Archives for August 2009

‘”I’m very excited,” said Edwards, who expects to only play about two series. “It will be a good test to see where the offense is at, where the defense is at, where special teams is at. It’s just a matter of getting back into the football feel.”‘

‘”I share this day with some great football people, and the honor comes to one who never played the game,” Wilson told a crowd of about 15,000 inside Fawcett Stadium, most of them clad in Bills jerseys. “I play tennis. Because in tennis, folks, when you go back to serve, you don’t have to worry about the rush of Bruce Smith and you go home without any bruises and in clean clothes.”‘

‘”Ted Cottrell was hired to coach me and that decision was probably one of the best decisions they could’ve made on defense,” Smith said.’

‘”My friends in the stands said, ‘Wilson, why don’t you go down and talk to the team? You’re behind 21-7 and you can’t do any worse?’ ” Wilson said. “I gave them one of the most inspiring talks. It was reminiscent of maybe Knute Rockne or Vince Lombardi. We lost the game 51-7. Shortly there after, (coach) Buster (Ramsey) said to me, ‘Hey Ralph, next time talk to the other team.’ “‘

‘And even faster than Timko picked his best Bruce moment, Smith used to hop across the line of scrimmage, seemingly knowing the opponent’s snap count before the left tackle he was belittling. On the then-Rich Stadium turf, Smith’s speed was overwhelming, and the occasional spin he’d mix in kept opposing linemen befuddled.’

‘A report continues to circulate that Terrell (T.O.) Owens, the recently acquired wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, has been checking out available waterfront residences in the Youngstown area.’

‘”I think if you look at our first preseason game last year versus this year, they are entirely different,” said Trent Edwards, Buffalo quarterback. “We have some new players in here, we are on a national stage, we are the only people playing, we have our owner and a great defensive end (Bruce Smith) going into the Hall of Fame that played for the Bills. We’re excited about and I think guys will be ready.”‘

‘”We’re representing Ralph (Wilson) and Bruce (Smith) and the entire organization. It’s a big weekend,” veteran defensive end Chris Kelsay said. “It adds a little bit of importance to the game, a little bit more so than just your ordinary first preseason game.”‘

‘”This certainly feels like a home game,” he said.’

‘”It was a lucky pick, because over the years, they have supported the team in Buffalo beyond our fondest dreams,” Wilson said.’

‘But these were football fans – many wearing Buffalo Bills blue and red among the 12,695 in attendance. What’s a little bad weather when we’re talking football?’

‘”When you are a player, you don’t really think about (the Hall of Fame) unless the media asks you about it,” said the seven-time Pro Bowler. “I concentrated on playing the game as best I could and being the player I needed to be. I was only as good as the players around me.”‘

‘”It’s as if everyone in Buffalo is being inducted today,” said ESPN’s Chris Berman, who introduced Wilson for his enshrinement. “Mr. Wilson, Bruce [Smith], I think we have a Buffalo home game.”‘

‘That’s the way it is with T.O. He always burns his bridges behind him. Yet Owens always finds a new bridge.’

‘In Detroit, during the summer of 1970, Wilson and his associates produced a gameplan to force Rozelle and his NFL owners into final submission. Al Davis was there, feisty and snotty to local sports journalists, deemed NFL supporters.’