Archives for August 2006

‘After three days without pads, the Bills finally took the field in full uniform Monday. Tackling wasn’t allowed, but a few guys apparently didn’t get that memo. Middle linebacker London Fletcher had the hit of the day as he drilled running back Shaud Williams as Williams caught the ball out of the backfield.’

‘So, why in the name of Lou "The Toe" Groza would kicker Nick Setta and punter Josh Brazen sign free-agent contracts with the Bills when they know they will be getting the boot before the end of camp? "It’s a résumé builder," says Setta, a Notre Dame graduate who is participating in his fifth NFL camp in the past three years. "Any team that gives you the option to come in and build your résumé, you take advantage of it."’

‘If Nall is out three weeks, he’ll have missed the Bills’ first two preseason games at which time a decision on the starting quarterback may have already been made. Ideally, coach Dick Jauron would like his man in place so he can give him two practice games with the first unit.’

‘”We have trainers stuffing water in your mouth here,” said rookie offensive lineman Terrance Pennington, who has already heard the hydration sermon countless times.’

‘”It’s not very good,” said Levy when asked to describe the state of negotiations between Whitner’s agent, Jonathan Hurst, and Jim Overdorf, the Bills’ vice president of football administration and lead negotiator. “Jim said he’s not getting much contact back from him and we’re moving ahead. It’s a competitive situation and people there (at strong safety) are moving ahead of him.”‘

‘"You run out of reps," says Jauron of the difficulty of having three men taking sharing play-calling. "I’m not setting any timetable, though. I just think (setting a timetable) is a trap. We’ll let the thing play out and make a decision as we go."’

‘Can Spikes defy the Achilles’ odds and be as good as new? “It’s a tough one to come back from. I was able to come back and play a few years after that, but the rehab is very tedious,” said former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, who made a successful return from Achilles surgery, albeit at a less strenuous position. “I think the one thing fans need to be with him is patient, because it takes a while to come back from that injury.”‘

‘”Right now, he hasn’t missed any of the preseason. … But each day he misses, he sets himself further back,” said Bills defensive backs coach George Catavolos. “As an athlete, we think he’s outstanding. I know he’s very sharp, mentally. He’s behind, and it’s up to him, how his acceleration goes.”‘

‘Our special teams are just that, "special." The key to our success is that every one of the guys that plays on those units is unselfish. As much as each one of them wants to make a play on the coverage units, they are willing to do their part to help a teammate make the play if that is what is called for. As for the return game, when you have returners like we do, it’s hard not to do well, but if you watch tape of those units, you’ll see a group of guys that all work together and take pride in what they do. That often culminates in Terrence McGee, Nate Clements, Jonathan Smith or whoever is returning, celebrating with their teammates in the end zone; or at the very least, getting great field position.’

‘Nall, a former Alexandria Senior High star who played three seasons at LSU before finishing his college career at Northwestern State, will be out indefinitely with an injured left hamstring. "I can tell you it’s not minor," Bills coach Dick Jauron told Gannett News Service.’

‘The start of contact drills was long anticipated, and players sensed it well before practice began. "You could feel it this morning, it was real tense in the locker room this morning, it was real quiet. It wasn’t usual fooling around in there, it was real tense and it came out and showed today," Bills’ guard Chris Villarial said.’

‘Price returns to a Buffalo Bills organization that drafted him eight years ago. He said it’s great to be a part of the Bills and he has good feelings about being back.’

‘"It’s really good and it’s really good for him, too," coach Dick Jauron said. "It’s another step in his confidence level in his rehab."’