Archives for September 3, 2006

‘All of the players signed to the practice squad were cut on Saturday.’

‘Wilson rejoined the team a day after Buffalo cut 22 players, including him. Originally signed to the Bills practice squad in October 2004, Wilson appeared in three games last season, primarily on special teams.’

‘Those players are Eric Bassey, Brad Cieslak, Fred Jackson, Jason Jefferson, Ryan Neill and George Wilson.’

‘The Bills kept 20 players on the 53-man roster who were not with the team last year, including all eight of their rookie draft picks.’

‘Then there was the choice of Dick Jauron as head coach. It wasn’t a sexy hire. Jauron has the look of a pallbearer on the sideline, but then so did Tom Landry and Bill Walsh wasn’t exactly a Regis Philbin clone. I suspect Marv saw a little of himself in Jauron, an intellectual coach who had been fired from a previous job in Chicago where he had once won 13 games in a season.’

‘Neill, a two-time first team All-Big East defensive end for Rutgers, played in all four preseason games for the Bills, but couldn’t crack their defensive end rotation. But Buffalo is expected to seriously consider re-signing Neill, also a long snapper, to its practice squad before the season starts.’

‘When the Bills announce their depth chart this week, six new starters are expected to be in the lineup: offensive linemen Tutan Reyes and Melvin Fowler, tight end Robert Royal, receiver Peerless Price, defensive tackle Larry Tripplett and safety Donte Whitner.’

‘DiGiorgio, an undrafted rookie free agent, will serve as the Bills backup middle linebacker to London Fletcher. “We were ecstatic, and we were proud,” John’s father, Frank DiGiorgio, said. “We cried tears of joy. No one deserved it more than him.”‘

‘Q: Expectations are low for the Bills. Do you feel the team is in a position to surprise some people? A: Yes, I do. I think they’re going to win eight games, maybe nine, and contend right through December for a playoff spot.’

‘Safety Rashad Baker, cornerback Eric King, and wide receiver Jonathan Smith were among the notable cuts as the Buffalo Bills trimmed their roster to the 53-man NFL limit on Saturday. All three players played significant minutes for Bills in 2005.’

‘Second-year running back Lionel Gates was released, who was beat out by Anthony Thomas to be Willis McGahee’s backup.’