Archives for January 2009

‘Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is headed to Hawaii for the 2009 Pro Bowl. The second-year back will be replacing Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, who had to pull out of the game due to a high ankle sprain suffered in the Titans playoff loss to Baltimore on Jan. 12.’

‘Even though Reed expectedly has superior numbers in terms of receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in the postseason, he also bests Carter in average yards per reception, speaking to Reed’s yards after the catch prowess.’

‘Meanwhile, Bills supporters have already asked the questions that Chargers supporters now pose. Is this a wise marketing move by their team, or is ownership sinisterly gauging interest in shifting home latitude a little north? Will they look to hold a regular-season game in, say, the Coliseum, and will it be as blandly stifling as the Bills’ alleged home contest at the Rogers Centre last month? And can San Diego’s citizens do anything to change anything?’

‘Sanders has worked with a 4-3 defensive front throughout his career. He worked under respected defensive coordinator Jim Bates in Miami from 2001 to 2004 (as linebackers coach) and in Green Bay in 2005 (as defensive ends coach).’

‘But leaving Buffalo was inevitable. Gandy and the team never engaged in meaningful talks on a new contract. He also wanted to play left tackle, and that wasn’t going to happen with the Bills because of the development of Jason Peters.’

‘The argument over who is the greatest defensive end can rage forever – is it Smith, is it White, or is it Deacon Jones? – but one thing is almost for certain: Saturday afternoon, Smith is going to join White, Jones, Moon, Shell and Munoz as well as his former Buffalo comrades Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, James Lofton and Marv Levy in the Canton, Ohio shrine.’

‘The numbers are undeniably great, but Kelly said Reed’s career is about much more than numbers. He brought up Reed’s longevity in the league, the toughness he displayed going over the middle to catch passes, his nearly unmatched ability to run after the catch, the seven Pro Bowls he was voted to play in and the fact that he was the go-to receiver on a team that won six AFC East division titles and four AFC championships.’

‘Simply put, he made the Bills’ defense noticeably better.’

‘Sanders, hired Wednesday, fills the role vacated by Bill Kollar, who left Buffalo earlier this month to become the Houston Texans’ defensive line coach. Sanders spent four seasons at Green Bay, including the past three as defensive coordinator.’

‘”I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to join this organization,” Sanders told Buffalobills.com. “Coach Jauron and I have a lot of mutual friends and even though we’ve never worked together I have a lot of respect for the work he does.”‘

‘”I definitely want to get something done with Buffalo,” said Greer, who will turn 27 next week. “It’s a spot that I have so much appreciation for. I appreciate the opportunity that they gave me. It’s kind of weird to be in this situation, to have a choice. But at the end of the day, I know the community. I know my teammates. They’re a spectacular group of guys, and it’s a fun place to play.”‘

‘”You’ve just got to concentrate on what’s important,” Levy said. “If you make too much of avoiding distractions, that becomes a distraction. When I was an assistant with the Redskins in 1972 our head coach George Allen kept harping and harping to the players to avoid distractions and look out for distractions and I walked through the hotel lobby one day and saw a few of our players looking bored as can be and they asked me, ‘Where can we find all these distractions?'”‘

‘Falling short of making the playoffs is always a waste, but the optimistic view is that the offense is built around three young players who are more importantly young for their respective positions.’

‘Philip spent part of the 2008 season on the New Orleans Saints practice squad and has spent time in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh’s organizations. He played collegiately at California and entered the NFL as a sixth round draft pick (201st overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006.’

‘Argos general manager Adam Rita said Sam’s departure wasn’t unexpected. "He made it clear to us he was going to pursue the NFL at the end of the year but that he would like to stay in Toronto if things didn’t work out," Rita said. "We’re optimistic we’ll be able to find someone to take his place.’