Bad week in Buffalo: from injuries to apologies

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor talks to teammates during an NFL football practice in Orchard Park, N.Y., Tuesday, May 24, 2016.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Coach Rex Ryan stepped to the podium and immediately proclaimed the Buffalo Bills are “a zillion miles ahead” of where they were last year.

And then Ryan spent much of the next 22 minutes of his news conference facing questions regarding the half-dozen on- and off-field headline-grabbing events that took place over the past week.

It was a nine-day, what-could-go-wrong-next stretch that began May 16, when the Bills revealed rookie first-round draft pick linebacker Shaq Lawson and starting receiver Sammy Watkins had surgery. It continued Wednesday when general manager Doug Whaley acknowledged he used “a poor choice of words” when referring to football being a violent game that he didn’t think was intended to be played by humans.

In between, the Bills introduced what’s regarded as one of the NFL’s most restrictive media policies, and placed running back Dri Archer on their reserve/did not report list for going AWOL after being claimed off waivers.

The bad news didn’t sway Ryan, who on Tuesday said: “I think we’re going to have a heck of a football team I’m excited about.”

Yet, it left plenty cause for concern regarding how Buffalo — a team whose 16-year playoff drought is the NFL’s longest active streak — might already be stumbling out of the gate before Memorial Day.

“I get it,” Ryan said, referring to the news of Watkins having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, which he called “a slap in the face.”
On the bright side, he said, Watkins will be recovered in time for the start of the regular season.

As for Lawson, pegged as a starter the night the Bills selected him 19th overall, Ryan defended the decision to have the Clemson pass-rush specialist have surgery to repair a lingering shoulder injury. He called it a pre-emptive move that’s best for the team and player’s long-term future.

“If he never had the surgery, he could play right now. But what we’re trying to get is Shaq Lawson at 100 percent,” Ryan said, tapping his finger on the podium for emphasis. “We took this guy not to come here and play the first five games or the first four games of the season. We took the guy to be a great player for a long time.”

Ryan then dismissed a question regarding Archer’s failure to report, saying there’s not much to discuss.

“We’re better talking about Jim Braxton,” Ryan said, referring to the former Bills fullback who played a key role as the lead blocker for O.J. Simpson in the 1970s.

Archer hasn’t been available for comment, and a message left with his agent, Joel Segal, has not been returned.

Player-related issues haven’t been the only concern for the Bills, who dominated social media and sports-talk TV and radio shows for that Whaley said and for their new media policy.

Appearing on Buffalo’s WGR Radio on Tuesday, Whaley made his comment answering a question whether Watkins was injury-prone.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Whaley said. “It’s the game of football and injuries are a part of it. It’s a violent game that I personally don’t think humans are supposed to play, and these things are going to come up.”

The comment raised eyebrows at a time the NFL is defending itself over player safety concerns, particularly concussion-related issues.

On Wednesday, Whaley issued an apology by clarifying what he meant to say.

“The point that I was trying to make is that football is a physical game and injuries are part of it,” he said.

“Playing football no doubt is very physically and mentally and emotionally challenging, and that is all part of what makes the game so compelling to play and watch,” Whaley added.
“The game has more protection for players now than ever, thanks largely to the safety advancements and numerous rule changes made by our league.”

And then there’s the Bills’ media policy, which drew criticism for barring reporters from mentioning dropped passes or interceptions that occur during closed practices.

Jeff Legwold, President of the Professional Football Writers of America, described the rules as “a vast over-reach of the guidelines in the (NFL’s) current media policy.”

Ryan sidestepped the issue by deferring questions to team spokesman Scott Berchtold.
There are 66 days before the Bills open training camp.
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Steph Curry is ‘not injured,’ but something else is off: Kerr

Stephen Curry Photo: AP

OAKLAND – Stephen Curry labeled his health “fine.” Coach Steve Kerr claimed his MVP guard is not injured.

But in response to a report claiming Curry was playing at 70 percent, according to a person close to the All-Star, Kerr couldn’t resist a few digs.

“Is that sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking? That’s my favorite expression these days. Sources with knowledge of the team’s intimate thinking,” the Warriors coach said Wednesday at the team’s practice facility, with his team facing a 3-1 series deficit to the Thunder and possible elimination Thursday night.

