Archives for May 2, 2009

‘”I also expect that of myself. I don’t want to come in and sit on the bench,” he said. “I’ve come here to compete and work hard and try to get a starting role.”‘

‘Draft picks Eric Wood and Andy Levitre continued to line up at right and left guard respectively. Wood again got a few reps at center during team work. During individual drills, Levitre was also given a few snaps in the pivot.’

‘”I didn’t get to play as much as I wanted to [in college], but I just kept going and just kept hoping somebody would see something in me. I knew I was athletic enough to be here. I can run. I’m strong enough, and I have the size.”‘

‘”Versatility is a big thing, and I think I can really help this team out and hopefully we’ll make it to the Super Bowl this year,” he said. “I’m not coming in here to be a backup.”‘

‘”We really like this player, like his demeanor, like his toughness, like his intelligence,” said Bills coach Dick Jauron of the second of Buffalo’s two first-round picks, No. 28 overall, which came via the Jason Peters trade.’

‘”I would say that the number one thing for any skilled pass rusher in the National Football League is you have to have a counter,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said. “You can’t depend on one thing to beat the tackles here because they’ll adjust if that’s all you have. So, what he has is he has that good first step, the quickness off the edge, and the speed off the edge. And those are things you can’t teach, so he’s gifted that way.”‘

‘"For a guy like me, I think that the opportunity to come in and have this great organization put their faith in us that we can come in and be a few pieces of the puzzle that can help win games, that’s an extreme honor. I’m just excited to get out there and start working."’

‘OL Demetrius Bell didn’t quite have the strength to compete at the NFL level as a rookie. But the 2008 seventh-round pick from Northwestern State has been turning heads in the weight room for the last year and he has suddenly become a viable candidate to eventually start at left tackle for the Bills. That’s because Bell, 6-5, 303, not only has size but he has footwork far exceeding the average NFL big man, team sources say. It makes sense. Bell’s father is former NBA great Karl Malone, who was never part of his life, but did pass on his athletic genes. Bell may still be a year away, but he’s someone to watch.’

‘"I think the Bills got the steal of the draft," Arrington said. "Obviously I do have a lot of history with him. But I think he’s a phenomenal individual first, who will bring a lot of value to the community as a person. And his talent level is pretty phenomenal. He’s explosive. He’s very deceptively strong as well. He’s built for what the Bills have brought him here to do."’