Archives for August 2005

‘”You have to save your guys,” said quarterback Kelly Holcomb. “Way back when, guys were gone from the time the season finished until training camp. So they kind of got into shape. Now it’s a year-round thing. We have minicamp. We have the OTAs. We’re in football all year long with the exception of maybe two months. I think it’s a great thing. You don’t have to come out here and kill yourself. Guys know what they’re doing.”‘

‘”I’d always put myself in a spot wherever the o-line was and I was watching them all the time and seeing what coach McNally was teaching them,” Gudmundsen said.’

‘”Sam is a workout warrior,” said Bills receivers coach Tyke Tolbert. “Josh Reed stayed with him the whole summer and Sam took him out and they went through his workout regime. So Josh Reed came back into training camp in the best shape he’s ever been in in his entire life. Sam is a big-time workout warrior.”‘

‘The competition for the backup running back job is fierce and there’s no question the ability to pick up blitzes will factor into the team’s decision making process when cut-down time arrives.’

‘”Whatever I did in college really doesn’t mean anything right now,” Ezekiel explained. “What matters is what I do during practice, during the scrimmages, during the preseason games, and obviously when we watch film I have to be in the right place at the right time.”‘

‘Anderson is a second year man who played spraringly as a rookie. But he still feels he has a shot to win that starting job. "I try not to approach it any different, just try to focus on the little things, take one practice at a time, controlling what I can control. How I play and the way I’m using my techniques and things like that," Anderson said.’

‘"It’s pretty important," coach Mike Mularkey said of having his top two tight ends back. "You had to think about that position going into camp. You kept saying, `They’re going to be there.’ And having them in there, I think our offense may be ahead."’

‘The zebras were out in force at Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College on Monday. The Bills brought in officials to work some of the drills at both of Tuesday’s sessions in an order to cut down on penalties. “We plan on having them for all of the double sessions,” Bills coach Mike Mularkey said.’

‘Is it a load off your shoulders to have the Travis Henry situation dealt with and know you’re the Bills’ No. 1 back?

“It’s nice that I don’t really have to worry about answering questions about how Travis and I get along. We always got along. There were no problems between us two. Remember, they drafted me. It wasn’t like I picked Buffalo. That’s what people didn’t understand.”’

‘J.P., take a tip. This is the NFL. The defenders are bigger, faster and stronger. Your ability to make plays on the run will serve you well, providing you don’t rely on that part of your game too heavily. The pocket must become your friend.’

Press release for Packers-Bills practice.

‘”I’m pretty pleased,” said coach Mike Mularkey. “I feel they haven’t missed a beat since that infamous game in Miami. They’ve come in here confident and been very productive up to this point.”‘

‘Is Mularkey concerned Losman’s scrambling success in practice might cause the QB to run too much? “That to me is a serious threat that we’re going to take advantage of,” Mularkey said. “If he can see it and wants to take it, I’m not going to take that away from him. . . . He just has to know . . . he’s got to be smart about it, and that tough-guy image has to take a break and get down or get out of bounds.”‘

‘”He was a fantastic player in college who overcame all the odds,” said Bills secondary coach Steve Szabo, who encouraged the signing of Leonhard. “I don’t think he’s going to wow you with his vertical leap, his 40 time. You look at his body and he’s not a ripped guy. But he’s a football player.”‘

‘Williams is a smaller version of McGahee, who can excel between the tackles and turn the corner. “I’ve always felt I can hit it up inside if I need to,” Williams said.’