Archives for April 2008

‘Al Wallace got hurt about 12 seconds into his Bills career, cruelly landing on injured reserve during the preseason and of course never getting a chance to contribute. Yet, there’s nothing keeping the parties from mutually giving it another go this season. Once more, this franchise should attempt to employ Wallace, a free agent who would be as comfortable with this team as Marshawn Lynch feels while hanging out at Applebee’s and Dave & Buster’s.’

‘”Obviously we’re going through the preparation,” Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said during the team’s annual pre-draft news conference. “Tom Modrak [vice president of college scouting] does an unbelievable job with preparation along with his scouting staff to put us in position to do what is in the best interest of the Buffalo Bills organization. We will continue down that path. We expect to have a very good draft.”‘

‘Well, I’ll answer it for him. Yes, the Bills need an impact receiver. In fact, they have two pressing needs at wide receiver. They need to find a big receiver, someone who can function as a No. 2. And they need to decide whether they’re keeping Lee Evans around long-term as their No. 1 guy.’

‘”For the fans trying to buy tickets for one game in Toronto, it’s hard to say,” said Scott Berchtold, vice president of communications. “We’re doing the best we can to make sure season-ticket holders get tickets.”‘

‘Losman is in the final year of his contract so if Buffalo doesn’t trade him, they’ll receive nothing in return for him because his agent has made it clear his client won’t re-sign with the team.’

‘This year, instead of 15 minutes between picks in the first round, teams will have 10; instead of 10 minutes in the second round, they each will have seven.’

‘I know many local Buffalo and Miami fans are disappointed that the Dolphins “home” game will be in Toronto, but count me among those who believe the Bills-Dolphins rivalry is a thing of the past. Miami is a poor team at this point and Buffalo should beat the Dolphins anywhere and in any climate – roof open or roof closed. The Bills shouldn’t need snow and high winds to beat the Dolphins in December.’

‘”Him running that 40 time didn’t alter where we put him on the board,” Modrak said. “We didn’t expect that he was going to run on the clock much differently – a little bit better than that. We figured he was a 4.5, 4.6 guy (he ran a 4.68). Those guys can play.”‘

‘But the Bills are mindful that the vast majority of NFL teams – including Buffalo – needed more than one quarterback last season. And though the coming draft weekend (April 26 and 27) in New York might be the ideal time to move Losman, the Bills don’t appear intent on doing that.’

‘”We do the board vertically and horizontally,” Modrak said when asked about the direction the team would go with their first-round pick. “If there’s a position that is strikingly open to us and there’s a guy in another position that we’ve addressed or we feel we’ve addressed, the leaning would be to that person. You can’t jump way out of value to satisfy (a great player available). You’re swinging and missing more often than not (by reaching on value).”‘

‘The Steelers and Dolphins in Toronto. How’s that audition for a new city?’

‘"I think it’s part of the overall process," said Brandon when asked if receiver still a need the team is pursuing. "We’re always looking to better this team. That was something that we obviously did look at during the free agency period. We felt we addressed some situations in free agency that made this ball club better and we’ll continue to look at that. We’re always going to look at ways to improve, be it wide receiver or any other position where we feel we have a need."’

‘”He’s here and that’s how we’re approaching it,” Brandon added.’

‘”J.P.’s on this roster and he’s part of this organization,” Brandon said. “I’ve stated it a few weeks ago and I’ll state it again: we anticipate him being on this team. Sixty-four quarterbacks started in the NFL last year, I think the highest in about 30 years. You need two good ones. J.P. is under contract and he’s here and that’s how we’re approaching it.”’

‘A season that doesn’t open until four months and a few weeks from now has already a provided a letdown.’