Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills completed their shortest training camp at St. John Fisher University on Friday, and will return home to Orchard Park on Saturday for the the annual "Return of the Blue and Red" at the new Highmark Stadium on Saturday.
As far as camp in Pittsford, Bills new head Joe Brady loves where his team is at.
"The personality they're playing with, the volume we're putting on their plates and how they're handling it; it's still day-to-day, we're still installing and there's still intentionality behind it in everything we're doing, but everything we're asking of them they're handling in the right way and making it their own," said Brady ahead of Friday's final practice in Rochester. "We're breaking camp today, and it's, 'What's the mentality? What's it going to look like today? Are they thinking about going back home or are the going to have the best practice of camp today?'"
Brady really didn't get too much more into camp, because he's preparing to get his team into the new stadium for the first time.
"There's so much that comes with it. It's our first time in the stadium, and I'm going to be getting a feel for everything - play clocks while I'm calling it, vantage points from lights, how does the wind feel?" Brady said.
"And then for all of our guys, it's a great opportunity for them. We're kind of making it like a night game, so they're coming in early in the morning, going through a walk through. Obviously that meeting is going to be talking about a lot of parking, and for everybody it's like a trial run. I want the guys to get a feel of there's going to be traffic tomorrow, and when you show up, go through all the emotions of trying to figure out the stadium and looking at all the things, and then we've got to go practice. I still want the intentionality that it's an install day."
There are numerous reports out that the Bills have re-signed guard O'Cyrus Torrence to a contract extension. ESPN NFL insider Ian Rapoport says it's a four-year extension worth $78.4 million.
Brady didn't confirm anything before practice, because that is not his job. However, he did talk about a guy that was drafted in the second-round and became an immediate starter on the Buffalo offensive line.
"Since Day 1, there was no hesitation after we drafted him, to put him out there. He's one of the top guards in football," Brady said of Torrence. "Last year, he battled through so much, and was out there with every injury and didn't blink. He's as tough as it gets, and he's the epitome of what we want here."
After practice, general manager Brandon Beane was able to confirm that Torrence is getting extended.
"We're done," said Beane after the final practice at St. John Fisher. "There's a couple of language things we're working through, and we should get hopefully signed this afternoon."
Beane has deals done with his right guard, as well as tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, and center Connor McGovern. All of that is on purpose, according to Beane.
"The No. 1 thing we want to do is we want to be strong up front, and we want to protect No. 17 (Josh Allen). That's where it all starts," Beane said. "And other than left guard, we've got everyone else for multiple years. We lost Dave Edwards, so I wanted to do my best not to lose another guard.
"We have Josh Allen, and first-and-foremost, we've got to keep him protected and keep him clean."
It's not often that a rookie steps into the starting lineup on Day 1 of training camp. Torrence did that coming out of the University of Florida in 2023, lining up at right guard.
Brady wasn't surprised Torrence could handle it back in 2023, when he was still the quarterbacks coach at the time.
"Anytime you try to put a lot on a rookie's plate, we've always had the mindset with a guy like 'Cybo' and Keon [Coleman], and all these guys, 'Let's go.' We don't need a grace period," Brady said. "You've got to go through the experience, and there's going to be ups and downs. But if you wait until Week 14 to count on a rookie, now you're putting a lot on them. So let's go through the bumps and bruises early and go with it, and a guy like 'Cybo', getting him to play every rep as a rookie and he takes every rep in practice, that's hard."
As for Allen, he liked what was accomplished at camp this year in Rochester.
"Guys getting out, flying around, I thought we practiced extremely well with each other, and I thought guys really took care of each other," Allen said following the final practice of camp.
"I think this group, from offense to defense, is the tightest knit group I've been around since I've entered the league. Just even when you walk into a dorm room or walk into the cafeteria, there's guys sitting down, talking, really getting to know each other. That's one of the things you do when you come to camp, is build that team comradery. The way you do it is doing those things, breaking bread together, sitting outside by the firepit eating dinner, and that will show on the field."
After the "Return of the Blue and Red" scrimmage Saturday, the Bills will return to training camp on Monday in Orchard Park.
The Bills head coach says they'll treat the "Return of the Blue and Red" scrimmage Saturday like a night game
The Bills head coach says they'll treat the "Return of the Blue and Red" scrimmage Saturday like a night game
