Archives for August 25, 2004

‘This year, 26 local students were selected to participate in the year-long program, started by Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe. The Bills received well over 100 applications that require the students to write an essay describing examples of when they have shown leadership skills in their high school and community.’

‘"Hey, a lot of teams have one (assistant) who coaches the (offensive) tackles and another one who works with the interior linemen," noted Bledsoe, who has been sharper in camp than he was a year ago. "Teams will have a coach for the safeties and another coach for the cornerbacks. So why not have a separate coach for your quarterbacks? It’s a position where, definitely, the demands of the job keep getting tougher."’

”’There’s nothing I could do to change it,” Vincent said. ”I know his importance to this football team. … He’s a fiery young guy, the sky’s the limit for him. No one wants to be in a cast at this point in time in their career.”’

‘The 4th annual "Taste of the Season — Buffalo Bills Style" will be held Monday, Aug. 30 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The event, scheduled for 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., will be held inside the Jim Kelly Club.’

‘The Colts are expected to play their starters into the third quarter against the Bills. "If you want to get your dress rehearsal week in, Week 3 is kind of the way to go,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “It’s really the week we like to get geared in and playing well."’

‘"These things happen in camp all the time," Teague said. "People get banged up over the course of the four weeks here and coaches constantly rotate guys to get a look at how they play. It’s a physical sport, especially up front. It’s all part of the game and I don’t think there’s anything to worry about."’

‘Bills president Tom Donahoe said it’s premature to discuss whether the team will bring in an additional quarterback or determine whether to end Losman’s season by placing him on the injured reserve list.’

‘"I look at it as taking advantage of an opportunity," McGahee said Tuesday. "Really, it’s just another game. I’ve started in practice with the (first team) before, but it wasn’t nothing. But this is a game, and the only difference is this is more competitive."’

‘The injury is similar to the one suffered last year by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who fractured his right fibula during the preseason. Vick missed 12 games.’

‘”It was an accident,” Mularkey said. “Troy isn’t going to try and hurt anybody, and J.P., he loosened up at the end (of the play), and you can’t do that.”‘

‘”We’re going to put the best guys out there, period,” Mularkey said. “There’s nothing that says a starter is relieved of duty because he’s playing first, second and third down. Fourth down is no different.”‘

‘”I was running and keeping him from going out of bounds and he was cutting back and our shoulder pads just barely grazed on his cutback,” Vincent said. “At the same time he planted, I think our shoulder pads met.”‘

‘The Bills ranked 31st in punt returns last year and were inconsistent on kickoff returns. Antonio Brown, who held those duties most of 2003, could lose both jobs. WR Josh Reed opened the preseason as the No. 1 kickoff returner, and Terrence McGee had 85- and 34-yard kick returns in the second preseason game. CB Nate Clements has the inside track on handling punts, though the team would prefer not to use a starter there.’

‘The injury occurred with 25 minutes to go in the afternoon workout. Losman was hit by veteran cornerback Troy Vincent. The rookie out of Tulane was carted off the field, and was later seen being helped from a wheelchair into a car.’

‘Losman was slated to back up starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe this season. Travis Brown will likely move into the No. 2 position behind Bledsoe while Losman is recovering. The Bills will probably bring in another quarterback to either compete with Brown or to occupy the No. 3 role.’