Archives for August 2006

‘”Unfortunately, with the past he’s had, it wasn’t surprising to me,” said Anderson, the burly Buffalo Bills defensive tackle. “It wouldn’t surprise me in a year if something else happens. It’s just unfortunate.”‘

‘Youboty didn’t play in Friday’s game against Cincinnati and coach Dick Jauron doesn’t believe he’ll be ready to go for Saturday’s contest with Cleveland.’

‘”His tricep was inflamed,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said following practice. “We don’t really know and he doesn’t really know how it occurred, but he felt it (Wednesday) when he was starting our weight program in the morning.”‘

‘The Purdue grad missed 13 games last year with an ankle injury.’

‘Though preseason games are essentially meaningless in terms of outcome, this Browns game will be a defining moment for the accomplished Spikes. If he can get anywhere near his old form, the Bills’ defense could improve vastly from its disastrous 2005 campaign.’

‘On how he has progressed: At the beginning of camp, I didn’t know what to think or expect. I was getting coached really hard and all I could do was be consistent and work on the things I needed to work on and not get caught up in the competition thing. The tables have turned a little towards the end and that’s feeding my confidence and giving our offense an identity of who were are and who we want to be.’

‘On the signing of Joe Odom: Well, Joe’s a guy that we drafted (in Chicago) and we like his athletic ability, his toughness, he’s got good speed and he’s a fit for us defensively. He doesn’t have a lot of learning to do coming in here, so he could play almost immediately. It seemed like a real good opportunity for us and we took it.’

‘"Things went well," said Odom of his first practice with his new Bills teammates. "There were just a few little things that were different, but it’s pretty similar which made it a lot easier on me instead coming to a brand new defense."’

‘On the collision with Lionel Gates: My hat came off; one of my chinstraps was undone. We hit each other and it feels good. It’s football, that’s what I do. I like to get out there and hit people and run around and make plays.’

‘When asked about his health, Spikes said, “I’m right where I need to be … every week the strength is coming back. I’ve needed every day (of camp). “On a week-to-week basis, Thursday-to-Thursday, there’s been dramatic improvement. When I first got out here, I was afraid to back-pedal and stop. The next week, I was able to do it and cut to the left and the right. The next week I was able to back-pedal, come back forward, then back-pedal again.”‘

‘Odom is familiar with Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, who coached Bears defensive backs last year.’

‘Odoms ranked fourth on the Bears in special teams tackles with 13. Odoms was the first rookie linebacker to lead Chicago in tackles – in his first career start – since Brian Urlacher did it in the 2000 season.’

‘The Bills continued to make moves with their linebacking corps. After releasing veteran Jeff Posey and waiving Courtney Watson, Buffalo signed former Chicago linebacker Joe Odom off waivers Wednesday.’

‘”I’m a little reluctant to give the details because I haven’t talked to him about it, but there’s a couple of services that they’re going to have and he may not be back for a week,” Jauron said. “That’s a long time, but clearly we’ve got to support him and do what’s in his best interests and then get him back here as quick as we can.”’

‘Thomas, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound six-year veteran is in an arduous battle at running back with Lionel Gates, Shaud Williams, Joe Burns and Fred Jackson. Yet trying to figure out who’s in the lead and who’s on the bubble is anyone’s guess, even with two preseason games remaining. Each brings a different element to the Bills running game that’s desperate for production behind McGahee.’