“Nobody has said anything about Steph being 70 percent to me. Our training staff, relatives, friends, sources with knowledge of our team’s thinking, nobody has told me he’s 70 percent. So apparently they told the media but they didn’t tell me.”

Part of Curry’s problem, Kerr allowed, is he is still playing his way back from knee and ankle injuries suffered earlier in the playoffs.

“The last couple games, obviously, he hasn’t played as well as he can,” Kerr said. “I know he’s not injured. If he were injured, he would not be playing. Is he bothered a little bit? Perhaps, by the layoff.

He went three weeks without basically playing a game. So he just may not be quite where he needs to be, but it’s not an injury.”

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid Sequel Will Be Nothing Like the Original

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

They say sequels are never as good as the originals, and it's possible this one won't be as good either. Instead, it could be better. 

As the city of Milan gears up for its first UEFA Champions League final in 15 years, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are gearing up for Part 2.

Simeone's Empire Strikes Back, perhaps?

The Return of the Zidane, maybe?

In such circumstances, with a second all-Madrid final in three seasons looming, it's tempting to think of Saturday's clash as a continuation of the 2014 script: all-guns-blazing Real vs. backs-to-the-wall Atletico; rulers vs. upstarts; favourites vs. outsiders.

But that's not what this is; not at all.

These are now two very different teams, teams with new faces and evolved identities. The rivalry is different now, too, and both of them approach this year's final fitter and fresher, more prepared and better equipped.

A Part 2 flop?

Don't bet on it.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

As these fierce Madrid rivals have undergone their preparations last week and this, the difference between the sides and those of two years ago has been striking. In 2014, these sides were battered, bruised and exhausted, riddled with injuries and half-fit stars. Both went on to use makeshift lineups.
This time, though, both of them will have enjoyed two full weeks of preparation without battle when Saturday arrives. Over the weekend, Atletico held their media day, and on Tuesday Real held theirs; from both, a feeling of we're ready for this radiated.
"We have more preparation time than we did for Lisbon," Atleti's Koke told the press on Saturday. "That year, we played a final against Barcelona [on the last day of the season in La Liga] and were tired from it. This year, we're better physically."

He's right.

Two years ago, Atletico entered the duel with their neighbours on the back of title celebrations and with the fatigue of a gruelling late run. Amid that, Arda Turan was missing. Diego Costa essentially was as well, with horse placenta treatment failing him in the opening minutes. In midfield, Gabi and Tiago had emptied their tanks weeks before, and when manager Diego Simeone turned to the bench, Jose Sosa was his option—the one now playing at Besiktas.

Thus, the grind to a complete halt in that night's second half wasn't a surprise.

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

Now, however, Atleti look as good as they possibly could. Up front, Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres are in season-best form. Centrally, there are fresher legs with Koke and Augusto Fernandez, and out wide the likes of Saul Niguez and Yannick Carrasco give Simeone's men different options and ways of playing.
"Things have changed [since 2014]," Koke told reporters. "Two years have passed."
It's a similar story for Real, too.
In 2014, in a physical sense Carlo Ancelotti's side was also a mess. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema weren't even close to fit. Pepe was out. Xabi Alonso was suspended; an underdone Sami Khedira was his replacement.

In the weeks leading up, their form had been spiralling too, the trampling of Bayern Munich followed by two draws, a loss and only one win in four games, one of the slip-ups coming against a Real Valladolid side on its way to the Segunda Division.

But this time the stars are healthy, and Real are rolling: To finish the league campaign, Zinedine Zidane's side went on a 12-game winning run; in all competitions since the Madrid derby of late February, they've won 15 of 17.

"We are coming into it physically prepared, in good shape as we have to be," said Zidane at a press conference on Tuesday. "The season has been good, the work put in has been phenomenal."

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

This is also a better Real Madrid than that of Rafa Benitez and possibly better than Ancelotti's, too. Steadily under Zidane, the capital's glamour boys have found greater structure, balance and cohesion, and even though there have been issues along the way, the signs are encouraging.
Indeed, Ronaldo looks dynamic again, Gareth Bale has never been better and both Casemiro and Dani Carvajal have shot to prominence. Sergio Ramos is also finding form at the right time, while Keylor Navas hasn't stopped having a blinder.
"I take my hat off to him for what he's achieved," said Simeone at his club's media day when asked about his opposite number. "He's done very well; he took over at a tricky moment. You can see the players hold him in high regard, and that is reflected on the pitch. He has helped them rediscover their spark, their speed in attack."

