The Buffalo Bills were one of the first teams in the NFL to get their season started today, as the team began their first voluntary conditioning program of the offseason.
And there sure weren’t too many missing faces.
In total, 66 of the Bills’ 71 players currently on the roster were in attendance at the session, including some of the newest members on the offensive side of the ball like quarterback Matt Cassell (who was off on the side, riding a stationary bike), wide receiver Percy Harvin, and tight end Charles Clay.
“I’m not afraid. I expect to win,” said head coach Rex Ryan, when asked about the roster on offense. “I expect to win big and I expect to do that right now. There’s no reason we can’t. The thing that you have to guard from is being so overly-excited, but you have to take the proper steps.”
“You can’t miss a step. Part of it is being physically in shape. This phase one is about getting in condition to go into phase two and to be on the field and that’s kind of where we are. You’ve had a lot of time away, But getting back in the weight room, getting the classroom for the first time. There’s many steps that we have to take before we get there.”
Cassell, who was acquired by trade in the offseason, will start off the sessions limited, but was more than excited to be a part of the quarterback mix.
“I’m thrilled,” Cassell said. “Like you said, they had an active offseason. Since I even left we added Jerome Felton, Charles Clay, Percy Harvin and so anytime as a quarterback you have those weapons around you, you get excited and it makes you want to work even harder to get those guys the ball and do the right thing. You know that those guys are going to make you better.”
His main opponent, third-year pro EJ Manuel, was just as pumped to get things going.
“No doubt, I’m excited,” Manuel said. “I think it’s a clean slate for myself. I think we have a great team around me and around this offense. I think we put a lot of pieces in the skill positions. Obviously we didn’t want to lose C.J. (Spiller), but we added a LeSean McCoy who is an excellent back. He can do multiple things, he can run, and he can catch. For me and my opportunity, I just see it as a great thing.”
“That’s why I was so excited once Rex got the job,” Manuel said when later asked about the upcoming quarterback competition. “Obviously he made it known to the public, and he had already mentioned that to me, that it would be an open competition. In my eyes, that’s all I want. That’s all I can ask for in my current situation. With that being said, I just have to do my part and just continue to work hard and get better and learn this offense.”
LeSean McCoy, the running back that will look to help out whoever is starting under center was also happy to get his Bills career underway, and was quite impressed with the players around him.
“Yeah, I am. I really am. I am happy to be here,” McCoy said. “Happy to feel wanted. Feel appreciated with this team.”
“You do not really notice it until you get here—just the atmosphere. Just the people and coaches. The talent level—that is the biggest thing I have noticed. From being on winning teams to this team, this is a talented group. You look around at the guys they brought in and the guys that were already here, especially on the defensive side. Lights out.”
On the other side of the ball, there were two key players missing from the defense, but each had a pretty good reason to miss the voluntary session.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and pass rusher Jerry Hughes were the notables not in attendance, on what should be a top-ranked defense for 2015 for Buffalo.
Gilmore, the Bills No. 1 corner, is taking some additional time off after becoming a father just two days ago. He is expected back in Buffalo and with the team for next week’s sessions.
Hughes, who was re-signed to a five-year, $45 million dollar extension in March, is preparing for his wedding this weekend in Houston, TX. It isn’t known at this point at time when he will return.
“We had a lot of people there,” Ryan would add when asked about today’s attendance. “We had a couple players that showed up late, their flights got cancelled and things like that. We had a great turnout. Obviously, this is voluntary, so some of the guys, they called, and I knew they weren’t going to be here. They had some personal issues or family issues that I knew they were dealing with. I was really pleased with the turnout and it’s exciting when you got that many guys.”
The Bills were one of three teams to start their offseason program today, joining the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons. The San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders will kick-off their programs tomorrow, while the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears will begin next Monday, the 13th.
All of these teams get to start their programs early due to them all having new head coaches in place for 2015.
The remaining 25 teams will have to wait until April 20th.
