Barry Trotz thought of mentors and friends Jack Button
Jessie Bates III Youth Jersey , Tommy Ebright, David Poile and Wayne Fleming when he lifted the Stanley Cup over his head.
The Washington coach didn’t think about his future, the same approach he has taken all season and playoffs.
”I wasn’t getting consumed with what was said, what my future holds, whatever,” Trotz said. ”I’m in a pretty good spot.”
Trotz was in as good a spot as imaginable Friday as he and the Capitals landed back home in the Washington area with the Stanley Cup in tow. The
celebration will last through the parade Tuesday, but once that’s done, the work
begins for Brian MacLellan to try to re-sign Trotz, top defenseman John Carlson
and other free agents.
After not extending Trotz’s contract last summer, ownership and general manager Brian MacLellan now hope to keep him around. MacLellan said after
winning the Cup that Trotz will be back if he wants to be.
Trotz and Carlson, who set a franchise record for playoff points by a defenseman, can be free agents July 1 along with unlikely postseason hero
Devante Smith-Pelly
Taven Bryan Jaguars Jersey , trade-deadline acquisition Michal Kempny and longtime glue guy Jay Beagle. Washington will have to do some salary-cap
maneuvering to keep Carlson, Smith-Pelly and Kempny in the fold but can break
the bank for Trotz.
The Buffalo Bills may have found their starting quarterback, and it's not AJ McCarron or seventh overall pick Josh Allen. Nathan Peterman, whom the
organization drafted in last year's fifth round, is ascending the depth chart
like a phoenix rising from the ashes.?Peterman's career didn't die when he threw
five first-half interceptions in his first professional start?? painful display
to watch against the Los Angeles Chargers from a rookie thrust into the lineup
because the Bills coaching staff couldn't reconcile Tyrod Taylor's skill set
with its preferred offensive scheme.?A?rebirth occurred this offseason.
Self-doubt didn't overtake Peterman after one poor performance. Instead, he used
it as a source of motivation.?"[Peterman] has looked the best so far [at QB]," a
Bills source told 104.7 FM Denver's Benjamin Allbright.?"That game was such a
professional embarrassment, it's been motivating him ever since."The second-year
signal-caller's drive has propelled him into a legitimate contender for the
starting spot.?"We have some good backups and guys competing for starting jobs,"
LeSean McCoy said, per the Rochester?Democrat and Chronicle's Sal Maiorana.
"It's what the NFL is all about. I mean, who was Tom Brady before Tom Brady? He
got an opportunity, [and] he made the best of it. Everybody has an
opportunity."The six-time Pro Bowl running back was talking about the team's
offensive line
Josh Allen Bills Jersey , but his train of thought is applicable to every position, including quarterback.?Allen, of course, will take over eventually. Right now,
the starting job is up for grabs as head coach Sean McDermott searches for the
most reliable option.?"Josh is going to continue with the third group like he's
done before," McDermott said, per Bills Wire's?Kyle Silagyi. "What we'll do,
periodically, is give Josh some reps with the ones. That's all part of his
development plan, and really a chance for us to evaluate our entire roster, as
well, from top to bottom. He'll still work with the threes by and
large
Jessie Bates III Jersey , and Nate [Peterman] and AJ [McCarron] will continue with the ones and twos there, but we'll throw Josh in from time to time
moving forward."Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh AllenJeffrey T. Barnes/Associated
PressAllen's raw physical tools are mesmerizing. His arm talent is special and
allows him to make every throw?with ease. But playing the quarterback position
requires far more than the ability to rip the pigskin. The 22-year-old rookie is
still learning to harness his prodigious?natural ability. This shouldn't come as
a surprise, though. Allen projected as a work in progress with immense upside
yet significant downside.?McDermott and Co. have stressed the organization's
"plan" for his development??hich seems to include not playing him too soon.?As a
result, Peterman's scheme fit, preparedness and on-field performance have
provided him with an opportunity to become the Bills' Week 1 starter.?At the
forefront of the Bills' quarterback search, the franchise wants those who fit a
certain profile. Taylor didn't. Allen, McCarron and Peterman do. The
organization prefers a quarterback who can?win from the pocket.?New offensive
coordinator Brian Daboll isn't going to use many spread principles when it comes
to his current crop.?"[My offense] is different every year," Daboll explained,
per Bills Wire's Jeremy Juhasz. "Again, it will constantly change based on what
we think our players do best."General manager Brandon Beane acknowledged the
team preferred Allen as its quarterback of the future because of his experience
playing under Wyoming offensive coordinator Brent Vigen in a pro-style system,
not just because of his physical tools.?"I think the?pro style?helps," Beane
said
James Daniels Bears Jersey , per WGR 550 Sports Radio's Sal Capaccio. "Some guys come in here and they haven't taken a snap from under center. He's
done that, he's called plays, he's made checks, he's been in the gun, he's done
the RPO (run/pass option) stuff before. He's done a lot, even though he was
playing at a smaller level, similar to Carson Wentz. He makes plays from the
pocket."?The above description doesn't just apply to Allen. Both Peterman and
McCarron played in pro-style schemes at the collegiate level. All three are on
an even playing field with Daboll being hired this offseason.?A year or more as
a backup provides some confidence, especially for a young quarterback like
Peterman. McCarron is just looking for a chance to start. He's competing with a
second-year player who has just enough knowledge to be dangerous yet doesn't
know what his potential is. Neither is as gifted as Allen, but both have enough
ability to develop into starters.?Where one can separate himself is by the
quickness in which he absorbs the new offense and translates what he's learned
onto the field.?The early indications from organized team activities and the
initial minicamp are that Peterman is much-improved. He's outplayed McCarron to
date, according to WKBW Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia. This isn't just one on-site
observer's opinion, either. ESPN.com's Mike Rodak named Peterman the Bills'
offseason standout. Capaccio echoed the sentiment with a slightly stronger
conclusion:?Sal Capaccio ?? @SalSportsThis is based mostly on how I've seen QBs
handled at minicamp, what I believe org's philosophy is
Cheap Frank Ragnow Jersey , and minicamp performance. This is going to move a lot once camp starts, obviously, but if u think Peterman doesn't have legit shot
(regardless of my %), ur wrong. He absolutely doesThe Bills don't need a
world-beater at quarterback. A mistake-free facilitator is an ideal starter
based on the team's construction. Ironically, Taylor was that player. But he
didn't consistently win from the pocket as an efficient passer in the
short-to-intermediate ranges. That's where the coaching staff is looking for
improvement. Otherwise, the Bills will continue to ride a strong ground game
featuring McCoy, Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet and Taiwan Jones.?"We're going to
run the ball, for sure," McCoy said, pe.
