FLORHAM PARK–Everyone is back and seems to be ready to get right back to work to prepare for Buffalo.

Most players took at least part of the bye week to go visit friends and family. Here’s a sampling of activities:

Martin Tevaseu went home to California and had his hair braided. He joked that he hoped it would make him “more aerodynamic.”

Nick Bellore went back to his high school in Whitefish Bay, WI where he addressed the football team and was treated like a mini-celebrity.

Donald Strickland got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, an attorney.

Eric Smith went hunting and donated all of the deer meat to a local homeless shelter.

Aaron Maybin went home to Maryland and tried to keep the upper hand on his 15-month old daughter who has him wrapped around her finger.

A good portion of the team has no power or heat in their homes following Saturday’s storm, including Rex Ryan. The team’s facility, which was knocked off line after Hurricane Irene was not affected this time. However, practice was held on a field surrounded by snow banks, an odd atmosphere for October.

Halloween Snow Banks in Florham Park

Tight end Shawn Nelson is the newest member of the active roster. He was originally drafted by the Bills in the fourth round of the 2009 Draft and was with the team through 2010. He started all 12 of the games he played in in 2009. In 2010, he played in just five games after missing the first four due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy.

Ryan is glad to have Nelson. “He was a guy I always wanted,” Ryan said, adding that not only is Nelson a big target at 6’5″, but, “The thing that really got my attention is he can pass block as well.”

Although he had no power, Ryan did manage to watch some football, although, “I could only stand to watch half my brother’s game,” he said referring to Rob Ryan and the Cowboys who got beaten 34-7 by Philadelphia on Sunday night.

He complimented Pittsburgh’s game plan against the Patriots. “That was a great formula,” he said, citing the Steelers’ ability to maintain so much ball possession. “It’s easier said than done.”

Almost none of the players watched any NFL football, including the Steelers vs. Patriots game. This is not uncommon. A lot of players say they find it stressful, rather than enjoyable or relaxing, because they sit and analyze everything going on.

Those players I spoke with admitted that hearing about the Patriots loss gave them a tad of breathing room, but as Darrelle Revis said, “We’ve still got to take care of business.”

Calvin Pace doesn’t think the team will have any problems getting revved up for the game against the Bills, knowing how much is on the line. Ryan voiced what everyone is thinking, with the Bills and Patriots as the two next up on the schedule.  ”The next few weeks are going to be critical,” he said.

Jim Leonhard was even more forthright, “We know we put our backs against the wall, we have to come out swinging,” he said. “We can’t come out flat. We have to play well for the next couple games and see what happens after that.”

Isaiah Trufant (hamstring), Mike DeVito (knee) and Kenrick Ellis (ankle) were all held out of practice. When he walks or jogs (he worked on the sideline with the conditioning staff), Ellis still has a noticeable limp. Ryan said he feels confident that DeVito will be able to play on Sunday. Nothing is certain yet about Trufant or Ellis.

Tight end Jamarko Simmons and linebacker Ricky Sapp have been added to the practice squad, and Matt Kroul and Dennis Landolt, who were released before the bye were re-signed, also to the practice squad. Ryan said he wanted to re-sign Colin Baxter, but Baxter chose the Chargers because he felt there were more opportunities there, which Ryan said he couldn’t argue with.

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