ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- When explaining how well the Buffalo Bills handled a string of adversity this offseason, coach Rex Ryan couldnt resist acknowledging how much went wrong.We dont want to major in putting hurdles out there, Ryan said during training camp. But we seem to be doing a pretty good job of it right now.Troubles, the Bills encountered more than a few.Injuries thinned Buffalos already young group of linebackers when rookie second-round pick Reggie Ragland and backup IK Enemkpali sustained season-ending knee injuries over an eight-day stretch.Suspensions became an issue.Starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus checked into a rehab facility, and will miss the first four games for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. Second-year running back Karlos Williams, who reported to camp out of shape, faced the same suspension before he was cut three weeks ago.Then, there was the surprise move made last Friday, when Buffalo released veteran linebacker Manny Lawson, who was initially pegged to start in place of injured rookie first-round pick Shaq Lawson. That job now goes to 10-year journeyman Lorenzo Alexander, who was signed to fill a special teams role in April.It didnt help that Manny Lawson missed the first two weeks of training camp with a partially torn pectoral muscle, or that the league was investigating whether he violated the personal conduct policy.This wasnt the type of news Ryan had in mind in June, when he suggested the Bills won the offseason.Winning the regular season wont be easy, either, for a team seeking to snap a 16-year playoff drought. Its the NFLs longest active streak, and sixth-longest in league history.Not all the news was bad. Receiver Sammy Watkins is confident his left foot is fully healed after having surgery in April to repair a stress fracture.The most positive development occurred on Aug. 12, when quarterback Tyrod Taylor signed a six-year contract extension that included a $6 million raise negotiated into the final year of his contract this season.Here are some things to look out for as the Bills open the season at Baltimore on Sept. 11:TAYLOR MADE: Taylor has been more assertive on and off the field in accepting more of a leadership role a year after establishing himself as a first-time starter. He has also spent time working on making throws over the middle, something the 6-foot-1 player was hesitant to do last year.Taylor has plenty to prove to earn his new contract. Buffalo has an opt-out clause in each of the first two years of the extension.ON THE DEFENSIVE: Despite injuries and Dareus suspension, Ryan insists his defense will be improved from last year, when it finished 19th in yards allowed and managed just 21 sacks -- a franchise low for a 16-game season.Ryan said on-field communication issues have been resolved, and players better understand their roles.Ryan also shuffled his defensive staff by hiring twin brother, Rob (assistant head coach/defense), John Blake (defensive line) and former NFL star safety Ed Reed (assistant defensive backs).MR. OCTOBERS?: The Bills will have to wait until at least October before their projected starting defense takes shape. Dareus wont be eligible to return until Oct. 9, when Buffalo travels to play at Los Angeles.And then theres Shaq Lawson, who had surgery in May to repair a shoulder injury that nagged him at Clemson. He began working out individually two weeks ago. He opens the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and wont be eligible to begin practicing until after Week 6.GROUND GAME: A year after being nagged by knee and hamstring injuries, LeSean McCoy is healthy and the offensive line returns intact. Thats the good news for a running game that produced an NFL-leading 2,432 yards last season. Whats missing is primary backup Williams, who had 517 yards rushing and scored nine TDs, including two receiving as a rookie.The Bills signed veteran Reggie Bush who, as a result of injuries, has been limited to playing 29 games over the past three seasons. Mike Gillislee, a late-season addition last year, and rookie fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams round out the depth chart.NEEDED REST: Ryan took a cautious approach in limiting practice and playing time of numerous starters to have them rested entering the season. Taylor was limited to playing just 35 snaps in three preseason games, and went 11 of 18 for 150 yards and a touchdown. Ryan noted one reason for his approach is the condensed schedule. Buffalo hosts the New York Jets in prime time on Sept. 15, four days after opening at Baltimore.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Addias Nmd . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Wholesale Adidas Nmd Shoes China . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. http://www.nmdcheap.com/ . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Cheap Adidas Nmd Shoes For Sale . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. 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A good argument could be made for four players being No. 1 in our fantasy basketball rankings: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant.Weve elevated Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top spot this week, which is what you do when someone has six consecutive triple-doubles, but that doesnt mean hes necessarily the hands-down best fantasy player.Harden, who had been at the top spot before this week, still has him beat in terms of field goal percentage, 3-pointers per game and assists.Davis leads the league in scoring (31.6 points per game), blocks (2.8) and is sixth in rebounds (11.4).Durant is at a career-high pace in terms of field goal percentage (56.5), rebounds per game (8.4) and blocks per game (1.8) while averaging 27 points, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals.This just in: These guys can play!Behind them this week, weve bumped Kawhi Leonard down to No. 12 and moved Hassan Whiteside (7) and DeMarcus Cousins (8) ahead of No. 9 LeBron James, whose scoring (23.9 PPG) is the lowest its been since his rookie season and steals average (1.1) is thhe lowest in his career.ddddddddddddNotables who moved up this week include Klay Thompson (22), who shocked the basketball world by putting up 60 points in three quarters before riding the bench the rest of the way against Indiana on Monday. Right behind Thompson is the red-hot Gordon Hayward (24). Joel Embiid (25) moved up following the news that his minutes restriction has been raised, and Al Horford (26) also rose after an impressive week.Lower down the list, Reggie Jackson (68) moved up after making his season debut, and Will Barton (77) entered the top 100 after returning to the lineup with three big games in a row.Newcomers include Philadelphia point guard Sergio Rodriguez (111), who continues to rack up points, steals and assists while Jerryd Bayless is out due to a wrist injury, and Memphis shooting guard Troy Daniels (117), who connected on 21 3-pointers in his past four games.Here is the full rundown of the updated Top 150 rankings: Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '