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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NFL notes: Bills sign QB Tyrod Taylor to extension

Associated Press

One season was enough for Tyrod Taylor to convince the Buffalo Bills he has the potential to be their franchise quarterback.

Now he has the contract to start proving it.

The Bills signed Taylor to a six-year contract Friday, a day before Buffalo opens the preseason by hosting Indianapolis. The Bills announced the signing, and a person with direct knowledge of the deal revealed some of its details to the AP.

The extension replaces the remaining year Taylor had left on his contract and will pay him more than $30 million over the first two seasons, the person said. The deal gives Taylor lucrative incentives over the course of the contract, but also provides the Bills flexibility to opt out of a portion of the deal, the person added.

“It definitely shows that they’re all in, which is what our phrase is for this year,” Taylor said, referring to the team’s motto. “This contract is not going to change my mindset or my focus. Am I happy that it got done? Yes. But I’m ready to play football.”

Taylor displayed dynamic dual-threat potential with his strong arm and scrambling ability in going 8-6 last season. He completed 242 of 380 attempts for 3,035 yards passing, and threw 20 touchdown passes, 14 going 20 yards or longer. And he set the franchise record for quarterbacks with 586 yards rushing and scored four times.

Kaepernick takes it slow

Colin Kaepernick did not throw the football for a second straight day at practice for the San Francisco 49ers as he deals with tightness in his throwing shoulder.

Kaepernick handed the ball off four times in his one team drill and spent the rest of the time shadowing San Francisco’s quarterbacks during a joint practice Friday against the Houston Texans in advance of the exhibition opener Sunday.

The extremely limited practice came a day after Kaepernick got a scheduled day off to rest his shoulder as he works his way back from three offseason surgeries.

“I think it’s been a buildup,” Kaepernick said. “You don’t really get the reps of live action and that violent motion when you’re practicing in the offseason. I think it’s just building my endurance in that area.”

The missed time comes in the middle of a quarterback competition between Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert.

Rams return to Coliseum

Technically, the Los Angeles Rams’ game Saturday with the Dallas Cowboys is just a preseason opener at a temporary home for a relocating team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 11 years.

But that temporary home is also the team’s traditional home, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where they’ll play as the host team for the first time in 36 years.

For now fans have to watch a rebuilding Rams team, though with reasons for excitement including explosive young running back Todd Gurley and No. 1 overall draft pick quarterback Jared Goff, who for now will back up starter Case Keenum.

The Rams played at the Coliseum – and won four NFL championships there – from 1946 until 1980.

They then played their next 15 seasons at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, before moving on to St. Louis in 1994.