AFC Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Bills HC Sean McDermott said he is pleased with RB Devin Singletary‘s development: “I’ve been impressed with his attention to detail with finer points of what’s required on all three downs. He’s been on top of it.” (Chris Brown)
• McDermott also expects RB Zack Moss to be ready for training camp after rehabbing from ankle surgery. (Joe Buscaglia)
• On DT Star Lotulelei, who opted out of last season, McDermott said he needs to catch up after opting out last year: “He can help us. We all know that. He’s just going to have to continue to put the work in to get himself back.” (Matthew Fairburn)
• Lotulelei said he opted out last year for his family due to uncertainty surrounding COVID. (Marcel Louis-Jacques)
• Lotulelei added he didn’t watch every game last year, and he missed not being part of the team’s success, but he doesn’t regret the decision. (Fairburn)
• Bills QB Josh Allen mentioned he holds himself to a very high standard when it comes to following up his breakout 2020 season: “No offense to any of you in the media but the bar I set for myself is higher than anything anyone else can set for me.” (Sal Capaccio)
• Allen also said he doesn’t want to dwell on last season: “The loss we had in the AFC Championship game is still sitting with us. No one here thinks our success last year means anything this year. So we’re recommitted to being playoff caliber to give ourselves a chance to go win a championship.” (Brown)
• The Bills are trying out TE Bug Howard at minicamp this week. (Fairburn)

Jets

Jets WR Jamison Crowder said he came away a “bit surprised” by the organization approaching him about a paycut this offseason. 

“A little bit surprised,” Crowder said, via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press. “It’s a business. It is what it is. I’m here now, so I’m just ready to rock out, man.”

Crowder said that he didn’t have any hard feelings about accepting a paycut and was about to work things out with his agent. 

“I sat down and spoke with my agent about some things,” said Crowder, who has no bitterness toward the organization. “We got things worked out now. So, that’s kind of my mentality now — I really just want to get back out there on the field and start making plays. … I’m here now, so I’m just ready to rock and roll.”

Crowder had high praise for second-round WR Elijah Moore and thinks he can help build a productive offense that can move the ball around. 

“He’s a heck of a ballplayer,” Crowder said. “You know, I definitely think that if we can get things right with our offense, everybody can eat and we can have a successful season, especially on the offensive side of the football.”

Crowder feels he’s a “good fit” in new Jets OC Mike LaFleur system given he ran similar route concepts with Washington in 2015-2016 under Sean McVay, who was WFT’s offensive assistant at the time. 

“I think I’m a good fit just because some of the routes that are run out of the slots, some of the combinations and concepts, I’ve done it before,” Crowder said. “A lot of the concepts and stuff are very similar to the ones I ran in Washington under McVay, where I had success.”

Patriots

• According to NFL Media’s Michael Giardi, Patriots OL Ted Karras continues to get reps at left guard along with Michael Onwenu.
• Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald notes Patriots LB Josh Uche stood out as he had a would-be sack on QB Cam Newton in two-minute drills and he pressured QB Brian Hoyer into an interception and rushed from the ILB spot in sub-packages.
• Callahan mentions the current QB hierarchy is Newton, Mac Jones, and Jarrett Stidham, with Hoyer earning occasional reps in team drills.
• Patriots RB Damien Harris is the “clear no. 1 back,” according to Callahan, while DB Jalen Mills replaced Gilmore on the outside CB position.
• Patriots’ recently acquired OT Trent Brown is excited about the potential of New England’s offensive line and is comfortable at playing either position opposite of OT Isaiah Wynn: “We have two great guards and of course I feel like we have one of the best centers in the league. Whatever side me and Isaiah play, we have two of the best tackles in the league. I think we’ll get back in the saddle and have one of the best O-lines in the league if not the best.” (Doug Kyed)
• Regarding New England’s rookie quarterback, Brown believes Jones has a “special” future in the NFL based on the training he’s already received at Alabama: “He’s a young guy but you can’t really just refer to him as a young guy; you can tell he’s been at a place where’s got some coaching. And I think he’s going to be special in the future.” (Mike Reiss)