Archives for August 3, 2008

‘A whirlwind weekend unfolded for Thurman Thomas a year ago. Luncheons, dinners, receptions and a massive ceremony seemed to come one right after the other.’

‘”It was tough having my very first season cut short like that,” he said. “It’s not the way I would have scripted it, but injuries happen. It’s part of the game. I’m just happy to be back and I’m looking forward to another season.”‘

‘Bills head coach Dick Jauron had no official word yet on the condition of rookie linebacker Alvin Bowen, who suffered a serious right knee injury Friday. All Jauron could say about it was he’s not optimistic Bowen will play again this season. Bowen was seen on the field at St. John Fisher College on a golf cart with his right leg immobilized.’

‘"I have been around it long enough to know that it can escalate fast and sometimes you just have to be lucky to head it off. These guys are so competitive and they are volatile. There are reasons why they play this game and play it well and if they don’t keep it under control all the time it can lead to that."’

‘"We signed Donnie Spragan and he will be here through the weekend looking at our stuff and then he will be ready to go on Monday," said coach Dick Jauron. "We met with him during the free agency period, as a matter of fact. We were all impressed with him. We know a good deal about him, so it is a real good signing for us, probably a little bit fortunate that he was available and hopefully it will work out really well for everybody."’

‘Johnson was the passenger in a car driven by Bills running back Marshawn Lynch on May 31. Lynch struck a pedestrian and later pleaded guilty to a traffic violation, ending the matter. While the case was pending, however, an intense media spotlight was focused on the situation. “I think everybody takes lessons from situations, be it good or bad,” Bills wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said. “Hopefully, everybody took something positive from that negative situation to be able to learn from.”‘

‘”It was a dream come true,” Hardy said about being drafted by the Bills. “I am looking forward to coming in here and helping this team as much as I can. I want to get into that end zone, and help this team get some more touchdowns.”‘

‘Next up: Thurman Thomas, the former Buffalo Bills running back, on behalf of former teammate Andre Reed. Reed caught 951 passes in his career before retiring in 2000. That’s more than Monk, who retired as the career leader in receptions (940) in 1995. Jerry Rice now holds that record with 1,549. One knock against the Bills is that despite making four straight Super Bowls, they never won one. Reed has already missed three chances to get in, and receivers such as Rice, Cris Carter and Tim Brown are all ahead of him on the receptions chart-and could get in before him. “I hope it doesn’t take him 13 years to get in,” Thomas said.’

‘Full back Jonathan Evans left practice early with an undiscolsed injury. Rookie wide receiver James Hardy sat out practice again with a hamstring injury. Quarterback J.P. Losman joined Hardy on the sidlines along with LB Angelo Crowell and CB Will James. Losman’s thumb from earlier in the week flared up.’