Two Bills Drive

‘Thomas is big, fast and has great production. He had 1,177 receiving yards last season with 17 touchdown catches, which led the Football Bowl Subdivision. Thomas widely is viewed as the No. 4 receiver in the draft, behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers, all three of whom will be long gone before the Bills’ scheduled pick at No. 28 overall.’

‘If any of this sounds odd, it should. Pardon our logic, but if another group has to continue the work, the work isn’t done. The task force, which included representatives from the Buffalo Urban League, NAACP, Independent Contractors Guild of WNY and the Buffalo Black Chamber of Commerce, had its first meeting as recently as last October. It named a chair, Patrick Freeman, in November, and it had not finished accumulating the data it needed to complete and submit a hiring report.’

‘Most of the restructuring involves pushing money into the future, and the easiest move Beane will make to create space is adjusting the contract of quarterback Josh Allen.’

‘“I feel like that will definitely be a trend,” said Arkansas defensive lineman Trajan Jeffcoat, who joined the Razorbacks after four years with Missouri. “Back before, nobody had the incentive of NIL to play an extra year to improve your stock. I was fortunate for the opportunity, and I think most players think the same way.”’

‘The NFL scouting combine gives prospects a chance to showcase their skills, but also their personalities. In regard to the latter, some of the questions during their media availabilities are a little off the wall.’

‘Beane paid quarterback Josh Allen like the franchise stalwart that he is. That was an obvious choice. While the Bills were able to keep Allen’s cap hit comparably low over the past couple seasons, at some point, that number was going to balloon. That point is now. Beane will undoubtedly do another restructure on Allen’s deal – turning nearly all of his base salary and his $6 million roster bonus into a signing bonus – but that means his cap hit will go up in future seasons. That is the cost of doing business when you have a franchise quarterback.’

‘“The foundation has grown immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine,” said Jacque Waggoner, Jill’s mother and the CEO of Hunter’s Hope. “God has given us a platform, a platform where people suffer, and not just Krabbe disease and leukodystrophies, but cancer, mental health issues. It’s so broad. Anyone suffering, they know we bring hope. That’s what we’re about. Hunter’s Hope.”’

‘“Respect has to be earned, and it has to be taken,” Douglas said. “There is really nothing to say. Words are meaningless. Well done is better than well said. We obviously have to earn people’s respect.”’

‘McConkey, a 5-feet, 11½-inch, 187-pound player from Georgia, would serve three purposes: Slot receiver as a rookie, outside-inside receiver in 2025 and he wouldn’t become a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.’