Archives for September 2005

‘Since Buffalo is the only NFL city with a cable system (Adelphia) that carries the NFL Network on its basic package, a look at the ratings here in a football hotbed could be an indication of the network’s potential.’

‘We used a bunch of snappers one week that got him out of sync, but he’s got to perform,” special teams coach Bobby April said. “It doesn’t matter if I went out there and snapped for him, he’s got to put it through no matter what. I feel good about him. I think he’s a good kicker. … He missed some kicks at inopportune times last year … but the fact is, the ones he made were big for us and they helped us win games. Does he have to do better? He does, but we think he will.”‘

‘Clements suffered an undisclosed shoulder injury in the preseason finale against Detroit Friday and did not practice Monday or Wednesday. However, he is listed as probable on the official injury report, and as Clements said, forget probable: He’s playing.’

‘For better or for worse, the Bills have stacked their chips in front of Losman, banking that the first-round draft gamble of 2004 will pay off.’

‘”We like those uniforms a little bit better as a team,” Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman said. “We like wearing black shoes, black belts and white helmets.”‘

‘”It’s difficult for me and for many guys throughout the NFL, who have had memories there or who went to school there,” said Losman, a native of Venice, Calif., who is among many NFL players helping to provide relief to survivors of Katrina. “I think it’s a tremendous city, one of America’s great cities, and it’s underwater right now. All my memories and my old stopping ground. It’s sad to see not only New Orleans people but any people – especially in this country – needing something. It’s just been a tough situation. “‘

‘Bills 16, Texans 13.’

‘After starting last season 0-4 in his rookie season in charge, coach Mike Mularkey ordered the printing of T-shirts emblazoned with the words, “Start Fast” on the front and “It’s Time to Pay the Bills” on the back.’

‘Lindell, Schneck and holder Brian Moorman began getting to know one another during practice on Wednesday and will be in overdrive until kickoff on Sunday against the Texans. “I’m OK with it,” Mularkey said of the late change at snapper. “(Rian) kicked the ball well today and a lot of that was because we were more consistent with the snaps. We take it for granted but that whole thing (snap, hold, kick) has to be automatic.”‘

‘Jim Leonhard, a 5-8 free agent rookie out of Wisconsin, is the Bills feel-good story of 2005. Wisconsin’s all-time interception leader with 21 beat very long odds to make Buffalo’s 53-man roster as a free safety and punt return specialist. His cell phone has rung nonstop since Sunday from friends and family back home in Tony, Wis. “It feels great,” he said. “It’s starting to sink in a little to where now it’s time to get back to business. There were a couple days where you could kind of pat yourself on the back, but now it’s back to business.”‘

‘”We felt like we had an opportunity at the end of last season to do something great but we didn’t,” Spikes said of the season-ending loss to Pittsburgh that kept them out of the playoffs. “Now it’s over with and we’ve been focusing on this game ever since we first came in at the beginning of OTAs.”‘

Losman busy on two fronts (Houston Chronicle)

Pitts rewarded with hefty contract (Houston Chronicle)

Peek input necessary for peak output (Houston Chronicle)

Pitts signs contract extension (AP)

Texans’ sixth-round pick becomes unlikely starter (AP)

Texans sign Pitts to multi-year deal (The Sports Network)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Bills conference calls (HoustonTexans.com)

Pitts signed to extension (HoustonTexans.com)

Countdown to kickoff (HoustonTexans.com)

Max protection (HoustonTexans.com)

‘”We’re going to try and establish a running game like most offenses throughout the NFL. Try to counter that with getting the quarterback out of the pocket with bootlegs and rollouts. We don’t know what defense we’re going to get, we don’t know what they (Texans defense) are going to try and make me do; if they’re going to blitz us a lot, try and take away the run game and try to make me win with the passing game. We don’t know what they are going to do, but we just have to be prepared for whatever they do.”‘

‘”I like our chances better than anybody in the league knowing that you’re coming out at home again playing with the 12th man in the stadium,” said linebacker Takeo Spikes. “Special teams, defensively, offensively, we feel like we have a lot of things to prove."’

‘Just as important, Mularkey maintained a stay-the-course theme that resonated with his players. "I commend him for what he did," veteran defensive back Troy Vincent said. "We were 0-4, and that’s not good for a new head coach. … But he stuck to his plan. The men believed in him and we carried out his vision."’