Archive for the ‘Buffalo Bills’ Category
Former AFL star Costa dies (The SportsXchange)
Friday, May 24th, 2013
Dave Costa, who was a star defensive tackle in the AFL in the 1960s, has died at the age of 71, according to the Denver Broncos website.
Browns sign OL Gilkey (The SportsXchange)
Friday, May 24th, 2013
The Cleveland Browns announced Friday that they signed offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey to a four-year contract.
Scott Chandler working out on restructured knee for Bills (NBC Sports)
Friday, May 24th, 2013
A mere five months have passed since Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler suffered a torn ACL in a loss against the Miami Dolphins in December. Yet, Chandler is already back on the practice field running routes, making cuts and catching passes. Chandler isn’t participating with the rest of the team during OTAs. He had…
An example of why laser tattoo removal businesses exist (National Football Post)
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
Feast your eyes on the infamous O.J. Simpson mugshot.
Bills WR Stevie Johnson resumes practicing (The Associated Press)
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo Bills top receiver Stevie Johnson resumed practicing for the first time since hurting his back during the team's first spring minicamp session last month.
Changes, intensity notable at Bills OTA (The SportsXchange)
Monday, May 20th, 2013
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Pity the players who weren't there when the Buffalo Bills kicked off week two of voluntary organized team activities under new coach Doug Marrone on Monday.
Bills sign 2nd-round draft pick WR Robert Woods (The Associated Press)
Monday, May 20th, 2013
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- In signing his contract on Monday, Buffalo Bills rookie second-round draft pick Robert Woods could start focusing on the next step of his career: Earning a regular role among the team's young group of receivers.
Bills DE Williams says texts taken out of context (The Associated Press)
Monday, May 20th, 2013
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Mario Williams refused to be labeled as someone who was emotionally unstable in dismissing questions about his mental state raised by a series of text messages from his former fiancee.
Bills DE Williams denies having ‘suicidal thoughts’ (The SportsXchange)
Monday, May 20th, 2013
Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams denied on Monday that he has suicidal thoughts.
E.J. Manuel says Bills’ offense is ‘easier to learn’ than Florida State’s (Shutdown Corner)
Monday, May 20th, 2013
The job of a rookie quarterback was never what you'd call easy. But the sudden, meteoric splash of young talents like Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick have meant that for new QBs, the learning curve is a ten-foot-high wall, and patience with their development is nonexistent. So it's got to warm the chilled hearts of Bills fans to hear that their latest prize acquisition, rookie E.J. Manuel, is acclimating well to the team's new offense under Doug Marrone and OC Nathaniel Hackett.
“The funny thing is it's easier to learn than the offense I had at Florida State,” Manuel said on SiriusXM. “It's a true West Coast-type progression offense. That's really what I wanted when I was coming through the pre-draft process. I wanted something that I could just go in and say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, check it down and run it. That's it, it's that simple. I love it."
Now, the way that Manuel related it, the Bills' playbook sounds only slightly more complex than the "everybody get open" method of Thanksgiving Day football. We're betting there's a bit more to it than that. Still, Manuel is doubling down on the idea that he's got this thing knocked.
“The learning curve for me is a lot shorter simply because of what I had at Florida State," Manuel continued. "[FSU's offense is] more complex and a little bit harder to catch on and learn. This offense is very simple. I've done a great job with it.” Confidence, right?
Of course, understanding the playbook is only half the battle, if that much. Execution is key, and that's where Manuel will need to step up. As our own Doug Farrar wrote in previewing Manuel for the draft, "There are questions about his on-field decision-making ability, his ability to read defenses at an advanced level, how well he throws under pressure, and how able he is to throw with a sense of anticipation." Knowing what you have to do and actually doing it are two very different tasks, and perhaps it's to Manuel's benefit that he can get the sequence of plays in mind quickly in order to focus on, you know, actually running those plays.
Now, the Hot Sports Take here would be oh, the Bills offense is easier than a college one so the Bills must be worse than a college team!!! Wrong. Complexity is not necessarily a sign of genius, and simplicity does not necessarily equal simplemindedness. And yes, the Bills would destroy Florida State or any other ACC team they played.
SEC? Totally different story. Buffalo would be lucky to finish third in the SEC East.
Here's Mike Florio's take from Pro Football Talk:
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