Archives for August 2004

‘If you have a question on the Bills or the NFL in general, Question Mark and he’ll respond to several questions each week.’

‘Doctors will insert a plate into Losman’s leg to stabilize the fracture and speed up the healing process. Still, the team has indicated the first-round pick from Tulane – who signed a five-year contract with $5.6 million in guaranteed money – could miss eight to 12 weeks.’

‘”I couldn’t play now,” Van Pelt said. “It’s not an option.”‘

‘”I told him last night it’s eight or 12 weeks, whatever it is, but it’s a very small portion of what his career is going to be all about,” Brown said. “Don’t dwell on it, come back as strong as ever and stay plugged in mentally. That’s what I told him.”‘

‘The Bills currently have three additional quarterbacks on their roster: starter Drew Bledsoe, five-year veteran Travis Brown, and undrafted free agent Greg Zolman, who competed in NFL Europe this past season playing with Rhein. “Travis has played well and we’ll still go (into the season) as we were before the injury,” Mularkey said. “I don’t think there is going to be a change there.”‘

‘"When I do get the reps I get a little more now than I did. Just do the best I can with them and try to learn from any mistakes that I do make," Zolman said.’

‘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.’