Buffalo Bills CANCELED practice on Friday because of a wall of thunderstorms in the area after the Browns game was moved to Detroit — with head coach Sean McDermott holding a virtual meetup to review players
The Buffalo Bills canceled Friday practice for the safety of players and staff ahead of this weekend’s game against the Cleveland Browns due to a rare thunderstorm hitting the area.
In the hours after the decision was made, the area around Highmark Stadium had received three feet of snow and more was expected, meaning the team got together virtually before traveling to Detroit for Sunday’s rescheduled NFL game .
“I want to make sure I can look the guys in the eye and most of the guys have been able to get through, including the staff,” coach Sean McDermott said of the team’s morning Zoom. “But for the most part everyone looked like they were safe and fine.”
“Sometimes things get a little bit bigger than football and then we also have to understand and remember that there are people out there who are working on it and they have to go to hospitals and stuff like that.
“So today there is a lot more that is more important than football.”
A view from the stands at Highmark Stadium shows snow high enough to cover the seats. Bill’s head coach Sean McDermott canceled Friday’s practice due to a storm in western New York
Several Bills players living in the Orchard Park area had lost power as a result of the ongoing storm.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in preparation for the storm, which she described as “life-threatening.”
The National Weather Service said: “The snowfall will result in near-zero visibility, difficult to impossible travel, damage to infrastructure and paralysis of the hardest-hit communities.
“Very cold air will accompany this event, with temperatures 20 degrees below normal forecast through the weekend. Historical snowfall in excess of 4 feet is likely in the Buffalo area.’
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in preparation for the storm, which she described as “life-threatening.”
South Buffalo to West Seneca to Elma are at risk of the highest total, while the heaviest snow is forecast to fall on Friday night when snowfall rates could exceed 3 inches per hour
Bill’s general manager Brandon Beane praised McDermott’s handling of the situation.
“Sean [McDermott] does a great job of messaging and making sure our boys get it,” Beane said. “It will still be a football game.
“Everything else the same. It’s a short flight. We’ll try to keep it as routine as possible. Is it a minor annoyance? Yes. But I think our boys are professionals. You understand.’
Residents walk the streets during a snow storm as extreme winter weather hits Buffalo
The only residents seen outside attempting to dig up their drives but will likely do so until after the weekend