Archives for January 9, 2007

‘The Bills ranked 31st in the NFL on third downs, converting just 31.7 percent. They did get better. The first eight games they converted 27 percent, the last eight they converted 35.6 percent. That’s still not good enough. To get into the top 12 in the league they needed to be at 39 percent.’

‘Below we review some of the more memorable and too easily forgotten performances from week to week in the 2006 season.’

‘The site of the game will be announced on Monday. The two teams competing will be announced during Super Bowl week. The “visiting” team for the game will not necessarily be one of the six teams that could host the game.’

‘Moorman, who had more punts (92) for more yards (4,102) than anyone in the AFC, received 34 of a possible 50 votes from a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL to easily outdistance Mat McBriar of Dallas.’

‘”While the NFL makes the decisions regarding the playing schedule, the Bills certainly are supportive of the international regular-season game initiative,” Bills vice president of communications Scott Berchtold said Monday in a prepared statement. “If our team is selected to participate it would be great recognition for our city in an international forum, not to mention the tremendous experience it would serve for our players, coaches and staff.”‘

‘”I think NFL fans are like me,” says Bona, a Buffalo native and Bills fan. “We get depressed when we think about what Sundays are going to be like for the next six months.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills are one of six teams in the running to host a regular season game in either Germany or Great Britain in 2007, according to the National Football League.’

‘Either way, the Bills can probably say goodbye to Fletcher-Baker, a nine-year veteran who’s ready to head for what he believes are greener pastures.’

‘The team made drastic improvements on both sides of the ball, found their quarterback of the future in J.P. Losman, a new dominating left tackle in Jason Peters, and started five rookies on a defense that finished 10th in points allowed, laying the ground work for a unit with the potential to dominate games in the future. But Fletcher-Baker’s words were a clear reminder that more personnel change is imminent. Even if the Bills were to ask him back and offer him a deal, Fletcher-Baker indicated he’d have to think hard about it.’

‘Five starters are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents — CB Nate Clements, MLB London Fletcher, DE Chris Kelsay, LG Mike Gandy and FB Daimon Shelton. Clements played last season with the franchise tag and won’t be tagged again. When he hits the market, he’ll be the most sought after at his position and is likely to break Champ Bailey’s $63 M deal he got from Denver a couple of seasons back. The Bills will also allow Fletcher to hit the market. He’s 32 and despite his consistent production the team desperately needs more size in the middle of one of the NFL’s worst defenses against the run. Kelsay posted a career-best 5.5 sacks and is a player the Bills like — young and affordable. Gandy is also likely to re-sign but nine-year veteran Shelton isn’t.’

‘The Bills would never admit it, but losing their last game to Baltimore and finishing 7-9 was a good thing. It gave them the 12th overall pick in the draft. Eight teams wound up 8-8, and Buffalo could have been the ninth, if they’d won. In that case, Buffalo would’ve slipped all the way to 19th based on the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker.’

‘”There are a lot of issues still to be resolved, but I am looking forward to working with Commissioner Goodell, and his staff, to ensure that all NFL teams, particularly small-market teams, are treated fairly."’