Latest news with #SeanMcDermott
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Sean McDermott on Hard Knocks: Cameras and microphones in our meetings will be a challenge
The Bills' training camp will be featured on this summer's Hard Knocks, and head coach Sean McDermott says that will provide his team with some additional challenges. McDermott said a big part of training camp is building relationships among teammates and coaches, and that the kinds of honest conversations necessary to building strong relationships aren't as easy when everything is going to be recorded and potentially broadcast to the world. 'The real challenge to us is the authenticity of who we are, and building that critical trust that is so important to building a good, healthy relationship among players, among staff,' McDermott said. 'That trust piece is huge in terms of bringing the team together. That glue part is going to be challenged because of that third component, whether it's a microphone, a camera in different rooms, in different conversations. But we are who we are and that authenticity piece must stay intact.' McDermott acknowledged that Hard Knocks is a good thing for Bills fans, even as he said that no show can give a complete look at what any team's training camp is really like. 'The opportunity is there for us to, No. 1, our fans, they can get an inside look, a little bit, at what happens. Is it 100 percent inside? Maybe not,' McDermott said. In past years, the Bills would have been able to turn down Hard Knocks because they made the playoffs. But this year the NFL removed the rule that allowed playoff teams to refuse to appear on the show, and now McDermott's team will have cameras and microphones in its meeting rooms. Whether he likes it or not.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Bills QB Josh Allen shows no signs of jitters with wedding to Hailee Steinfeld coming up fast
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — If Josh Allen is experiencing any pre-wedding jitters, they weren't evident when the Buffalo Bills opened voluntary practices on Tuesday. The quarterback, who is engaged to actor and singer Hailee Steinfeld, looked his usual, outgoing self. He danced in the huddle to the music being played over the loudspeakers, barked out plays behind center and joined the celebration in the end zone after completing a perfectly placed pass to Curtis Samuel. Allen even had time to chat with new Bills minority owner and former NBA star Vince Carter on the sideline before jogging off the field without speaking to reporters following the session. Though the date and location of the wedding have not been disclosed, Bills tackle Dion Dawkins revealed it was May 31 during an interview on the NFL Network in March. Dawkins has since told The Rich Eisen Show, 'I ain't know anything about that.' The wedding is scheduled to take place over one of the next two weekends, a person familiar with the details told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the date is private. Coach Sean McDermott acknowledged how important the NFL MVP's presence was at practice in light of his busy offseason schedule. 'I think it says everything, right? He is the face of our organization. He's the leader of our team,' McDermott said. 'Like any leader, in particular the leader of the team, those words that he says and his actions are exponentially impactful, to the whole roster, the whole team.' As for Allen showing any pre-wedding nerves, McDermott laughed at the attempt to have him disclose the wedding date. 'Good try on that,' he said, before adding: 'But he is as confident and as calm, cool and collected as he always is.' Allen, who turned 29 last week, and the 28-year-old Steinfeld were engaged during the Bills bye week in November, when the quarterback proposed on a California cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The two were first linked in the spring of 2023, when they were photographed dining together in New York City. Steinfeld has since begun attending Bills home games, and the couple hosted a Halloween party. The couple was inseparable at the NFL Awards ceremony in February, when Allen credited Steinfeld upon accepting the league's MVP honor. Allen has spoken highly of the settling influence provided by Steinfeld, referring to her as his biggest fan. She began her acting career at the age of 10, and earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' Other roles have included the 2016 high school dramedy 'The Edge of Seventeen,' and 'Dickinson.' She branched out into pop music after performing in the 2015 movie 'Pitch Perfect 2.' Allen is entering his eighth NFL season. In March, he signed a contract extension worth $330 million, including an NFL record $250 million of it guaranteed, making him among the league's highest-paid players. ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Josh Allen — franchise quarterback and groom to be — makes a statement by attending Bills OTAs
