1. Kyle Williams headlines the 2021 class of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
Kyle Williams spent 13 years as a Bill and did so much for the city of Buffalo on and off the field. Williams will be one of 12 inducted into the 2021 class of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
Williams will be a part of the 31st class to be inducted into the hall since its creation in 1991. The entire class will be honored and officially inducted on October 14 at a ceremony taking place at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
The former Bills defensive tackle was one of the best at his position in franchise history. Throughout his career, Williams was named to the Pro Bowl six times as well as two First-team All-Pro selections and one Second-team All-Pro selection. In the Bills record books, Williams currently ranks second in combined tackles (609), sixth in sacks (48.5), and seventh in games played (183).
Former Bills general manager the late John Butler will be inducted as well.
2. Matt Milano explains how the Bills defense can take it to next level in 2021
Throughout OTAs and minicamp, the Bills defense has had a high level of energy. Continuity has helped with that as most of the veterans on the defense know the playbook which gives them the ability to play faster and help teach the rookies and new free-agent additions.
"It's been pretty cool to experience that and not have to worry about the playbook and little stuff like that," Milano said after Wednesday's minicamp practice. "It's more now about making plays and taking it to the next level."
When asked how the defense can take it to the next level, Milano said it's all about personal responsibility.
"Guys just have to do their job, that's what it comes down to, Milano added. "Everybody's got to be held accountable and stay in their gaps. Guys have to be downhill, making plays on the ball. That's really what it comes down to, making those big-time plays in those big-time moments. We're excited. It's a new year, it's a new team. What we did last year is behind us and we're looking to move forward."
3. NFL.com analyst thinks Josh Allen should be in a Bills uniform for life
This offseason when talking with the media, Brandon Beane and Josh Allen have indicated that both sides want a contract extension to get done but that there is no timetable for it. With Allen's rookie deal expiring after the 2022 season, there is a lot of time for the two sides to agree to terms on an extension. Allen mentioned in May that his agent will be taking care of the contract as he is focused mostly on finding ways to get better to make the team better. NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt has Allen ranked number one on his list of 12 players, on their rookie deals, whose teams shouldn't let them leave.
#1 Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills · QB
Drafted: Round 1 (No. 7 overall) in 2018.
Under contract through: 2022. Age: 25.
Allen was perhaps the NFL's most improved player in 2020, making huge leaps across the board, including in completion percentage (from 58.8 in 2019 to 69.2), passing yards (from 3,089 to 4,544), passing TDs (from 20 to 37) and yards per attempt (from 6.7 to 7.9), while pushing Buffalo to the AFC title game. The Bills reportedly restructured receiver Stefon Diggs' contract, clearing roughly $8 million in cap space, and while it might be tempting to use those funds to acquire, say, Eagles tight end Zach Ertz or add depth by signing someone like cornerback Steven Nelson, locking Allen up now, before he reels off yet another spectacular season, would not be a bad idea.
