Buffalo Bills training camp news, 7/28: split reps at QB

Marrone: QB Reps to be split evenly between Kolb, Manuel - BuffaloBills.com

If you were hoping for some early insight into which of the Bills' two quarterbacks will start at the outset of the 2013 season, you're going to have to wait for one of Kevin Kolb or E.J. Manuel to separate himself within the constraints of an even share of practice reps. Let the quarterback competition begin!

Bills have nothing to lose with EJ Manuel at QB - The Buffalo News
Bucky Gleason: "Doug Marrone can talk all he wants about quarterback competitions and players separating themselves from the pack and finding the guy who gives the Bills the best chance to win. It’s a nice spin for public consumption, but he shouldn’t be messing around with Kevin Kolb or any other passers during training camp."

Buffalo Bills need to make EJ Manuel their starting quarterback | Democrat and Chronicle
Leo Roth: "I attended Kelly’s one-day youth football clinic at Fisher last week and Jim, at 53, coming off recent back, neck, hernia and jaw surgery, still throws better than most of the guys who have tried filling his shoes in Buffalo."

Video: Recent moves put Bills' roster in motion for camp - The Buffalo News
Tim Graham and Mark Gaughan recap the Buffalo Bills' roster moves over the past few days.

Buffalo Bills to unveil new-look defense | Democrat and Chronicle
“I wasn’t here, so I don’t want to get too much into last year,” said Pettine, who must have been cringing when he watched tape of the Bills’ follies. “I just know that the system that we’re installing takes advantage of what our guys do well. And they’ve been very accepting of it.”

Pass-rushing help high on Bills’ checklist - The Buffalo News
“We feel we have some good young players there with Jerry Hughes, Blatnick, also with Brown,” Marrone said Saturday. “We feel very confident with how that position’s going to develop, and we’re excited for all those guys.”

Doug Whaley contends Buffalo has enough edge-rushers - The Buffalo News
While Hughes had a strong offseason, Whaley claimed "that wasn't part of the motivation in releasing Mark. But we're very excited about Jerry. He was a high pick and we think this fresh start will be good for him and actually be a bonus for us."

Bills set to open training camp minus S Byrd - Associated Press
GM Doug Whaley: "I think there's a lot of guys on the roster now that are going to step up to fill that role until he gets back. And then we'll go from there when he gets in. So it's hard for me to predict that."

Bills say they'll be patient with Jairus Byrd's absence - Press Coverage | The Buffalo News
"'Again, we're not going to do anything in public or in the media,' Whaley said today at St. John Fisher College. 'Just know that we have been in contact and the lines of communication are open.'"

Bills GM Whaley Says Lines Of Communication Open For Byrd - WGR 550
Joe Buscaglia: "That could be a bit misleading for a couple of different reasons. First, when this contact happened was not defined as recent or whatever else. It very well could be the case still that Byrd and the Bills haven't touched base in nearly a month as Breer reported. The lines of communication could be open from the Bills' perspective in the sense that they're open to talking. That doesn't indicate though that there have been any substantial communications."

Bills Will Hold Live Scrimmage, Tackling And All - WGR 550
Doug Marrone: "For us right now, we'll work on tackling every day, work on those drills every day that you have to be able to do from a contact standpoint, but we'll avoid that with the players early on until we drill it and get a foundation," Marrone started. "So my philosophy is, we'll have a big scrimmage Tuesday night. That'll be a big scrimmage down the road. That will be a live scrimmage."

Doug Marrone will limit contact, but Aug. 5 night scrimmage full-go - The Buffalo News
Marrone: "Then after that pretty much we'll be thud. We'll be doing things the right way from a fundamental period. Then we'll take the contact into the preseason."

Buffalo Bills return to Fisher with renewed optimism | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana: "Well, next year has arrived, and once again there’s excitement emanating from One Bills Drive after what was surely one of the most tumultuous offseasons in team history."

Buffalo Bills seek to end postseason drought | Democrat and Chronicle
"Like Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, Dick Jauron and Chan Gailey before him, new Bills head coach Doug Marrone adores the training camp set-up at St. John Fisher College. Starting Sunday night, Marrone begins the task of trying to accomplish what those five coaches were never able to do: Lead the Bills to the playoffs after beginning a season training in Pittsford."

Marrone hopeful on Hairston - BuffaloBills.com
“I’m hoping that he comes back soon,” Marrone said. ”I’m not a doctor, but I’m sitting there thinking to myself, my first question being can we pull that tag off at any time. As soon as the doctors feel comfortable with it we’ll get him out there and start working him in.”

Bills' Spiller Has A Magic Number - WGR 550
"I do. I do have a number. I'll share it after the season," Spiller started off. "I think you should write down your goals. In order to be great and achieve things, you have to write them down and challenge yourself. I think it's a challenge for me to see where I'm at. I've got different categories that I want to achieve, I'll keep it at that."

Stevie Johnson on the playoffs: "Why not now? Why not us?"
"It’s very realistic. I feel like we have the team to make that move and I believe in that. Why not now? Why not us? We’re going to make it happen."