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen could have skipped voluntary practices without any static this week. He has missed them before, to yuk around a golf course for 'The Match,' and everyone would have understood if Allen chose to focus on an even bigger match: his wedding to movie star Hailee Steinfeld, reportedly four days away. Advertisement We must say 'reportedly' because the Steinfeld-Allen wedding details have been confidential. A few months ago, chatty left tackle Dion Dawkins, the guy who's supposed to protect Allen at all costs, let slip that May 31 was the big day. Everybody has been sheepish since. Bills coach Sean McDermott on Tuesday danced around a question about Allen possibly demonstrating any pre-wedding jitters — answering would have confirmed the event was near. 'I'm not going to get into any of that. Good try,' McDermott replied. 'But he is as confident and calm, cool and collected as he always is.' Still, there was no denying the meaning of Allen's presence on Tuesday, to McDermott and the rest of Buffalo's organization. Allen doesn't truly need to be here right now. This is his eighth NFL offseason, with enviable coaching continuity; he's entering his third season with Joe Brady as offensive coordinator. Allen is the reigning MVP and in March signed a six-year, $330 million contract extension with $250 million in guarantees. He is Buffalo's unquestioned bellwether. There is nothing he must prove to anyone at One Bills Drive, but he was there for the voluntary workout. 'I think it says everything,' McDermott said. 'He is the face of our organization. He is the leader of our team. When he's here, like anything else as a leader, it speaks and it holds a tremendous amount of weight. Like any leader, and in particular the leader of the team, those words that he says and his actions are exponentially impactful to the whole roster, the whole team.' In May 2022, the very offseason Buffalo promoted Ken Dorsey to be a first-time offensive coordinator, Allen skipped two voluntary practices to participate in 'The Match,' a nationally televised golf event that paired him with Patrick Mahomes against Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Some patted Allen on the back for taking a private jet to return to practice faster, but the Bills would have been more impressed had he turned down golfing altogether. Advertisement Bills fans have delighted in Allen's playfulness. They've referred to him as their golden retriever of a quarterback. He's a rascal, a lovable prankster, a dude just soaking up fun with a willingness to please, slinging that football and hurdling defenders. But he turned 29 last week. His contract carries the heftiest guarantees in NFL history, and since 'The Match' he has finished three more seasons without a Super Bowl trip. Allen knows — now more than ever — he must be the grownup an entire franchise relies upon. 'He cares about getting better and making sure that people know that he's here,' said Allen's co-captain, linebacker Terrel Bernard. 'If Josh is here, then why wouldn't anybody else be here? If a guy coming off an MVP season is here and working out when it's optional, we should all be here.' That's not to say Bills running back James Cook's behavior makes him a bad teammate for being the only player who didn't show on Tuesday, the first of three practices this week. Cook's circumstances are apples to Allen's oranges. The running back hasn't attended any offseason workouts because he wants a new contract. He is entering the final season of his rookie deal and will make about only $5.3 million this year after a second straight 1,000-yard rushing campaign and an NFL-best 16 rushing touchdowns last year. In February, Cook posted '15 mill a year' on social media and confirmed in subsequent posts that the number is what he felt he deserved. Several of Cook's teammates received handsome extensions this offseason; the list includes Bernard, cornerback Christian Benford, edge rusher Gregory Rousseau and receiver Khalil Shakir. But a month after the Philadelphia Eagles gave Saquon Barkley a two-year, $42.1 million extension, and three days after Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the sides were too far apart and that a deal likely wouldn't get done before the season, Cook put his Orchard Park house up for sale. Bernard and Dawkins expressed confidence Cook is working intently on his own and that the two-time Pro Bowl running back will be ready to perform when it matters. Buffalo has three more voluntary workouts next week. Mandatory minicamp takes place June 10-12. Advertisement 'Everybody wants us to play football — how many days in a year? — 365 days in a year,' Dawkins said. 'That's what the world would want, but it's impossible, and this is voluntary. This shouldn't be hurting anything that's going on, and whatever's going on, I just hope it continues to go in a peaceful way.' As it would be in most NFL cities, the absence of a star player in the midst of a contentious contract negotiation was supposed to be the biggest news out of One Bills Drive. Instead, the quarterback who showed up reminded everyone his presence means everything.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What Sean McDermott said about James Cook missing Bills OTAs
What Sean McDermott said about James Cook missing Bills OTAs The James Cook topic continues for the Buffalo Bills as the team begins their 2025 OTAs. The spring practices in Buffalo are unfolding in Orchard Park this week and the Pro Bowl running back is not in attendance. Cook, 25, have made it no secret that he wants a new contract extension and wants to be paid as one of the NFL's best running backs. As of now, that new deal has now arrived for Cook. While Cook is skipping OTAs to send a message about wanting a new contract, that does not mean he's doing anything wrong. This set of spring practices are not mandatory, they are voluntary, and no players is required to attend. While his top rusher sits out, head coach Sean McDermott did downplay the situation. Bills Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 offseason.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Bills edge rusher Bosa sidelined by calf injury. Running back Cook absent from voluntary practice
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa is expected to miss all of the team's spring practices because of a calf injury, coach Sean McDermott announced Tuesday as the team opened its first series of voluntary sessions. McDermott said Bosa was hurt while working out with the team last week, and he expects the player entering his 10th NFL season to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
