Archives for September 4, 2009

‘The Buffalo defense opened the game with the entire second unit: ends Aaron Maybin and Chris Ellis, tackles John McCargo and Corey Mace; linebackers Marcius Buggs (middle) and Nic Harris and Ashlee Palmer outside; cornerbacks Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty and safeties Ko Simpson (free) and George Wilson (strong).’

‘Simpson played all 16 games last season and had 64 tackles. He missed most of 2007 with a leg injury he suffered in the season opener. Detroit is thin at his position after placing Daniel Bullocks(notes) on injured reserve and had just four safeties available Thursday night.’

‘The Detroit Lions announced today that they have acquired S Ko Simpson from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for an undisclosed 2010 draft choice. The trade is pending Simpson passing a physical.’

‘Schonert, a former backup quarterback who played mainly for Cincinnati, was Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach in 2006 and 2007 before being elevated to the offensive coordinator’s position. He was also the team’s QB coach from 1998-2000 and has also been the quarterbacks coach for Tampa Bay, Carolina, the Giants and New Orleans.’

‘”It didn’t seem like we were progressing,” Jauron said, adding he consulted with team owner Ralph Wilson earlier in the day. Jauron said Wilson told him it was up to him. “It was a decision I needed to make and I did it.”‘

‘"We’ve removed Turk Schonert and relieved him of his responsibilities as offensive coordinator," said Jauron. "We’ll move forward as quickly and as well as we possibly can from here. It’s nothing that we had planned on and was nothing enjoyable in any way shape or form. But that’s what occurred."’

‘”For us, the lights turn on this week,” Hamdan said. “We’re going to have all the big guns out there and we’ll be prepared.”‘

‘Schonert oversaw an offense that sputtered throughout the preseason and couldn’t score a touchdown in the last two exhibitions. The first-team didn’t score a touchdown at all, failing to reach the end zone on 16 possessions (nine punts, three interceptions, two fumbles, one field goal and halftime). The Bills’ first unit ran 78 plays for 269 net yards.’

‘Jauron will address the media in a news conference Friday at 1:30 ET.’

‘Florio reports that Quarterbacks Coach Alex Van Pelt will take over for Shonert.’

‘”It’s the preseason, you might want to win some games but I’d much rather have the wins in the regular season,” said Bills safety George Wilson. “For the guys who have starting jobs, they’re just trying to fine-tune themselves so they can start peaking at the right times.”‘

‘”I’m a lot smarter now,” he said. “Last season, I was much more frantic in my mind. There was always so much going through my head last season. There are a lot of things that I need to be aware of at once, and it makes it difficult to focus sometimes. It’s hard to sort through."’

‘Nobody should be thinking the Bills are a Super Bowl team, but usually you can find faint hope among fans about them making the playoffs. But this season, more than any in recent memory, is accompanied by a persistent sense of dread.’

‘”This has been a long, slow process,” Hardy said this week. “I really wish I could be on the field with the rest of the guys. It’s tough standing around and watching them play. Not being able to play makes you appreciate the game a lot more.”‘

‘The Bills’ second-string defense had a strong first half against the Lions’ starting offense, holding it scoreless.’