Archives for September 6, 2008

‘After years of mismanagement, some bad luck and too many cost-conscious decisions, the Bills might finally be taken seriously this season. Buffalo has spent the past two years building around a young core and, with a few key veteran additions this offseason, has the potential to compete for a playoff berth to end an eight-season drought — the longest in franchise history and second-longest active streak in the NFL.’

‘He had offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and is required to pass a team physical. He has three years left on his contract but began his holdout this spring in an attempt to force the Bills into restructuring his deal.’

‘Peters declined comment on the holdout, but he did take a physical on Saturday. He will not play in Buffalo’s season opener against the Seahawks on Sunday.’

‘Peters has taken his team physical, but the results are unknown at this time.’

‘”We’re excited,” said Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay. “Obviously, it has been a difficult time for the organization and for Jason. But he’s coming back, and we’re excited to have a player of his caliber back with us. Hopefully it won’t be too long before he’s on the field.”‘

‘When Crowell becomes healthy, presuming that happens at some point in the regular season, the Bills can release him, and they would not have to pay him the remaining weeks of the season.’

‘A journalist or broadcaster covering the team might envy Brown’s access, but there is a trade-off. Brown draws a paycheck from the Bills, so he can’t exactly be an independent voice in the way he writes about the team.’

‘…An undercover operation targeting underage drinking among tailgaters…’

‘”At a certain age you start thinking about watching the game on TV, but the tailgating is what it’s all about for me,” said Bewley. “People are amazed at the big party we throw in the parking lot. I hate to say the game is secondary, but if they didn’t have tailgating at this point, I might not be up for the game.”‘

‘So after 43 days and nearly half a million dollars in fines later, the disgruntled Pro Bowl left tackle will be back with the Bills, playing under the terms of the five-year contract he signed in 2006 that will pay him $3.25 million this season, with the understanding that the Bills will open dialogue, which could lead to a restructured and far more lucrative deal in the near future.’

‘”Most of us know Van as the voice of the Buffalo Bills,” Stephanie Pulvino, special events planner with Lake Shore Savings Bank, said later, “but he will always be a Dunkirk Marauder to me.”‘

‘The Bills are facing a number of questions on the field, which only provide fans a respite from the graver uncertainties lurking in the boardroom.’

‘More than 200 fans were arrested at Bills games last year, and about 1,000 more were either turned away at the gate or ejected from the stadium.’

‘Jason Peters is a unique talent and the top member of Buffalo’s offensive line. That’s not exactly news. But he made the mistake of overestimating his worth to the club, believing that because he outplayed his contract a year ago he deserved to have the last three years of it torn up.’

Seahawks open season as a sort of ‘saving grace’ (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Alexander healthy, eager to show he’s not finished (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Seahawks to start rookie at defensive end (Seattle Times)

2 Seahawks’ suspensions open door for defensive backups (Seattle Times)

Seahawks O-line confident despite lack of practice time (Everett Herald)

Seahawks notebook (Everett Herald)

Branch out for Seattle; Locklear unlikely to play (AP)

Week 1: Seahawks at Bills (Seahawks.com)