Archives for August 19, 2001

‘Restricted by the salary cap, the Bills are severely handcuffed in going after a capable veteran. And even if they find someone, it’s difficult to determine how long it will take for the line — already featuring two newcomers in Conaty and rookie right tackle Jonas Jennings — to jell.’

‘The Bills already had a concern at right tackle, where rookie third-round draft choice Jonas Jennings is trying to win the starting job. Now playing next to Jennings at right guard is Corey Hulsey, a second-year man who spent all of last season on the practice squad. Hulsey may be challenged by Craig Heimburger, who has appeared in two games over two NFL seasons, or by rookie Marques Sullivan.’

‘The Bills have yet to unveil every aspect of their aggressive "46" defense, but they showed some glimpses Saturday of what it might look like.’

‘Alex Van Pelt is good for Johnson. He’s a pal and a mentor to the starting QB, a good guy, a media favorite and a charitable sort in the community, a new Frank Reich for the Bills’ new millennium. The one thing he is not supposed to be, under any circumstances, is a threat to Johnson’s job.’

‘Ostroski is expected to miss at least several weeks – and possibly the whole season – after he suffered a broken tibia bone on the second play of the Bills’ opening drive in the game.’

‘It was plainly obvious last night that the Buffalo Bills made some positive strides in their 6-3 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It’s just too bad the all-around improved play will be overlooked by the fact that the offensive line is now in a state of emergency.’

‘Some is Butler’s, who shackled Donahoe with left tackle John Fina and left guard Ruben Brown — two grossly overrated veterans whose big salaries will affect Buffalo’s salary cap for years to come.’

‘At the end of the first half, when the first-team offense was still in the game, the Bills’ line consisted of John Fina, Mike Heimberger, Michael Early, Corey Hulsey and Jonas Jennings. Other than Fina, none of the other four has an NFL start.’

‘You want a scary thought? How about Michael Early, Corey Hulsey and Jonas Jennings lining up from center to right tackle come the regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints … merely the NFL’s leader in sacks a year ago?’

‘At this pace, the Buffalo Bills could run out of offensive starters before the regular season.’

‘It turns out that there are worse things than preseason cancellations. There are the actual games.’

‘No Eagles were reported to have been injured last night. The Bills lost two offensive linemen, right guard Jerry Ostroski and center Bill Conaty, who went to Camden Catholic High.’

‘All you need to know about this game is that it was about as exciting as the Eagles’ last one. The one that was cancelled.’

‘The Eagles have lost 11 straight road preseason games since Aug. 24, 1995, when they beat the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. They’re 1-14 in their last 15 road preseason games.’

‘Andy Reid figured it was going to be a long night when one of his veteran players fielded the opening kickoff and promptly stepped out of bounds at the Eagles’ 14-yard line. It set the tone for a typical first preseason game against, well, a team that made the typical exhibition opener mistakes the previous week.’