the ball personnel-wise. I don’t want to do that,” McDermott said, although, of the 23 free agent, trade and draft additions made by the Bills this offseason, 13 were defensive players with eight on offense and two kickers. “I know you’ve got to score points in this league to win games. To have a balanced football team, we need to score points and that’s been an emphasis and a theme we’ve talked about since the end of the season. I’m encouraged by what we’ve added personnel-wise to help us in that category.”’