Archives for July 2008

‘”Remember, back in the day they’d bring 120 guys to camp, and now it’s 83,” said offensive lineman Jason Whittle. “It sounds like a lot, but it’s not when you start breaking it down by position and if you’re beating guys up and getting them hurt, the numbers dwindle. People don’t understand that you can get a lot of work done in this (helmets and shorts) if you have guys who know how to work. It’s not full speed, but it’s a good tempo and you can be very productive.”‘

‘McKelvin is guaranteed $12.6 million. If he fulfills additional incentive clauses, he could earn as much as $19.4 million.’

‘”I was real dedicated this off-season, working six months for six days a week and trying to do the things I could to get healthy for the season,” said Royal.’

‘First round pick Leodis McKelvin signed a five-year deal with the bills on Saturday and is expected to be at a closed walk through on Sunday.’

‘”Yeah I think he’d a lot to this team. He’d add a lot to this area,” said Bills Quarterback Trent Edwards. “He’s been around the block. He’s won Super Bowls and MVP’s. He’s obviously a great player,” Edwards said.’

‘McKelvin was the first defensive back taken in April’s draft (11th overall) out of Troy State. He is expected to challenge for playing time at the right cornerback position.’

‘”I’ve been ready,” said McKelvin. “I just want to get out there and help the defense out and just play football.’

‘Kyle Williams was back with his teammates Saturday as he arrived at training camp last night following the birth of his second child, a daughter. Williams stepped right into the starting lineup as he was alongside Marcus Stroud to start team work in 11-on-11.’

‘”He’s agreed to terms and now we’re working out the final details,” agent Hadley Engelhard said. The deal was agreed to two days into Bills training camp, and after McKelvin missed four practices, including two on Saturday.’

‘Right away you can tell there’s a quicker pace here at camp to the spring workouts. Everything is rapid fire going over things in the classroom. Everything is fast. Even on the game plays they’re not going to wait for you. Basically you have to be in your playbook so you don’t fall behind. It’s really fast.’

‘The Bills would like to sign Evans to a contract extension, preferably before the regular season starts Sept. 7. However, league sources say there still is a long way to go in negotiations before the Bills seal a deal with their top receiver.’

‘”I think it will take care of itself,” said Bills guard Derrick Dockery, who plays next to Peters. “If you let it become a distraction, it will be. I look at it as an opportunity for the guys who are here to perfect their game and to get reps they wouldn’t normally get if Jason was here.”‘

‘”We don’t experiment as much in training camp as we do in OTAs,” Jauron said. “We try a number of things in OTAs, just to look at them, but not in training camp, not as much, because you don’t have that many reps to get ready for the real thing. So it’s significantly different.”‘

‘”We’re excited,” said defensive end Chris Kelsay, a comment that first became audible during organized team activities in May and June and has been ratcheted up now that strong safety Donte Whitner has gone on record guaranteeing a playoff appearance.’

‘”You never say never, we have conversations with our guys all the time,” Brandon said. “We have a proven track record with trying to get guys done and extending guys out. We’ve done it already with Kyle (Williams) and (Brad) Butler; we did it with (Aaron) Schobel and (Terrence) McGee in the past.”‘