Archives for September 28, 2006

‘On if this vindicates the Bills pick: They picked me and I’m glad they picked me, but I still want to go out there and prove other people were wrong and prove the Bills made the right choice.’

‘The Bills were widely criticized for selecting the former Ohio State star as No. 8 overall pick in last April’s draft, but Whitner has paid early dividends. In three games, including two starts, he is seventh on the team in tackles with 17, and is tied for the team-lead in interceptions with one.’

‘Parrish provides the Bills receiving corps an intriguing dimension because of his elusiveness. While he can outrun most defenders, the Bills are using Parrish less as a deep threat and more in the slot because he’s so small and fast that it’s difficult for defenders to keep up with him off the line of scrimmage. And once he gets into the open field, look out.’

‘On Spikes, Bowen and Kiwaukee Thomas: They’re still questionable, but they all participated. We’ll take it day by day, probably right up to game time.’

‘Whitner, the eighth overall selection in last April’s draft, has an interception and 18 tackles in his first three games as an NFL player.’

‘"Obviously it’s a great honor to be put on the Wall with all the players that have excelled in Buffalo, especially players from my era like Thurman and Jim and Kent Hull," said Reed. "It’s an honor. There’s nothing else I can say. It’s great to be in that company."’

‘"I’ve felt good out there," said Whitner. "It’s really no different from college to the NFL. Everybody makes a big deal about being a rookie. But if you’re poised and you know what you’re doing out there, being a rookie really means nothing."’

‘We have four Buckeyes on the team in Nate, Donte, Ashton, and Tim Anderson, so as you can see, I’m outnumbered. I started the talk of an upset a couple of weeks ago and those guys did what all guys do when their squads are ranked number one… they just shrugged their shoulders and kept right on walking. However, I am going to be talking a lot this week.’

‘Bills 20 Vikings 16.’

‘Old friend Pat Williams and his running mate at DT, former Pro Bowler Kevin Williams, anchor a Vikings defensive line giving up fewer than four yards/carry for the first time since 1999. The line took a significant hit last week, though, when Erasmus James joined fellow first-round pick LB Chad Greenway on IR with a knee injury. Darrion Scott moves into the starting lineup at left end, with former #1 pick Kenechi Udeze shifting to the right side.’

‘”Two-deep teams make you earn everything,” said Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild. “They’re not going to give you the big pass play. You tend to have to function well for a longer period of time to get where you want to go.”‘

‘Clements should be motivated this weekend when Antoine Winfield, his old pal and former teammate with Ohio State and the Bills, comes to town. The Vikings lured Winfield away in ’04 with a six-year, $35 million contract. Winfield got the big bucks despite making six interceptions in five years. So the money is out there for defensive backs, regardless. But Clements made his name on big plays. Teams will use it against him in negotiations if he doesn’t pick it up soon.’

‘Spikes sounded optimistic about returning to action Sunday when the Bills meet the Minnesota Vikings. However, he stopped short of guaranteeing he would play. He said he needs to get through Friday’s practice without any setbacks in order to make his second start of the season.’

‘Players like Carlton, a running back for the Buffalo Bills, helped create the NFL-AFL merger of 1970. Old-timers such as Carlton take pride in knowing they helped pave the way for what has become a multibillion dollar industry. "No question about that," Carlton said by telephone from Orchard Park, where he has lived since he retired from the Bills in 1967.’

‘Expect the Vikings to establish the run, and continue pounding the rock as they try to control the ball and win the time of possession battle. Look for Taylor to have a career day as Minnesota’s offense becomes a little more productive.’