Gästebuch » e highest level,” Gentry said Thu

Two years removed from being a first-round draft pick Cheap Will Hernandez Jersey , receiver Corey Coleman vows he's got plenty to prove with the Buffalo Bills after falling well short of expectations in Cleveland.

That's the message Coleman posted on his Instagram account along with a video of him showing off his new Bills No. 19 jersey. And it's something Coleman repeated following his first practice at Bills training camp Tuesday, two days after being acquired in a trade with the Browns.

"It feels good to be wanted," said Coleman, wearing a towel around his neck while a steady rain fell. "They have their trust in me. I really don't want to let them down."

The Bills are providing Coleman a fresh start after his two-year tenure in Cleveland was beset by injuries and dropped passes. As an indication of how far his stock has fallen, Buffalo gave up a 2020 seventh-round pick to acquire the 15th player selected in the 2016 draft.

"A lot of things don't work out the way you want it to work out," Coleman said.

"I've got much respect for my teammates, man, those guys in the locker room over there in Cleveland are top-notch guys. We have a great fan base in Cleveland, too," he added. "I'm going to leave it at that."

If only the Browns and their fans could do the same so easily.

Traded by first-year general manager John Dorsey Kendall Wright Color Rush Jersey , Coleman came to symbolize the overall dysfunction of the Browns' previous regime, which passed on drafting current Eagles starting quarterback Carson Wentz by trading down and selecting the Baylor receiver.

Injuries limited Coleman to playing 19 games, during which he caught 56 of the 131 passes thrown in his direction for 718 yards and five touchdowns. And he will forever be remembered in Cleveland for dropping a pass late in the fourth quarter in last season's finale at Pittsburgh that sealed the Browns' 0-16 finish.

"Right, it's easy to point the finger and stuff," Coleman said. "Every week in the NFL you see receivers drop a ball, drop a pass. It matters how you respond. And that's a big thing."

The Bills took what GM Brandon Beane called "a low-risk" gamble in a bid to address a need at a position that lacks experienced and proven talent behind starter Kelvin Benjamin. Coleman also has the opportunity to provide the Bills' retooled offense an element of downfield speed to keep opposing defenses from crowding the line to stop the run.

"Look, speed is dangerous," coach Sean McDermott said. "It opens up the defense a little bit for other things. So that element is important."

As for expectations, McDermott wants to provide Coleman time to learn the playbook and become comfortable with his new teammates and surroundings.

"Can't wait to watch him really just blossom into the player we believe he can become," McDermott said.

Coleman practiced on a limited basis Tuesday Adidas Evgeny Kuznetsov Jersey , and it's unclear whether he'll play in Buffalo's preseason opener against Carolina on Thursday.

He appreciates the amount of catching up he has ahead.

"It's difficult, you know, but we've got great resources here," Coleman said. "I'm going to work my tail off to come here, do everything I need to do."

NOTES: McDermott wasn't prepared to announce who will start at quarterback against the Panthers. Offseason free-agent addition AJ McCarron and returning backup Nathan Peterman have split time with the starters for the first two weeks of training camp, while rookie first-round pick Josh Allen continues to mostly work with the third-string offense. ... LB Trent Murphy, an offseason free-agent addition, isn't expected to play after missing the past week with a groin injury. McDermott expects Murphy to resume practicing next week.
Alvin Gentry’s ability to coach the Pelicans into the second round of the playoffs despite the mid-season loss of All-Star DeMarcus Cousins persuaded the club that Gentry deserved to be under contract beyond next season.

Gentry agreed on Thursday to an extension covering two additional years, running through the 2020-21 season.

”He did a tremendous job last season,” Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said. ”When we faced adversity Youth Mason Cole Jersey , Alvin and his staff continually discovered ways to place the team in situations where we could be successful.”

Gentry has gone 117-138 in three seasons, including this season’s playoffs, when the Pelicans swept Portland before losing a second-round series 4-1 to defending champion Golden State.

New Orleans missed the playoffs in Gentry’s first two seasons, during which the team dealt with a rash of injuries to key players.

During this past season, Gentry had to help the Pelicans adapt to the loss of Cousins, who played a central role in a system that revolved around him and fellow All-Star big man Anthony Davis. Cousins tore his left Achilles in the 48th game of the season. Without him, New Orleans still managed to go 21-13 and finish sixth in the highly competitive Western Conference.

The Pelicans’ late-season success stemmed in part from Gentry’s integration of Nikola Mirotic into the starting rotation after a Feb. 1 trade that brought the fourth-year forward to New Orleans from Chicago.

The vote of confidence in Gentry comes as the Pelicans ponder their approach to retaining two key free agents: Cousins and veteran point guard Rajon Rondo.

Both players thrived last season under Gentry, and Rondo during the playoffs spoke highly of the way Gentry respects his players by giving them the latitude to play to their strengths and be who they are.

Cousins was averaging 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds before his injury. Rondo enjoyed his best production with New Orleans during the playoffs, when he averaged 10.3 points, 12.2 assists and 7.6 rebounds.

Gentry sounded confident that the Pelicans were prepared to move aggressively to build on what they accomplished this season Bradley Chubb Broncos Jersey , even if the price is high.

Ownership and management ”have provided us with the necessary resources to compete at the highest level,” Gentry said Thursday, specifically mentioning Gayle Benson, who is now the sole owner of the Pelicans and NFL’s Saints following the death of her husband, Tom, in March. ”I couldn’t be happier to work for such an exceptional owner. I am excited for the great opportunities that are ahead for our organization.”

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