PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� After watching Josh Allen pick apart the Bills' defense in red-zone drills to open training camp on Wednesday, general manager Brandon Beane had a few things to say regarding the quarterback鈥檚 latest 鈥� and anonymous 鈥� naysayer.
鈥淭here鈥檚 idiots everywhere,鈥� Beane said.
He was responding to a recent quote from a person , who referred to Allen as 鈥渙ne of the more overrated players in the NFL.鈥�
Beane called the comment ignorant and rallied to the defense of Buffalo鈥檚 franchise player, who in six years has rewritten many of the franchise鈥檚 single-season passing and scoring records while leading the four-time AFC East champions to five straight playoff appearances.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 get it. If I was going to use rated, I would say underrated before I would say overrated,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 biased, but I鈥檓 tired of hearing it.鈥�
As to whether the comment might fuel Allen's competitive nature, Beane said the quarterback is self-motivated.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got a natural chip, and I don鈥檛 think what this person said would change that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 coming in this year with a chip. He wants a title. Every year that we don鈥檛 win it, it鈥檚 digging a deeper chip, and I think that鈥檚 what motivates him.鈥�
Allen should be the least of Beane and the Bills' concerns. Though he threw a career-high 18 interceptions last season, the dual-threat player had 15 rushing touchdowns and 29 passing, and he led the NFL with a combined 4,830 yards passing and rushing, while finishing 11th in completion percentage at 66.5%.
The bigger question facing the Bills is how they expect to remain competitive following a salary cap-forced overhaul that led to Buffalo . The cuts went deeper with Buffalo releasing center Mitch Morse, safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre鈥橠avious White, while losing sack leader Leonard Floyd and No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis to free agency.
The Bills opened training camp with 43 newcomers, and just 11 players left from the 2020 squad that won Buffalo鈥檚 first division title since 1995.
Allen鈥檚 expectations haven鈥檛 dipped, with the quarterback referencing his objective to win a Super Bowl. And he looks forward to breaking in that features Khalil Shakir as the lone returning player 鈥� outside of tight ends 鈥� to have caught a pass from Allen.
鈥淚t鈥檚 learning on the fly, but making sure that we鈥檙e adapting as we go,鈥� he said.
The offense was humming on Wednesday, with Allen completing several touchdown passes, including a leaping grab by tight end Dalton Kincaid just inside the end zone.
Coach Sean McDermott expressed confidence in his retooled receivers group, which includes veteran free-agent additions Curtis Samuel, Chase Claypool, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mack Hollins, and .
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like you open the drawer to your silverware at home and you鈥檙e like, 鈥極K, tell me what this does?鈥欌�� McDermott said of getting to know each player鈥檚 strengths.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 really know what we have, but we know what we have. And it鈥檚 interesting to see they鈥檙e a very diverse group,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 know a lot of people talk about we don鈥檛 have a true No. 1 and this and that. But I think these guys will rise to the occasion.鈥�
On defense, the Bills are breaking in a new safety tandem to replace Poyer and Micah Hyde, who is unsigned and considering retirement. cleared to practice after missing the final 13 weeks of last season with a broken right leg.
Edge rusher Von Miller is hoping for a bounceback season. The 35-year-old, who leads active players with 123 1/2 sacks, failed to register one in 12 games last season while coming back from right knee surgery.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for Von. Coming off an ACL, as long as I鈥檝e been around this game, is not easy,鈥� McDermott said. 鈥淚t's usually in that second season where athletes are able to recapture their form. And that鈥檚 going to be a challenge. But that鈥檚 what Von鈥檚 here to do.鈥�
The Bills also face a leadership void. They must replace six of eight captains from last season, which places an emphasis on younger players such as Shakir and linebacker Terrell Bernard.
Beane understands the challenges while remaining upbeat about the team鈥檚 potential.
鈥淭here have been some years where they鈥檝e said we鈥檙e the favorites or we鈥檙e supposed to win. That doesn鈥檛 mean anything. Every team is new,鈥� Beane said. 鈥淭his is a new team that will have to define itself. Whether people predict us to be 6-11 or 11-6, it really won鈥檛 matter. Once games start, that鈥檚 what you guys are going to be writing and reporting about.鈥�
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AP NFL:
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
