Archives for August 17, 2004

‘But I would be shocked if Buffalo traded Henry this season.’

‘But in the context of a preseason game, it didn’t matter. What mattered was how Losman threw the ball, how he saw the field, how he reacted to what the Broncos’ defense showed him, and how he carried himself.’

‘Dentists from the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, a Kaleida Health facility, will be providing free mouthguards and proper fittings for amateur athletes that will be attending Buffalo Bills training camp in Rochester.’

‘Eric Moulds took the blame for the interception, telling Bledsoe, “I’ll make that play during the regular season,” but the Bills’ malfunctioning starting offense wasn’t the fault of its QB, wideouts or Travis Henry. This was totally on the offensive line.’

Henry, a Frostproof native, would be highly motivated for a return to his home state, given all the attention and adulation being showered on second-year pro Willis McGahee and his phenomenal comeback from a devastating knee injury.

‘"He got tattooed pretty good by the defenders," Mularkey said. "I think it was a wake-up call that this is a different level and a big deal of hits are at a greater speed with more velocity and strength."’

‘Please be advised that the start time of the Bills final preseason game on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Detroit has been changed from 8:00 PM (ET) to 7:00 PM (ET).’

‘There was a method to Mularkey’s madness in calling a quarterback draw for the first play of the NFL career of the young man who could end up being Buffalo’s quarterback for a very long time. “He got tattooed pretty good by the defenders, and I think it was a wakeup call that it is a different level and they do hit at a greater speed with more velocity and strength,” Mularkey said.’

‘”We stayed persistent with the run game, and I think our defense held up pretty well. I can tell there are things we need to work on, just from the naked eye, and there may be more after the film. But for the most part, it’s a good win all the way around.”‘

‘The only thing Henry lacks is the explosiveness to make him a threat to score every time his number is called. A dozen or so NFL running backs have that talent, and a healthy McGahee might be in that select fraternity.’

‘Coach Mike Mularkey is unable – or willing – to put a timetable on when Williams will return to full strength, but it’s clear that he’s missing valuable work. At some point, it could become impossible for him to start, meaning the Bills would open the year with a backup costing them $38 million.’

‘Incumbent FS Izelle Reese has responded to the presence of Coy Wire competing for his starting job and remains No. 1 on the depth chart.’

‘The Bills have been rained off of their grass practice fields at St. John Fisher College twice so far yet have still managed to practice outside thanks to an arrangement with a nearby high school. East Rochester High School, located just a mile down the street, has the same artificial synthetic playing surface on its football field as used at Ralph Wilson Stadium. “It (sheds) the water very well,” coach Mike Mularkey said. “The players like it because their joints and knees feel better working on it.”‘

‘Can they keep both backs happy all season long? No. Does that matter? Not really.’

‘There is an area where the starters feel they must improve and that’s senseless penalties. "We got two illegal formation penalties and that’s something that Coach emphasised to us this week," wide receiver Josh Reed said. "Especially the receivers knowing who’s on the ball and who’s off the ball. That’s something I’m sure we’re going to have to hear about when we get back."’