Bills notebook: McCoy's legal status remains a concern

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Bills may have a serious problem on their hands if star running back LeSean McCoy is implicated in the beating and robbery of his former girlfriend on July 9. McCoy has denied any involvement, and to date the NFL and the Bills have not made a statement regarding their separate ongoing investigations. However, if McCoy is deemed to have played any type of role, he could be subject to being placed on the commissioner's exempt list while the fact-finding continues. If that were to happen, he would be ineligible to participate in training camp and preseason games. And if he were to receive a suspension, a Buffalo offense that is already expected to struggle to move the ball and score would take a major hit. Without McCoy, the Bills would be left with 30-year-old Chris Ivory, who was signed to be McCoy's backup this year. Behind Ivory are two third-down back specialists, Travaris Cadet and Taiwan Jones, neither of whom -- unlike Ivory during his time with the Jets -- has ever been a featured back. If the Bills were to lose McCoy for any length of the regular season, they may have to make a move later in camp, either by signing a currently available free agent or waiting for the final cuts to be made. Further, if McCoy is culpable in the incident, the Bills -- who have preached culture and character since the arrival of head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane -- could opt to release him. --Second-year quarterback Nathan Peterman presents an interesting case for the Bills when training camp begins. Most known for his five-interception implosion in his first NFL start last season, Peterman spent part of the offseason working with noted throwing motion guru Tom House, the former major league pitcher, to refine his mechanics, and the results were impressive in the spring workouts. Considered an afterthought when the Bills signed free agent AJ McCarron to replace the traded Tyrod Taylor, then drafted Josh Allen No. 7 overall in the hopes that he will become the franchise quarterback, Peterman may have a chance to leap-frog both if he really shines in camp and the preseason games. "A lot more comfortable, especially just knowing our guys, knowing everybody's names out there, having a pretty good feel," Peterman said at the conclusion of the final spring practice. "I think the work that we have done to improve our chemistry, improve our timing has been great and I think it's something that we can build on even more (in camp)."