WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The NFL Annual Meeting is underway in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Monday morning, Bills head coach Sean McDermott touched on a variety of topics from the new stadium to the team's latest free-agent additions plus potential changes to the overtime rules.
Here are some of the highlights from what McDermott had to say.
New Bills stadium is 'exciting'
McDermott said that he's "looped in where I need to be looped in" when it comes to updates and details regarding a new Bills stadium, but his focus now is really shifting to the upcoming NFL Draft in about a month. He adds that as things progress, he will likely be part of the planning in some capacity, such as maybe locker room layout and other things directly relating to the team.
While we know the new stadium is going to be outdoors and in Orchard Park, McDermott was asked if he had a preference in stadium type.
"Loud," is all he answered with a smile.
Overtime needed change before KC game
There are two proposals to change overtime that will be voted on at the NFL Annual Meeting.
While the Bills initially indicated they were sending in a proposal of their own, as Brandon Beane made clear just over a week ago, it didn't get enough traction from others around the league.
Many believe the tipping point for this call for change was how the Bills didn't get the ball in their epic divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, but McDermott said he felt this needed to happen before his team was on the short end of the stick.
"I felt like there was a change needed, in particular in the playoffs," McDermott said.
Bates decision being 'worked through'
Ryan Bates was inserted into the Bills' starting line-up very late in the regular season and brought stability to the left guard spot.
Yet Bates hit the open market as a restricted free agent and signed an offer sheet with the Bears last week.
"It's something we're working through," McDermott said regarding whether or not the Bills will match the offer to bring Bates back. "We'll just see how it goes over the next couple days here."
The clock is ticking, as the Bills must make a decision by Tuesday.
Insight on White?
All we've heard this offseason has been that there is no timeline for when Tre'Davious White may return from his torn ACL.
McDermott may be cracking the door a little by wanting to bring up White when asked about the state of the CB position after the departure of Levi Wallace in free agency.
While the Bills head coach was specifically asked about the younger talent on the roster, he began with the All-Pro.
"Tre is doing well," McDermott said. "He's working hard in the building. So we'll start there. I don't want to forget about Tre."
Maybe it's nothing, but I'm reading into it that maybe there's more hope than I've had that White will be ready to roll on opening day.
QB room filling up
The Bills added two quarterbacks recently to back up Josh Allen, first by trading for Case Keenum and then bringing back Matt Barkley.
Keenum is another guy McDermott said the Bills have had their eye on, hearing nothing but rave reviews from those they spoke with in terms of how he'll really benefit the QB room from a teammate standpoint.
He already knows what Barkley brings, even adding how glad he is that his family is also returning.
Reuniting Allen with a familiar QB in Barkley is all part of the Bills continued effort to surround their franchise guy with the best support system.
"At the end of the day, having that room right with Josh in there, Joe Brady in there this year, is important to us," McDermott said.