AFC Notes: Bills, Browns, Dolphins, Steelers

Bills

• Bills GM Brandon Beane said that free agent WR Anquan Boldin is “considering his options” after visiting Buffalo on Monday. (Mike Rodak)
• Bills HC Sean McDermott added that both sides are deciding whether they are a good fit.
• We have him featured in our Top 50 Available Free Agents list.

Browns

According to Browns HC Hue Jackson, second-round QB DeShone Kizer is coming along faster than they expected.

“Yes, he is,” Jackson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “He’s understanding the offense. I could take you back to his days at OTAs – he struggled calling the plays. The words were a lot simpler. The language was a different. I did not see as much of that today. That is improvement. Obviously, he made some good throws and did not turn the ball over. Those things are good. Again, it’s just one day. We are not going to make decisions on guys in one day. We have a lot of work to do.”

• Cabot writes that Kizer is still splitting reps with Cody Kessler, whom she says is the “man-to-beat.”
• Jackson said LG Joel Bitonio is “ready to go” after recovering from Lisfranc surgery and participated in team drills on Thursday. (Nate Ulrich)

Dolphins

Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry explained that he didn’t want his contract situation hanging over the team and ultimately decided to report in time for training camp.

“Like I said, for me, being a leader and having an opportunity to take another step, we don’t need anything hindering us off that path,” Landry said, via Pro Football Talk. “So for me to be here and to show the guys that it is about them and it’s about the team, that’s what I’m here to do.”

• Dolphins owner  Stephen Ross told reporters on Thursday that he “doesn’t know” if a deal with Landry will get done prior to the start of the season but added that he doesn’t think it’s “not mandatory.” (Barry Jackson)
• Interestingly enough, Ross specifically said that the franchise tag could be an option for Landry next year.

Steelers

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin mentioned that there are “consequences” for not being in attendance for training camp. This came after franchise RB Le’Veon Bell elected to skip the start of training camp.

“There is no question we are a group that values the team-building process,” Tomlin said, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “And doing it in this setting, so yes, there is value, and yes, there are consequences for not being here. That’s the reality of it.”

“Obviously I would like for him to be here,” Tomlin said. “He is not. I am going to focus my energies on the guys who are. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, one that we’ll deal with, one that he’ll deal with. I’ve had good clean communication with him. I’ll keep the nature of that conversation between us. Rest assured he’ll be ready to play football. When he gets here, he gets here.”