Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘His signing apparently means the Bills will not try to re-sign free agent cornerback E.J. Gaines, a player who is expected to draw some sizable offers when free agency begins March 14. However, it also means the Bills can probably scratch cornerback off their first-round draft needs list as Davis would be a solid complement to Tre’ Davious White.’

‘Or, they make the play for one of the top kids in the draft. And if that’s what they do, then Taylor is the best option as the bridge quarterback because believe it or not, his $18 million cap figure (after the bonus kicks in) isn’t out of line in this day and age of quarterback salaries for one with seven years in the league, three as a starter.’

‘If I was on the competition committee, there are several ideas I would suggest. Naturally, No. 1 on my list, and I’m sure everyone’s list, is blowing up the catch rule and starting from scratch. Fixing this atrocity must be the most pertinent goal of the owners this year.’

‘There are few professional athletes I’ve encountered as classy, sincere, humble and strong as Reich. A man who leans on his faith. Who knows how to get up when life dishes out a sack.’

‘Prayers and well wishes have been flowing in for Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, who were hospitalized for separate illnesses this week.’

‘Let me be clear: I pay only scant attention to these 1 through 32 rankings of NFL teams during the season, and generally next to zero percent at this time of the year when, oh, about a thousand things might change around the league between now and Week 1 of the 2018 season. “Power rankings” is essentially code for “click bait.”’

‘This is what happens when you don’t have a quarterback on your favorite team, when you haven’t had a legitimate quarterback for more than two decades — minus a couple of fun seasons from Doug Flutie and one by Drew Bledsoe around the turn of the century. Seemingly every time a quarterback on another team shines, fans want to know if he’s someone the Bills should try to get.’

‘For the champion Philadelphia Eagles there were Nigel Bradham, Corey Graham and Ronald Darby starting on defense, and Jason Peters (injured), along with offensive coordinator Frank Reich and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. For the New England Patriots, there was Chris Hogan (a huge game with six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown), Stephon Gilmore, Eric Lee and Mike Gillislee (inactive).’

‘Last year, McDermott and Reid found common ground on two deals. First, there was the draft day trade that enabled the Chiefs to move up to pick the quarterback who will now replace Smith, Patrick Mahomes. The Bills netted two picks, including an extra first-rounder in 2018. Then, during training camp, the Bills dealt linebacker Reggie Ragland to Kansas City in exchange for a fourth-round pick.’

‘In other words, Bills fans should be saying good riddance because if the $70 million in guaranteed money turns out to be accurate, that seems absurdly high for a quarterback who will be 34 years old in May and has a 2-5 record in playoff games.’

‘Wood was on the phone with his agent as the news conference was set to kick off and when he did appear, he spoke for just 1 minute and 42 seconds, didn’t field questions and didn’t actually announce his retirement officially.’

‘He was a team leader in the truest sense, one of those “go-to’’ guys with character in the Kent Hull and Steve Tasker mold, the guy who faced the media not just in good times but in bad. And boy was there a lot of bad after he joined the club in 2009, a big, burly, friendly, always smiling guy with curly blond locks.’

‘In that exam, a deteriorated neck condition, caused by years of fighting on the line of scrimmage, convinced team doctors that it was no longer safe for Wood to continue playing. Friday afternoon, Wood confirmed this news in a statement that indicated he will announce his retirement Monday at news conference at One Bills Drive.’

‘Taylor is due a $6 million roster bonus on March 16, and in the unlikely event the Bills opt to give it to him, then he would be the quarterback for 2018 at a price tag of $18 million. Based on the way he played in 2017, it just doesn’t seem like McDermott and Beane are enamored with moving forward with him.’

‘While it sounded like lip service at the time when McDermott credited Whaley with the haul, and some scoffed at the notion of owner Terry Pegula saying that Whaley ran the draft the way he had in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the truth is that the ex-GM rode out of town on a positive note.’