Archives for August 18, 2005

‘“That’s going to be awesome. I’ll just kind of feed off the crowd,” the Bills’ quarterback said. “I’m going to try to calm myself down. But we’ll see if that’s possible.”’

‘From Drew Bledsoe to Losman. Talk about opposite ends of the mobility spectrum. Losman is going to be a weapon for Mike Mularkey, especially on third downs. Defensive ends and outside linebackers, worrying about Willis McGahee, are going to forget to stay at home on the back side and honor the bootleg action, and Losman is going to make them pay.’

So the Bills are armed. But are they ready? They have the pieces in place, but do they have what it takes to at least earn a season split with the Patriots and Jets, to not just compete but beat teams like the Falcons, Chiefs, Panthers and Broncos? Even with a young quarterback, will they mature enough to win the games championship contenders do, like at the Jets in Week 17 with maybe the playoffs or perhaps the division at stake? Can they will themselves to victory and not wilt under pressure at key moments?

‘”Obviously, he’s very confident in who he is, and we’re very confident in who he is, and his stats and his playing ability speaks for itself,” France said. “That’s the mentality we’re going to take, and that’s the approach we’re going to take.”‘

‘Do the Bills really think the Texans will gain a competitive advantage if they know Parrish’s wrist is broken? And do they really think other teams will go after the wrist when Parrish returns? “Are you kidding me?” Donahoe said. “In this league? Are you kidding me, asking that question? It’s a competitive league and people will do anything.”‘

‘Tony Brown and Jonathan Smith are two young wideouts who are well aware that now is the time to shine. “There’s a sense of urgency,” said Brown, a 6-foot-2, 199-pound rookie free-agent signee out of Tennessee. “The coaches are looking for somebody to step up and fill the void.”‘

‘France visited camp on Wednesday, and general manager Tom Donahoe said the sides would start serious contract discussions soon. “We visited a little bit today, and it was cordial,” Donahoe said. “Nate wants to be here, but until you start throwing numbers, you never know.”‘

‘The only reason Reed is in a battle to be Buffalo’s No. 3 receiver is because of the wrist injury Parrish suffered last week in training camp. The fact that Reed is battling Drew Haddad for that spot screams out that Reed shouldn’t have been a second-round pick.’

‘”We’re definitely open for anything,” Clements said. “All I can say is that I’m open and that I want to stay in Buffalo and I love Buffalo. If I was running the front office, I would take care of all of my guys.”‘

‘”Once the season starts, I think we probably won’t (negotiate) because it’s a distraction to him and a distraction to the team.”‘

‘Turkey Hill Dairy has purchased 5,000 remaining seats for the Bills game, ensuring a sellout and lifting the local television blackout. That means the game will be aired live on Channel 7 Saturday at 6 p.m. The Bills Kids Day preseason sellout last year drew 71,500 fans to Ralph Wilson Stadium and the atmosphere was electric. Turkey Hill Dairy donates a nickel for every carton of Buffalo Bills stampede sundae ice cream sold to Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The company will host an ice cream party for patients at the hospital on Friday of this week.’

‘The team conducted it’s final two-a-day session of training camp. The Bills break camp Tuesday, August 23.’

‘In my travels during the week, I witnessed four AFC contenders and an NFC squad flying under the radar getting ready for the 2005 campaign. Though I saw only one workout for each, you can get a feel for the pacing, energy and spot the areas of concern. And, of course, you get to see fans at their most passionate. Why else would you be sitting in the oppressive heat to watch an early morning preseason practice?’

‘“I’m the best and I don’t settle for nothing less,” said Clements, a four-year veteran who’s entering the final year of his contract. “It’s just like if you’re the best at your job, you want to be compensated for being the best at your position.”’