Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘This was a request the NFLPA had made to the NFL owners which they were steadfast on getting pushed through, arguing that it made no sense to take the risk for games that do not count. The NFL originally wanted to cut the schedule from four games to two, and then to one, but the union wouldn’t budge.’

‘Those are both misdemeanors under Texas law. However, while there was a handgun in Oliver’s car, it is legal to carry a permitted firearm in Texas. It is only illegal if a person is in possession of the gun while committing a crime. When the DWI charge was dropped, the gun charge was no longer valid.’

‘Knox became the starter by default and while he showed some impressive flashes, he also led all NFL tight ends with nine dropped passes (Dallas’ Jason Witten was second with six) and finished with only 28 catches for 388 yards and two touchdowns.’

‘“When you have a group like we had last year that for the most part had not played a snap, or many snaps, together as we headed into the season, I thought that they really did some good things and took some significant strides as a group,” said McDermott. “And now to be able to have that group back and then to add a piece or two in there is valuable to us.”’

‘“They definitely have skill sets,” Daboll said of Singletary and Moss. “They might differ a little bit in some of it, and some of it may be the same, but they’re two young, eager players that I have a lot of confidence in and they’ll be ready to go when training camp comes.”’

‘There was a clear line in the sand: You were either a Flutie fan or a Johnson fan, and when the team convened 20 years ago this month for the first time at Fisher – with Johnson listed No. 1 on the depth chart – the quarterback controversy which had been building for two years was now at a boiling point.’

‘In McDermott’s zone-based scheme, Norman became one of the most reliable cover corners in the league, the guy the Panthers relied on most to shut down the opposition’s top receivers.’

‘“When you look at the fact that he’s just going into his third season and just turning 22, so young, so much promise ahead of him, and he’s achieved so much already,” Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “I mean, to already be recognized as one of the leaders on our team and on our defense, we’re very, very fortunate to have him.”’

‘“I’m excited on paper, I can’t wait till we get on the field and get a chance to see the guys move around and execute some of the things we’re talking about in these Zoom meetings,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said last month. “I think Brandon did a good job in helping us. Now we need to get on the field and try to come together as a unit.”’

‘It was known that New Era has been struggling financially, particularly since the coronavirus shut down the country back in March. The company has reportedly furloughed about 70 percent of his workforce, much of that at its headquarters in Buffalo.’

‘Special teams coach Heath Farwell, who brought much-needed improvement to that phase for the Bills in his first year in 2019, has to find a way to replace stalwarts such as Lorenzo Alexander, Julian Stanford, Kevin Johnson, Senorise Perry and Kurt Coleman.’

‘Bass is not a camp leg, though, he’s a true threat. He will be given every opportunity to win the job because not only did he excel on placekicks in college, he can also boom the ball into the end zone on kickoffs for touchbacks.’

‘Fans love Allen’s chutzpah and willingness to let it fly. Allen, who is entering his third year, was fifth-highest in the NFL last season with 9.4 average intended yards per throw and and had the lowest checkdown percentage in the league (1.3%).’

‘Once that happened, you just had a sense that something special was going to happen on that opening Sunday, and it certainly did, a victory that landed big Sam Adams on the cover of Sports Illustrated a few days later. The Bills laid waste to the Patriots, a thorough 31-0 flogging that seemed to portend big things were to come. Alas, that didn’t happen.’

‘That team, led on offense by Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, and James Lofton, set season team records for most points scored (458), touchdowns scored (58), most yards gained (6,252), and most first downs (359) on its way to a 13-3 record and a second consecutive AFC championship.’