Zidane returned the praise on Tuesday, labelling Simeone one of the "world's great coaches," but he was also quick to acknowledge Atletico's evolution post-2014.

"People point out Atletico's defensive qualities, that they're a side who are difficult to score against, but they are in fact a very complete team," said Zidane. "They also know how to play quality football, they give you a lot of problems."

It's why Saturday's final looms as truly compelling. This is a juicy rivalry as it is, but unlike two years ago, these are teams that are fit and fresh, both of them heading into the season's defining game with form behind them and clarity in their purpose.

The sequel, then: It could be better than the original.

Karim Benzema to Manchester United: Jose Mourinho identifies Real Madrid striker as priority transfer target

Benzema has already been pinpointed as a key target by Mourinho Gett

ose Mourinho has identified Karim Benzema as a priority target for Manchester United ahead of his impending appointment as successor to the sacked Louis van Gaal as manager at Old Trafford.

Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as United manager within the next 48 hours with his representative Jorge Mendes and Old Trafford executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward fine-tuning contractual details in a meeting in London on Tuesday.

And despite Van Gaal only being told of his dismissal by Woodward on Sunday evening -- 24 hours after guiding United to the FA Cup -- Mourinho has already pinpointed key targets and areas in need of strengthening in the squad left behind by the Dutchman.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is understood to be close to agreeing a move to Old Trafford as a free agent in order to be reunited with Mourinho after enjoying a close relationship with the Portuguese at Inter Milan.

And with Mourinho believing that United need to recruit two forwards to bolster his attacking options with captain Wayne Rooney now favouring a move into midfield, Real Madrid striker Benzema has emerged as his top target, ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Although the 28-year-old has previously accused Mourinho of being overly-critical of his performances during their three years together at Real, Benzema has since admitted that Mourinho’s treatment made him a better player.

“Mourinho criticised me,” Benzema said. “But it was his way of making me react. At the start, it hurt me, but I am used to it now.”

Benzema, who rejected a move to United in the summer of 2009 in order to sign for Real, scored 79 goals in 150 appearances under Mourinho and was regarded as a key figure by the manager during his spell at the Bernabeu.

But while United are prepared to back Mourinho with substantial funds to recruit any player he identifies this summer, senior figures at Old Trafford are aware of the difficulties they face in completing a deal for Benzema.

The former Olympique Lyonnais forward is currently negotiating a new deal at Real that would see him extend his £150,000-a-week contract until 2020 and there is also the issue of the player facing a potential court case in France after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail last November over an alleged attempt to extort money from Lyon winger Mathieu Valbuena using a sex tape. Benzema denies the charge.

United are also aware that Benzema has consistently resisted offers to move to the Premier League, with Arsenal also failing to tempt him from Madrid to England.

With Mourinho also keen to recruit Everton centre-half John Stones and PSG defender Marquinhos, United are expected to spend in excess of £150m on new players this summer in order to ensure that the team can compete for the Premier League title next season.

Discussions between Mendes and Woodward over Mourinho’s contract are understood to be well advanced, with a three-year deal on the table for the 53-year-old, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea last December.

Rui Faria, Mourinho’s long-term assistant, is expected to be handed a similar role at Old Trafford, potentially forcing Ryan Giggs to accept a lesser role if he is to stay at the club.

Benzema previously worked under Mourinho at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 (Getty)

Giggs, who flew to Dubai on Tuesday for a post-season holiday, discussed his future with Woodward at United’s Carrington training ground on Monday and is aware that Mourinho is keen for him to remain on the staff at United.

The Welshman, who spent two years as assistant manager to Van Gaal, is believed to be torn between staying at the club to work under Mourinho or ending his 29-year association with the club to pursue a career in management.

Giggs has asked for time to consider his position, with both Woodward and Mourinho making it clear that he will be handed a senior position within the new regime.