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Buffalo Bills Links, 4/14: Vaccines required to attend Bills home games

Plus, examining the type of player the Bills will be getting with pick No. 30.

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Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced Tuesday that all fans hoping to attend a Buffalo Bills home game this fall will need to be fully vaccinated and carry New York State’s electronic COVID-19 passport (an Excelsior Pass). In today’s edition of the Bills daily links, we break down Erie County’s plans and policies for fans returning to the stadium this fall.

With the NFL Draft approaching, we comb through every player drafted with the No. 30 overall pick since 1970 to come up with a benchmark for what fans can expect when the Bills make their pick in the first round.

We also hear who draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has the Bills selecting with that 30th overall pick, discuss how Buffalo could improve both its run defense and the defensive tackle position in the draft, learn how players like tight end Dawson Knox, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, guard Cody Ford and the rest of the 2019 NFL Draft class could hold the key to the Bills making a Super Bowl run, break down the pros and cons of a hypothetical trade for Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, and more.


Recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings

Erie County says Buffalo Bills fans will need to be vaccinated to attend home games - Buffalo Rumblings
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced Tuesday that every fan in attendance at a Buffalo Bills home game this fall will need to be fully vaccinated and carry an Excelsior Pass, New York State’s electronic COVID-19 passport.

Buffalo Bills could be leaning pass rusher in 2021 NFL Draft - Buffalo Rumblings
Heading into this offseason, the Bills knew they had to upgrade their pass defense but to this point haven’t done a lot to address that.

Who is your 2021 NFL Draft crush for the Buffalo Bills? - Buffalo Rumblings
You know you want the Bills to draft [PLAYER].

BBR: A hypothetical Bills trade for Zach Ertz sparks discussion - Buffalo Rumblings
Would the Bills trade pick 30 for Ertz and pick 37?

Q&A: NFL Draft WR and DE lists, Dean Marlowe - Buffalo Rumblings
This week, we talk about the NFL Draft prospects at wide receiver and defensive end the Buffalo Bills could take in the first round plus how the Bills are going to address the loss of safety Dean Marlowe.

2021 NFL Free Agency: Veteran cornerback T.J. Carrie visiting Buffalo Bills - Buffalo Rumblings
The Bills are looking at veteran defensive depth.

Additional Bills news from around the web

More on Erie County’s plan requiring vaccines to attend Bills games

Bills to have ‘full house’ at home games in 2021? County to require fans be vaccinated - newyorkupstate.com
“Poloncarz said that he’s spoken to the Bills and he believes they’ll support the county’s initiative to allow 100% attendance to games for fans who have been fully vaccinated,” writes Matt Parrino.

Bills games could see full capacity if fans get vaccinated - Democrat & Chronicle
“Erie County Executive Polancarz (sic) would welcome fully vaccinated Bills fans to fill stadium,” writes Sal Maiorana.

Polancarz (sic): No vaccine, no entry to Bills games - WGR 550
“Erie County Executive Mark Polancarz (sic) said on Tuesday that he supports full capacity at all Buffalo Bills homes games for the 2021 season, but any fan who wants to attend must show proof of being fully vaccinated,” writes Sal Capaccio.

Poloncarz: Vaccination required to attend Buffalo Bills, Sabres games | wgrz.com
“Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said anyone who wants to attend a Buffalo Bills or Buffalo Sabres game later this year will need to be fully vaccinated,” writes Leanne Stuck.

You will need to be vaccinated to attend Bills and Sabres games, Erie County executive says | News 4 Buffalo
“Bills and Sabres fans will need proof of vaccination to attend games this fall, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said Tuesday,” writes Nick Veronica.

Erie County plan: No vaccine = no entry for Buffalo Bills, Sabres games | wgrz.com
“Under the county’s plan, all fans and staff in attendance at a Bills or Sabres game would be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.”

Buffalo Bills Will Have Full House For Home Games In 2021 — But There’s A Catch - Forbes.com
“The Buffalo Bills have perhaps the most rabid fan base in the NFL, so it was good news to hear on Tuesday that allowances have been made to ensure that the Bills have a full house for the 2021 season,” writes Curtis Rush.

Examining the impact of past players drafted 30th

With the 30th overall pick in the NFL Draft ... what exactly are you getting? – The Athletic
“For every Reggie Wayne (No. 30, 2001) headed to the Hall of Fame, there is a Reggie Johnson (No. 30, 1991) with 29 starts for four teams,” writes Tim Graham. (Subscription required).

Latest Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft has Bills taking an edge rusher

Bills mock draft 2021: ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. gives Buffalo edge rusher at pick no. 30 - newyorkupstate.com
Bills then go cornerback in the second round of Kiper’s latest mock.

Bills Today | Mel Kiper picks these two players for the Bills in his latest mock draft - BuffaloBills.com
Plus, safety Jordan Poyer discusses how he overcame adversity in his personal life.

How the Bills can upgrade at defensive tackle in the draft

NFL draft preview: Bills could bolster run defense with mid- or late-round defensive tackle | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Interior defensive linemen could represent the weakest position group in the 2021 NFL draft,” writes Jason Wolf.

Are the Buffalo Bills interested in drafting a defensive tackle? - BuffaloFanatics
“Being almost two weeks away from the 2021 NFL Draft, all we can do now is speculate about how the Buffalo Bills will prioritize improving the roster,” writes Kendall Mirsky.

Dawson Knox, Ed Oliver, Cody Ford could hold the key to a Super Bowl run

Why the Bills need a boost from 2019 draft class to reach the Super Bowl - Buffalo Bills Blog- ESPN
After mostly standing pat this offseason, improvement must come from within for Buffalo, which needs three young players to take the next step.

WR Stefon Diggs feels the love from Bills fans

‘I’m definitely feeling the love’: 1 year later, Stefon Diggs is starting to feel at home in Buffalo – The Athletic
“My first season, I didn’t get the full experience at all. This time around, I feel like I’m getting to know the community and our people.” (Subscription required).

Odds and ends

Marv Levy: “I’m Absolutely Overwhelmed” - BuffaloBills.com
Bills Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy reflects on being named an inductee to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, his time coaching the Bills, and more.

Buffalo Bills most interesting man? Backup QB Davis Webb may take the cake - newyorkupstate.com
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll called Webb the best teammate he’s ever seen. Head coach Sean McDermott has never seen a player add so much value.

Report: Bills look at veteran CB depth with visit by T.J. Carrie | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Carrie, 30, was a backup for the Indianapolis Colts last season. He has started 53 of 107 games over his seven-year career,” writes Mark Gaughan.

Josh Allen’s message to Trey Lance: ‘Ignore’ the doubters - WGR 550
“Josh Allen knows what it’s like to be doubted. Coming out of the University of Wyoming, there were questions about his ability to compete at the NFL level, with critics declaring he was untested against elite competition,” writes Alex Reimer.