Ahead of Rex Ryan's first season as Bills coach, the Buffalo area has an "unchecked case of Rex-mania," according to Don Banks of SI.com. Ryan represents "something the Bills and their fans haven’t had in a very long time," as he comes with "both a headline name and a resume that includes at least two winning seasons as an NFL head coach." He brings a "certain cache and out-sized persona to Buffalo, and those are qualities the Bills simply were not known for in the head coaching hires made" by late Owner Ralph Wilson. But under new Owners Terry and Kim Pegula, the Bills "went bold" by hiring "the big-talking Ryan in a bid to re-energize the team’s rabidly loyal but long-suffering fan base." Ryan’s seven-month "honeymoon has been all the rage in western New York, and now all he has to do is make sure the Bills actually win where it counts -- on the field." There is a "growing perception" around the NFL "that Ryan has been handed something of a blank check in terms of personnel calls early on his tenure, with the Pegulas and the Bills front office so eager to field a winner that 'In Rex We Trust' has become the organization’s unofficial motto." Offseason acquisition G Richie Incognito "comes with the baggage" of the Dolphins' bullying scandal, while new WR Percy Harvin "has had more than his share of teammate and coaching staff friction." Last week's signing of LB Ikemefuna Enemkpali "shocked many for its swiftness" after he was released from the Jets for punching QB Geno Smith. Finally, two Bills draft picks, RB Karlos Williams and CB Ron Darby, "had off-field background questions in college that raised red flags." But Ryan "insists that the Bills took no undue chances on anyone this year, and have not reached a 'catch limit' on character-issue players" (SI.com, 8/18).
