Archives for August 1, 2005

‘Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray wants his Buffalo Bills players to know: It’s one thing to lead the league in turnovers, as they did last year, or finish second in fewest yards allowed for two consecutive seasons. But in order to be recognized, they need to still be playing in the second or third week of January.’

‘Locally, the scrimmage with the Buffalo Bills will be broadcast at 7 p.m. on WLUK, Channel 11, as “Family Night Presented by Fox 11.” NFL Network, a subscription channel, will simulcast that coverage. Shown nationally will be the same, audio, video and graphics that will be shown in the Green Bay area. The telecast will be hosted by WLUK’s Drew Smith and former Packers player Johnnie Gray, with Sharpe as sideline reporter. Sharpe is an NFL Network analyst.’

‘Losman can certainly talk the talk, but can he walk the walk? We’re about to find out…’

"He [Losman] also made a SWEET screen pass lob to McGahee that Willis would have easily taken for +20 yards at least if it were an actual game. He dropped back, waited for the Defense to overpursue, and then threw it perfectly to McGahee."

‘Among the hundreds of Buffalo Bills jerseys worn by fans at St. John Fisher College, there was a single, solitary No. 7 throwback jersey with the name “Flutie” on the back. All the other 7s surrounding the practice field were labeled with “Losman.”‘

‘Best-case scenario: Losman quickly grasps the offense and turns in a Ben Roethlisberger-esque season as a deft game manager, while also using his running ability to give the offense another rising playmaker to go with Willis McGahee and Lee Evans. Worst-case scenario: Overwhelmed by the starting job, Losman’s inexperience hampers the offense. Losman’s struggles force Kelly Holcomb – who was brilliant at times and maddening at others in limited first-string duty with Cleveland – to take over.’

‘”The most difficult thing to deal with was that there is approximately a two-second delay when you sing, so you really can’t listen to yourself (on the stadium’s public-address system). When you sing your fourth word, you hear your first word come out of the speakers and it’s in a different key, so if you listen to the playback, you’ll mess the whole thing up. And the Bills didn’t give you a chance to practice. They just handed you the microphone.”‘

‘”I feel that I am the best,” he said after the Buffalo Bills completed Day Two of training camp Sunday at St. John Fisher. “The film doesn’t lie. The numbers don’t lie either. I put up numbers every year. I’m versatile, I return punts as well as play special teams and I’m durable. I would put myself up against anybody in the league.”‘

‘Bills owner Ralph Wilson made an appearance at camp Sunday. Practice was halted briefly as the players gathered at midfield to listen to Wilson address the team.’

‘Holcomb, the former Cleveland Browns starter, was signed as insurance behind Losman and Matthews, a 12-year veteran, was also brought back. It was a signal that Buffalo’s coaching staff knows there’s reward and risk when counting on a mobile QB like Losman to make plays. His teammates and coaches, though, said it would be an injustice if Losman can’t stay healthy and show what he can do on the field. No player on the Bills worked harder in the off-season.’

‘WR Josh Reed vs. WR Roscoe Parrish for number three receiver – This key contest will heat up heading into the Green Bay scrimmage. Parrish, the Bills’ top pick out of Miami, has been impressive and there’s no question Reed is hearing footsteps. In the team’s first practice, Reed dropped two passes right in his hands.’

‘Players show up for camp with personal effects like TV sets, video games and fans. What did DT Lauvale Sape bring with him? A ukulele. Before checking into his dorm, the native of American Samoa played a few notes and sang for reporters. Is American Idol in his future? "Oh no, I hope not."’

‘”I’ve had three rough seasons, but the thing that kept me going was my teammates and my coaches. They believe in me, and like I said, I’m starting to get back to my old self,” said Reed after Sunday’s lone practice at St. John Fisher College. “I know what got me here. I’m not going to go out there and try and do too much. I’m going to go out and just do what I can; that’s it.”‘

‘”I think that’s just him, and I don’t want him to be anything else but himself,” Mularkey said. “But he’s got to realize all eyes are on him. He’s such a competitor, and he’s never satisfied. Even though some of these throws are good, they’re not good enough for him. I don’t mind that but he can’t show his frustrations all the time. I think his teammates see that, and it can be a negative for the team.”‘

‘As expected much of the spotlight was focused on Bills starting quarterback J.P. Losman. Losman has been working on keeping his emotions in check when a play doesn’t go his way. Coach Mularkey has emphasized how important this is to Losman because he says it could negatively affect the team if Losman cannot control his emotions. J.P. looks to have improved from last year and is gaining comfort in the pocket. He also says that Bills rookie Roscoe Parrish has been a great target for him thus far.’