Archives for February 2007

‘In order for their defense to achieve success next season, the Bills would be best served keeping McGee in the second starting role and moving Youboty into Thomas’ soon-to-be vacated spot. Thus, finding Clements’ replacement could either take place through free agency or the draft.’

‘If Clements moves on, the Bills need corner Terrence McGee to step up his game. The Bills could also use some help along the offensive line at the guard spots and — if Fletcher-Baker leaves — a middle linebacker becomes a high priority. They could also use some depth behind Willis McGahee at running back.’

‘ I was struggling, probably holding the ball too long because I didn’t want to make a mistake. I knew if I had a bad game that was the end of it. The team wasn’t strong at that point. Dennis Shaw threw four interceptions in one game. I was reading all the time that the Bills might go get another quarterback. Lou Saban called me into his office and told me he just couldn’t have two young quarterbacks. He released me.’

‘"One of the main deterrents for teams with restricted free agency is obviously the compensation a team would have to give up," said Bills Vice President of Football Administration Jim Overdorf. "But another big deterrent is you’re investing a lot of time into getting a restricted free agent from another club to sign, and in the end you may wind up with nothing."’

‘What had me chuckling was this Buffalonian belief that Phillips is a joke because he failed to take advantage of Super Bowl-caliber talent in his Bills tenure. Or, as Sullivan noted: “I’m sorry, those teams were loaded. It didn’t take a Vince Lombardi to produce a winning record.” Sorry, Jerry, we know loaded in Dallas and Doug Flutie-Antowain Smith-Eric Moulds barely qualifies as halfcocked. So please, spare us your sympathy. We prefer to remember y’all as bit players in our Super Bowl and Stanley Cup championships.’

‘The bottom line, though, is that the Bills don’t know what they have in Nall.’

‘And that leads to Phillips’ other problem … loyalty. Normally that ranks high among personal traits, but it proved his undoing with the Bills.’

‘Having covered the Bills as a beat reporter through his tenure here, the things I remember aren’t the cartoonish portrayals, but the loyalty he evoked from his players and the effort they consistently gave him. And he might be the last coach in the National Football League who hasn’t had his sense of humor surgically removed.’

‘If for example, there’s a player with an alleged character problem, the Bills want to identify it and then investigate it further. In mid-February there is still time for the scouting staff to dig deeper and acquire the additional information they’re looking for on a prospect. They can call college coaches and their assistants, and they can speak to the players a couple of more times at the NFL combine and at a campus pro day.’

‘Buffalo’s other Pro Bowl representative had a solid game. Defensive end Aaron Schobel led the AFC with six tackles and had a sack of Dallas’ Tony Romo late in the game. Two of Schobel’s tackles went for no gain or a loss.’

‘The 10th annual Hunter’s Day of Hope for Children will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Buffalo Bills Field House at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.’

‘Is this what it’s come to for the once-great Dallas franchise? When times get tough, go out and grab a castoff from the Buffalo Bills’ recent, sorry past? Maybe Jones’ next move will be luring Rob Johnson out of retirement to compete with Tony Romo for the quarterback job.’

‘It looks like Coy Wire’s late-season move from strong safety to outside linebacker may be permanent.’

‘Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly was one of three guest speakers for the fifth Miracle League of Visalia, Calif., banquet at the Visalia First Assembly of God Church on Saturday night.’

‘Bills quarterback J.P. Losman is by no means a Pro Bowl quarterback, but wouldn’t the three-year veteran have been more appropriate for this past weekend’s Hawaii festivities than the Titans’ Vince Young? Losman threw 19 touchdowns against 14 picks this past year, finishing as the NFL’s 11th-rated passer. Young, on the other hand, was a train wreck through the air, compiling a horrid 66.7 efficiency rating (30th in the league).’