Mike White believed he had the right approach entering his second NFL training camp in 2019 with the Dallas Cowboys: Keep track of what Cooper Rush – his rival to be Dak Prescott’s backup – was doing and try to answer emphatically.
“You get so caught up in, ‘I’m in a competition and I have to beat this guy out,’ ” White said. “You might go second after him (during a practice period) and he makes a really good play and you’re like, ‘(Dang), I have to match that.’ But my play might not be open.”
White lost the competition to Rush, but the end in Dallas equaled the start of a new mindset.
“You sit down and have those self-talks – (getting cut by Dallas) was the worst thing that could happen at the time, but I got through it, and now you go play football,” White said. “Facing that adversity early was the best thing that could happen. It allowed me to go to New York and play freely and be myself.”
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Mike White joined the organization after last year’s training camp and spent the season on the practice squad. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Six years later, when the Buffalo Bills conduct their first training camp practice July 23 in Pittsford, White will lean on all of his past experiences – Cowboys, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins – to prepare him for the task of challenging Mitchell Trubisky to be Josh Allen’s backup.
White started seven games for the Jets in 2021-22, compiling a 2-5 record, with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions, then spent 2023 with the Dolphins and joined the Bills after last year’s preseason.
The Bills liked White’s work on the practice squad enough to sign him to a one-year contract extension before their Week 17 game at New England, when he went 3 of 11 for 28 yards.
“(This offseason) has helped a ton. You get the full progression of learning,” White said. “When I got here, it was Week 1, so Josh is taking all of the ‘1’ reps, and everything I got was on the scout team. So I was running a different offense for 17 games and not getting any reps in our offense until the fourth quarter of the Patriots game – that was my first time calling our plays in the huddle, much less (running) them.
“As a backup quarterback, that’s the life you live.”
What does he like about offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s system?
Buffalo Bills roundtable: Which veteran newcomers will have biggest impact?
Bills roundtable: Which non-rookie newcomer will have the biggest impact this season?
“Joe lets you take ownership of the offense,” White said. “There isn’t one set-in-stone-way of doing things. Josh make take a drop a certain way that is different than me, Mitch or Shane (Buechele). As long as everything is getting completed within the timing of the play and the reads are correct, that’s what he cares about. It’s fun in that respect.”
The Bills usually keep one backup quarterback on the 53-man roster and one on the practice squad. Don’t rule out White overtaking Trubisky to win the No. 2 job.
“Every offseason, you’re the returning backup or the new guy,” White said. “(You) focus on playing clean football and putting good stuff on tape, and then let the guys (in the front office) upstairs figure out the rest.”
Quick kicks
1. Sharp preview book. Hat tip to Warren Sharp, whose preview guide (all 586 pages of it) became available this week ($29.99 for the PDF version … a bargain).
Buffalo Bills roundtable: Which notable players start camp on the roster bubble?
This is the first of a five-part roundtable series previewing Buffalo Bills training camp. Which notable players start camp on the roster bubble?
The Bills’ section covered 18 pages. Some highlights: Allen has 6.3 touchdown passes for every interception in the last five postseasons, the best ratio in the NFL. … Opponents have averaged 33.2 points in the Bills’ last five playoff losses. … The Bills are an average favorite of 6.2 points at home this year. … Among the positional rankings, the Bills are second at quarterback, 25th at receiver and eighth on the defensive front seven. … The defense rushed four on 79% of opponents’ dropbacks last year. … The Bills over-under win total is 11½.
2. All-time draft. An ambitious and entertaining project by ESPN’s Ben Solak – selecting the best pick for every NFL draft slot (Nos. 1-262) – published Thursday morning and had a Bills flavor.
The Bills were represented with seven selections – Nos. 86 (receiver Andre Reed, 1985), 111 (cornerback Terrence McGee, 2003), 134 (defensive tackle Kyle Williams, 2006), 148 (receiver Khalil Shakir, 2022), 171 (kicker Gary Anderson, 1982), 185 (cornerback Christian Benford, 2022) and 253 (running back Roland Hooks, 1975).
Among the retired players, Reed played 15 years for the Bills, McGee 10 years, Williams 13 years and Hooks seven years. Anderson never played a game for the Bills, but played 23 seasons.
Running back Thurman Thomas was drafted No. 40, but Solak went with New York Giants pass rusher Michael Strahan, also a good choice.
Also, Allen was drafted seventh overall in 2018. Solak’s top No. 7 pick is running back Adrian Peterson (Minnesota, 2007) over Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, but Solak wrote, “watch out for Josh Allen.”
3. Dolphins re-tool. Time to compliment the Miami Dolphins’ front office, which is a rarity in this space.
General manager Chris Grier took advantage of Pittsburgh’s desperation, trading cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith (plus a 2027 seventh-round pick) to the Steelers.
Davis touchdown
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis makes a touchdown catch on Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on Oct. 9, 2022, at Highmark Stadium. The Dolphins reacquired Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro, earlier this week. Derek Gee, Buffalo News
The Dolphins needed to reset after acquiring so many big-name/big-money players and having nothing to show for it. In return, they received safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Dolphins then acquired tight end Darren Waller, who will come out of retirement, after last playing for the Giants in 2023.
The Miami Herald reported that the Dolphins have offered a contract to former Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas. On the Dolphins’ two-deep are seven new cornerbacks and safeties.
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