Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“He finally got a full year under his belt last year so he’s playing more confident than ever,” said Beasley, who in his first season with the Bills caught 67 passes for 778 yards and a career-best six touchdowns from Allen. “He’s making throws that he wouldn’t even have tried to attempt last year. He’s starting to throw guys open a little bit.”’

‘“Five-, six-hour days, working, sweating, crying, throwing up from how hard that I’m going,” he continued, trying to paint a picture of the grind he endured to make sure Monday arrived. “There was definitely some depression through there. There was definitely a lot of anxiousness, anxiety, fear.”’

‘While contact was minimal as it often is even in non-COVID-19 21st century NFL times, there was bumping and pushing and shoving, and it looked like football. Up to this point all they had been allowed to do was strength and conditioning work, and then walk-through style drills without pads, essentially touch football as they installed their systems and dug into the playbooks, mainly from the mental side.’

‘The topic: How did he and his staff negotiate the strike-shortened 1982 season and ultimately lead the Redskins to the championship. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier revealed that nugget of information Friday during a Zoom call with reporters.’

‘Dawkins and Milano are clearly two of the core players on the roster, and getting them signed and sealed ensures additional stability in those two position groups.’

‘“Each and every head coach in the league would tell you that to be a good coach is one thing, to have a good staff is one thing,” McDermott said. “But to have the opportunity to work with a general manager that knows what he’s doing and is at the top of his game, and being fed players that we can then mold and develop as coaches, it goes without saying that’s a critical piece of what we’ve done here and what we’ll continue to do, and Brandon has had a big hand in that.”’

‘The reliance McDermott and Beane have had on their days in Carolina regarding some of their personnel moves is not new in the NFL as many other coaches and GM do the same thing.’

‘Terms of the deal are not yet known, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the extension will run six years through 2025, a massive commitment to the 46-year-old.’

‘But with Fitz throwing for 369 yards and two touchdowns, the Bills put on a stunning rally culminated by Rian Lindell’s 28-yard field goal as time expired to slay the dragon 34-31.’

‘“Well, I’m not sure, but to be honest in Montgomery County, they have a no-refusal law so you can’t tell them, ‘No I don’t want to go to jail,’” he said. “That’s how it was explained to me so I don’t know. Maybe so, but the law in Montgomery County, I would hope to believe that whatever color you are, you’re going to jail. I was on the way to my house and not expecting to be arrested. You never know, you can be doing anything and life could just hit you.”’

‘Oh, the Bills have flattered us, making much of the Twelfth Man, the thousands of pilgrims who come to the stadium and fervently believe they influence the play.’

‘Like most players who change teams, Winters admitted that most of the play designs are recognizable. After all, a halfback rushing play through the 5-hole is standard across the league. But it’s the terminology that changes, and while it’s not as complicated as learning a second language, that’s the analogy in football terms. He’s been speaking Jets, now he has to speak Bills.’

‘“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.”’

‘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.’

‘With Jon Feliciano out perhaps half the season or possibly more due to a torn pectoral muscle, Winters would seem to be the frontrunner to step into his starting position.’