Archives for August 10, 2009

‘Ralph Wilson and Bruce Smith being inducted into the Hall of Fame was obviously the focal point, but there was so much more to it than that. This was about Buffalo as a community celebrating a sport as part of its tradition and culture. The turnout was awesome. It’s a quick four hour trip from Buffalo to Canton, but it’s pretty obvious many would have been willing to travel a whole lot further.’

‘”It’s given me more chances, and I’m hoping the more I do, the more I show I’m prepared, they’re going to play me more. So we’ll see what happens next time,” Omon said. “It’s a gift for me, and it’s an opportunity for me, and I have to try to take advantage of it. So any chance the coaches give me, I have to show them I can go out there and play.”‘

‘The Bills’ offense ran the no-huddle attack the entire game.’

‘It’s incompatible with Jauron’s basic coaching philosophy, which is to sit back and wait for the opposition to make the first mistake. Jauron employing a no-huddle? It’s like Rush Limbaugh advocating higher taxes.’

‘”He’s raising the level of the guys around us,” quarterback Trent Edwards said. “I like the way Lee [Evans] is running now, I like the way Josh [Reed] and Roscoe [Parrish] are running well, and I think a lot of that has to do with the way Terrell plays. He brings that style that can raise every guy’s game, and I think he’s doing that so far.”‘

‘However, it’s possible the Bills may need a completed contract by 10th pick Michael Crabtree before they finalize the deal. Crabtree and the San Francisco 49ers reportedly are far apart in negotiations. Crabtree was expected to be taken much higher than 10th overall, but fell due to a stress fracture injury that came to light in February.’

‘Rookie punter A.J. Trapasso scored on a 40-yard fake punt that required a Houdini-like piece of sleight-of-hand and quarterback Kerry Collins easily guided his first-team offense through Buffalo’s first-team defense 73 yards to another score as the Titans raced to an early 14-0 lead before 22,153 fans at historic Fawcett Stadium.’

‘”For me it’s just a blessing to be in there and have accomplished a feat worthy,” said Owens, who made his Bills debut Sunday night in the Hall of Fame Game against Tennessee at Fawcett Stadium adjacent to the Hall.’

‘The Hall of Fame coach is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the sixth annual Men’s Health Day, hosted by the University of Rochester Medical Center. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rochester.’

‘Buffalo had a chance to win it late, but Ryan Mouton’s interception of Matt Baker sealed the win for the Titans.’

‘”It feels really good to get the opportunity to come back here, not just to play in the stadium, but just to run around and play against some different people. I’m definitely excited about it and having some fun right now.”‘

Titans get preseason off on the right foot (Nashville Tennessean)

Titans’ trick stuns Bills (Nashville Tennessean)

Photo gallery (Nashville Tennessean)

Titans knock off Bills in Hall of Fame Game (Nashville City Paper)

Titans’ Young happy with ’09 debut (Nashville City Paper)

Titans Game Notes (TitansOnline.com)

Titans Halftime Quotes (TitansOnline.com)

Photo gallery (TitansOnline.com)

‘”It’s a beautiful thing, not just that (interception) but everything,” Corner said. “Being on my home field, my home fans and having my family here, and just getting the chance to get out there and play.”‘

‘Denise Burton, director of sales and membership for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce was working at a souvenir booth inside Fawcett Stadium. She and others in the booth agreed that Buffalo merchandise had far outsold Tennessee items, perhaps by a 3-to-1 margin, especially Saturday, and especially Bruce Smith T-shirts and caps, and Buffalo pennants. Sunday night, game shirts also were hot sellers.’

‘With much of the second floor dedicated to radio and TV, the print media and the public relations staffs from both the Bills and Titans occupied the first floor. In past years, as much as half of the credentialed media were forced to sit outside in the stands.’