AFC Notes: Bills, Jets, Ravens

Bills

Despite a tough rookie season, the Bills are confident in QB Nathan Peterman moving forward.

“I think he’s a very confident young man and he’s resilient,” Bills GM Brandon Beane said regarding Peterman, via the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. “You saw a guy who got knocked down hard. Not all on him, either, but the greatest thing about what Nathan did was he never pointed a finger and that says a lot, because it’s hard.”

“I’m confident that he is wired the right way and he’ll learn from the moments both high and low that did or didn’t go his way,” Bills GM Sean McDermott said of Peterman. “He’s an extremely confident young man and a guy that works hard. Sometimes as a rookie, in this case as a rookie quarterback, you’re thrust in a situation where everyone sees your body of work. I know his second year will be better than his first year. I thought he did some really good things his first year. When you look at the DNA, he’s a fit for us in that regard.”

“He’s super smart,” Beane said. “He’s not going to tell you how good he is or how smart he is. He’s just Steady Eddie every day and you love how he approaches the game. I know Sean’s been there more than me, but even I’ve stopped in there a couple times when [offensive coordinator Brian] Daboll’s had those guys in [the meeting room] and they’re writing stuff on the board. He’s playing Jeopardy! with them. He’s trying to just see what they know, and Nathan is really, really smart.”

Jets

• According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets do not want to rush the development of first-round QB Sam Darnold by starting him too early. However, Mehta adds that some within the front office expect Darnold to prove he could be the Week 1 starter.
• Jets HC Todd Bowles said that Darnold has already proven the ability to retain information: “He retains things when you tell him. When he makes a mistake, he doesn’t make the same one twice. So, he is very good… as far as retaining information.”
• Mehta has been told that Bowles “will not hesitate” to start Teddy Bridgewater for Week 1 if he plays well during the preseason and Darnold shows that he is not ready.
• However, should Darnold prove he is capable of starting right out of the gate, Mehta believes Bridgewater could then become trade-bait for New York.
• Mehta could see Jets WR Robby Anderson being the team’s “headline” pass catcher, ahead of Quincy Enunwa, Terrelle Pryor, Chad Hansen, and ArDarius Stewart.

Ravens

Ravens OC Marty Mornhinweg says that QB Joe Flacco is “moving and grooving” better than in years.

“It looks like he’s moving and grooving better than he has in several years and I suppose that’s because he’s healthy,” Mornhinweg said. “So he looks pretty good that way. Two years ago it was the knee and then the back and all these things. He really looks good.”