Olean Times Herald

‘Wearing Bills gear, that included a sombrero, the fan was presented with a NFL Draft jersey containing the number 18. Then, he announced Buffalo’s selection, Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, whom the NFL Network crew assessed as a “young Kyle Williams.”’

‘“Of all four or five quarterbacks in the (first round), I feel I’m the one that was suited for Buffalo – the type of atmosphere that you have to play in, the weather, the toughness it takes to play in a cold-weather place. I was that guy. I’m fortunate enough that they came up to get me and I’m going to be forever grateful to be a Buffalo Bill. Hopefully I call this place home for the next 15 to 20 years.”’

‘Well, the Bills got their quarterback in the first round on Thursday night and, as predicted, they had to trade up to do it, but he comes with a bit of physical and personal baggage.’

‘The reaction of Buffalo’s faithful was based on his on-field performance. Clearly, the assessment of Allen by Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Guide showed why.’

‘The popular narrative, though, is that the Bills will move up in Round 1 for the second time since mid-March. First, owning the 21st and 22nd picks, they traded tackle Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati to go from the choice at 21 to No. 12. But is that high enough?’

‘This season, 15 of the Bills’ 16 games are 1 o’clock starts, the lone exception being an Oct. 29 Monday nighter against New England at New Era Field. And, apparently, that’s a trade-off as, for the first time since 2011, Buffalo doesn’t have a Thursday night game, seemingly ending the NFL’s previous contention that every team would have at least one per season..’

‘Yeah, Bills general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott met with the media on Monday afternoon at the stadium during a luncheon ostensibly to discuss the draft, but what we got was pretty much …. uhhh, nothing.’

‘Presuming Incognito follows through, the Bills will have lost the best 60 percent of a good offensive line.’

‘There are six QBs who are speculated could go in the first round: Sam Darnold (USC), Josh Rosen (UCLA), Josh Allen (Wyoming), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma St.) and Lamar Jackson (Louisville). The question, of course, is where.’

‘“We put values on every player,” Beane said. “I reminded my guys the night before (free agency) started to jump me if I started chasing someone. (I told them) ‘You be my checks and balances.’ We put ranges (on free agents): ‘this is probably where the floor he’s going to be, this is the max we’re willing to pay.’’

‘To get a third-round pick for a player who had lost favor, and every NFL team knew it, was an amazing return. Then, too, with Taylor off the roster, it takes away the inclination to use him if Buffalo’s quarterback situation goes south this season as it would have polarized the fan base which would have concluded “same old, same old.”’

‘So whether retirement was totally Bud’s decision, or nudged by new coach Sean McDermott — given Gipson’s firing — is an open question. After all, Carpenter is a survivor having weathered coach Doug Marrone’s attempt to make changes to the athletic training staff four seasons ago.’

‘What if a professional sports team held a retirement press conference and the spotlighted player didn’t retire?’

‘The reality is, Wood made millions of dollars while enjoying nearly double the career length of the average NFL player. Best of all, he emerged with his health … at least as healthy as a pro football player can be at career’s end.’

‘His reaction was as close as he would come to criticism, but clearly he had reached the breaking point as Dennison was gone within five days after that playoff defeat … the first victim of what figures to be numerous off-season changes – both coaches and players – for Buffalo.’