AFC Notes: Sean McDermott, Ja’Lynn Polk, Bills, Dolphins, Patriots

Bills

• Bills HC Sean McDermott said at the combine that the team needs another receiver to stretch the field: “I am a believer in that speed. Stretching the field both horizontally and vertically. I thought we did that at times this year but maybe not enough.” (Sal Capaccio)
• McDermott admired RB James Cook and hopes the two sides can come together on an agreement that will keep him in Buffalo: “I love James (Cook)…he’s a great example of one of the joys of watching a player develop…. it’s a great feeling as a coach. The business part will take care of itself. Brandon (Beane) is and will be on top of that.” (Capaccio)
• McDermott said that CB Christian Benford has been cleared to resume activities. (Jay Skurski)
• McDermott added that DB Cole Bishop has an opportunity to regain his starting role at safety, but not without competition: “We expect Cole Bishop to have an impact on our defense. The injury in camp set him back and he was behind. He will have a chance to win the starting safety job, but there are no guarantees.” (Capaccio)
• Bills GM Brandon Beane on Cook, who’s seeking a new extension from the team: “I love James. James is a beautiful man. … I want James here… the business is the business… it doesn’t change my view of him.” (Katherine Fitzgerald)
• Beane continued on Cook, saying he respects Cook and prefers to keep business behind closed doors: “Just because we aren’t on the same page now doesn’t mean we won’t be in two weeks or months.” (Sal Capaccio)
• Per Sal Cappacio, the Bills are targeting Georgia Southern ST coordinator Turner West for their ST coordinator role. 
• The Bills have come excruciatingly close to competing for a Super Bowl. When asked about possible changes Buffalo needs to make, GM Brandon Beane responded they’ve been just one play away from having different results and don’t need to make extreme overhauls: “Let’s go back to the Kansas City game. It’s 22-21, there’s the fourth down quarterback sneak play. Whether you agree with the call or not, shame on us for not getting it clearly. If we go down and score a touchdown there and kick the extra point, you’re up 29-21, that’s a little different pressure than giving them the ball at midfield down one. Maybe one play could change the fortune. So, if you’re getting beat by two scores and three scores, you probably need to look at where you’re at, unless you were just turning the ball over carelessly. My message was we’ve got to keep kicking the door, and at some point, kick that thing in.” (Jonathan Jones)

Dolphins

• Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said WR Tyreek Hill had surgery on his wrist for a ligament issue, not a broken wrist. (Marcel Louis-Jacques)
• McDaniel said S Jevon Holland has “earned the right” to test his market in free agency. (Cameron Wolfe)
• McDaniel says it’s time to invest in the offensive line position in free agency and the draft. (Joe Schad)

Patriots

Patriots 2024 second-round WR Ja’Lynn Polk had a rough rookie year where he failed to put up 100 yards in the season. New England EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf admits they might have asked too much of Polk too soon and compared his situation to The Dark Knight movie.

“I hate to use this analogy, but you know in The Dark Knight when it’s ‘The hero you need isn’t the hero that you have?’ He was a young player that came in and he’s mature, he’s smart. I think organizationally, we maybe put too much on his plate early,” Wolf said, via Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit. “I think that really kind of stunted his growth a little bit. He’s aware of that, and we’ve talked about it.”