Archives for August 2009

‘"There’s a lot of talent on the line," McKinney said. "Everybody hears about the new positions and all that stuff, but that goes away about the first day of camp. It should be a good unit. We’ve got a few young guys and older guys, and it should be good."’

‘”I did complete no-huddle throughout college,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s what we did. It’s a style of play that I really like.”‘

‘Starting this season, the National Football League is allowing teams to sell space on practice jerseys. The Bills are one of several teams taking advantage of this new policy. Terms of the team’s deal wiht Sanyo have not been disclosed.’

‘Defensive end Ryan Denney limped off the outdoor practice field at Ralph Wilson Stadium with about 20 minutes left during the 90-minute workout. Coach Dick Jauron, though, did not sound worried. "He got kicked in the shin, so hopefully he should be fine," Jauron said. "But that hurts, no doubt about that. We’re hoping that he’s OK."’

‘”I would say certainly more than a quarter depending on how the game goes,” said Jauron. “You just can’t predict how a football game will go, but certainly through the first quarter and maybe a little bit beyond.”‘

‘”I’m out here to compete and to try to be the man,” Rhodes said. “If not, then just to make sure every time I get in the game I just make plays. That’s what I’m here to do and that’s why they brought me here.”‘

‘”I feel like the front five have done a good job for us all camp long,” Edwards said. “We’ve all become a lot closer. I know Eric and Andy have done a great job for us, and they are obviously going to need to play for us this season."’

‘But throughout the offseason McKinney’s reps at center were few and far between as the coaching staff had him in a competition with first-round pick Eric Wood for the starting right guard spot. But with Wood looking more than capable between Hangartner and right tackle Brad Butler, the staff has just recently put McKinney in the pivot with the third unit to get him re-acclimated to center.’

‘”To surpass 55,194 season tickets two seasons in a row is an outstanding accomplishment and it’s a testament to both the team and the community,” said Russ Brandon, Bills chief operating officer and general manager.’

‘Let’s face it: You expect Lee Evans to look good in training camp. Marcus Stroud is going to look like the most talented big body on the defensive line. But who looked like they might step up among Bills starters? Linebacker Paul Posluszny had some interceptions, was fast in pursuit sideline to sideline and looked very good against Tennessee.’

‘"Well, I coach the guys that are here," coach Dick Jauron said Wednesday after the Bills broke camp at St. John Fisher College. "I can’t do anything about him not being here. We’d love to have him."’

‘"In today’s economy, I think it emphasizes the passion our fans have for the Buffalo Bills and it continues to reinforce how important our regionalization efforts are to the growth of this franchise."’

‘Since 2000, four head coaches and four general managers have sung the praises of conducting camp in Rochester, the team’s second-largest fan base, claiming that practicing in front of large crowds gets them ready to play games in front of large crowds. It raises the intensity level. They get more done. The many distractions don’t matter. But ever since moving from the football-only, old school confines of Fredonia State College to the Marketing Mecca of Fisher, the Bills are 0-for-9 in making the playoffs. The Bills’ overall record in that time is 60-84, including 13-17 in Septembers when their summertime preparation is most on display.’

‘The move indicates that Garrison Sanborn, an undrafted free agent out of Florida State, has won the job, since he’s the only other long snapper on the Bills roster.’

‘Neill was in a heated battle with rookie long snapper Garrison Sanborn, who impressed enough during a three-day tryout at Buffalo’s rookie minicamp to be offered a contract. By the close of training camp Wednesday, Sanborn performed so well that he convinced the coaching staff that Neill was expendable.’