Ryan trying to avoid first ever 0-2 start
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Jets are coming to town tonight for an AFC East showdown, and Rex Ryan is in no mood to reflect on old grudges. Whatever raw emotions the Bills coach felt toward his former team during his first season in Buffalo last year have dissipated with time.
“Last year, I thought it was different because I was going back to New York, it seemed like bigger,” said Ryan, who memorably punched the air in delight and yelled a profanity following Buffalo’s 22-17 win in his first return to the Meadowlands in November. “This is just a football game now, and I think that’s kind of how everybody views it.”
Ryan has far more pressing concerns facing a short week of practice and questions about an offence that sputtered in a season-opening 13-7 loss at Baltimore, and could be missing two key starters to injury. Receiver Sammy Watkins is questionable because of soreness is his surgically repaired left foot, and starting left tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle) is out.
That’s worrisome for a Tyrod Taylor-led attack that managed just 160 yards of offence on Sunday.
There’s also the added weight of pressure Ryan is bearing following a year in which the Bills played below expectations, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs for a 16th consecutive year. Ryan has never opened a season 0-2. “Gosh,” he said, when reminded of that statistic, “I hope that trend continues.”
There’s a similar sense of urgency for the Jets, who gave up a go-ahead field goal in the final minute of a 23-22 loss to Cincinnati in their opener.
Marshall, Stewart fined for hits on Newton
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A person with knowledge of the punishment told The Associated Press that two Broncos defenders have been fined a total of $42,540 — but not suspended — for helmet-to-helmet hits on Cam Newton.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL hasn’t announced the fines, said linebacker Brandon Marshall was fined $24,309 and safety Darian Stewart $18,231.
Stewart was fined for roughing the QB in the final minute of Denver’s 21-20 win. It left Newton motionless on the ground, but he wasn’t checked for a concussion until after the game.
Marshall wasn’t flagged for his hit, which the NFL deemed an “impermissible use of the helmet (including illegal launching),” according to its 2016 schedule of fines.
In other news, the NFL announced it will spend an additional $100 million to develop new technology and support more medical research into the growing problem of head injuries.
Under the initiative, $60 million will be devoted toward developing technology such as improved helmets and $40 million will be allotted for medical research. There will be four pillars to the program: protecting players, advanced technology, medical research, and sharing progress with the public.