Archives for August 11, 2006

‘”This weekend is the kickoff to the 2006 season and a new era for the Buffalo Bills,” safety Troy Vincent said. “New head coach, new coordinators, and everyone wants to show well.”‘

‘The biggest decision Jauron and the new staff of the Bills will have to make in training camp is at quarterback, where Kelly Holcomb, J.P. Losman, and Craig Nall are competing for starting duties. Holcomb, who started eight games last season and is listed first on the depth chart, will open the Carolina game before yielding to Losman, the former first-round pick who struggled in his eight starts last season. Nall, who was bothered by a hamstring problem early in training camp, is not expected to see any action.’

‘If he can play against the Bengals, there may still be enough time to challenge Kelly Holcomb and J.P. Losman for the starting job, which coach Dick Jauron said remains a wide-open competition. Holcomb will start against the Panthers. "That’s the plan, barring any setbacks," Nall said of returning to practice next week. "Right now I’m looking at Monday, see how it goes this weekend, and determine if that’s an attainable goal."’

‘My greatest influences are my parents. I learned a lot from my parents. I learned love and music from both of them and acquired my father’s originality and my mother’s drive. I had a lot of different outside influences but my parents have influenced my life the most.’

‘”Yeah, I’m eager, excited,” Whitner said ahead of the game at Carolina on Saturday. “I want to go out there, do what I do, run around, make a couple of tackles and hopefully get a couple of interceptions.” A couple of interceptions? “Yeah,” the Bills first-round draft pick said with a grin. “Don’t set it too low.”‘

‘”The first few years he would make three or four great catches and then drop the next one,” wide receiver coach Tyke Tolbert said. “This year in training camp he’s catching the ball consistently.”‘

‘Quarterback Craig Nall, still hampered by a hamstring injury, ran during practice and threw passes to Alex Van Pelt, the team’s offensive quality control coach. Nall said he hopes to return to practice on Monday and play in next Friday’s game against Cincinnati.’

‘”It’s hard to describe,” said running back Anthony Thomas when asked how hungry he is to extend his career to a sixth season. “I still have a love for the game, and I’m trying to do my best and play my hardest out here. As long as I can compete and have fun, I’ll stay out here as long as I can.”‘

‘”It’s seniority,” said Jauron, who said Losman would probably get the start next week at home against Cincinnati. “There’s no need to read anything else into it. Both will get a good deal of playing time; it just depends on how the game goes. We’re excited to get going.”‘

‘”It’s nice to be back in New York and with the only true New York team,” Davis said, since the Jets and Giants play in New Jersey. “But the most important thing is to be going to a team that wants you.”‘

‘The team’s lack of success has done little to slow the rush to the box office. The Bills sold 47,246 season tickets last year, the highest in more than a decade, and although the team went 5-11 last year and lost six of its last seven games, front office staff members said they’re only expecting a five percent drop-off this season. The team’s first four games are virtual sellouts.’

‘The number one question surrounding the Bills since the end of last season has come to rest, kind of.’

‘Offensively, the Bills should be in real trouble.’

‘(on missing reps) Its very tough, not just missing the reps, but those guys are getting extra reps. But at the same time, I’m getting those reps too, standing back here watching when they make mistakes, I try to learn from that. Just staying attentive and taking all the mental reps.’

‘(on mistakes that have been made in the offense) Those things are just going to happen, especially the first year you put an offense in and especially the first few weeks and that’s what the preseason is for. We get four weeks to critique it and try to master everything.’