Archives for August 16, 2001

"We made a roster move today, we released offensive tackle Robert Hicks, and you know it was not an easy decision. None of personnel decisions are, but we like a lot of our young tackles, and we feel that we have to get as much opportunity with them as we can these last three pre-season games, and get them as many reps in practice. That’s what we’ve decided to do, and move forward."

‘The Bills released Robert Hicks before Thursday afternoon’s practice, and Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said that it was the impressive play of some of the team’s young tackles that led to the decision to release the four-year veteran.’

‘"It’s just bad luck, I guess," he said. "It’s stuff that’s really out of your control, like a freak thing like hitting your hand on a helmet. I did it once, and I didn’t miss a practice. I did it twice, and maybe I have to miss some time now."’

‘The Buffalo Bills and every other team will know almost every opponent for the next eight years under a scheduling format released by the National Football League on Wednesday. The scheduling was completed as a result of realignment, which begins next season.’

‘You would have thought that Bowens’ arrival would have been a wake-up call for Flowers. So far, it appears that Flowers is still asleep.’

‘Judging from the first preseason game, the Bills have a ways to go before they are a cohesive unit on both sides of the ball. The unsettled situation at right tackle has prevented the offensive line from coming together.’

‘Full contact NFL football is back. The Bills versus St. Louis matched the great offense of the Rams against a rebuilding and retooling Buffalo club. St. Louis carried the additional advantage of a full contact pre-season match the previous week."

‘Though an X-ray and a magnetic resonance imaging exam Tuesday night did not show a fracture, the swelling and pain Johnson has are real, so Williams decided to sit him out of yesterday’s and today’s practices.’

‘"We’re proud to have the Giants practice in Albany and we’re proud to have the Jets practice in Hempstead, but the Bills are New York’s team, so I cheer for the Bills," Pataki said yesterday, when he arrived just as the afternoon training camp practice was ending at St. John Fisher College.’

‘In rebuilding this segment of the team, new coach Gregg Williams is devoting two assistant coaches and full practice sessions to special teams.’

‘He carried the ball just 10 times his entire senior season at Tennessee, was cut by the Buffalo Bills last summer and couldn’t even hook on with an XFL team over the winter. So why in the world is Phillip Crosby back in training camp at St. John Fisher College?’

‘Coach Gregg Williams was pleased but he wants to see more hang time out of his candidates for the punting job made available when Chris Mohr was cut.’

‘Nails, listed at 6-6 and 360 pounds, is versatile, having played tackle at Florida A&M, but he will compete exclusively at guard for Miami.’

‘Nails, who spent the past four seasons with the Bills, visited the Dolphins two weeks ago but reportedly wasn’t signed because of his weight. The 6-foot-6 former Florida A&M standout weighed in at 360 pounds on Wednesday.’

‘Nails worked out for the Dolphins on Aug. 2, but the club wanted to see him get in better shape before signing him. He dropped 12 pounds — down to 360 — and agreed to a one-year deal worth $477,000.’