Archives for October 2009

‘Looking back, Fitzpatrick said getting drafted by the Rams and playing for former head coach Mike Martz, the engineer of some of the NFL’s most prolific passing offenses, was a rare blessing. “It was awesome,” Fitzpatrick said. “Talk about a guy known for developing quarterbacks and developing the unknown, not highly regarded quarterback. That’s the guy you want to be put with. The offense thrown at me, the stuff I had to learn, it’s stayed with me and it’s helped me all along the way.”‘

‘It’s not certain when or if Hardy will be activated to the 53-man roster. The Bills have 21 days to decide to activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.’

‘Here’s a term not often ascribed celebrity wide receiver Terrell Owens: role model. Teammate James Hardy, a second-year pro, said Owens, a 14-year veteran, has been more than generous with his advice and time while he has been rehabilitating his knee after ACL surgery. “In the locker room, on the phone, go to his house, whatever I need to get myself there mentally (he’s been there for me), now I just want to get out there and show it,” Hardy said. “Before I ever met him, I looked at it as a great chance to learn from a guy like that.”‘

‘DT Kyle Williams (shoulder) , S Donte Whitner (ankle) and TE Shawn Nelson (illness) all watched the workout. CB Terrence McGee (knee) and T Johnathon Scott (ankle) were absent.’

‘Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was absent from the practice field on Wednesday while he recuperates from a concussion.’

‘Edwards has already been sacked 19 times this season, but the Jets never got to Fitzpatrick. The Bills, with a young offensive line, rank 29th in the NFL in sacks allowed.’

‘Hardy said he still feels a little soreness in his knee, but it’s something doctors have told him to expect. He showed no lingering effects of the injury during individual drills, when he burst off the line at full speed and made a sharp cut over the middle to catch a pass.’

‘”You know, we’ll see,” Evans said. “It’s kind of hard to speculate on him right now. But we just hope Trent gets back healthy, gets himself together, and we’ll move forward with that situation.”‘

‘”I was the starter at (Wednesday’s) practice was how I was thinking about it,” said Fitzpatrick. “Whether or not (Edwards) comes back we’ll welcome him back with open arms and everybody is hoping he’ll be back, but that’s how I have to approach it.”‘

‘”I’m just so anxious to get back out there that I didn’t want to do too much before I’m actually out there,” Hardy told Buffalobills.com. “The last couple of weeks I was just trying to make sure I had my conditioning up.”‘

‘"He prepares like a pro and plays like a pro," Bills coach Dick Jauron said of Wilson. "He’s one of our team leaders and one of our team captains. He’s probably as good of a teammate as you’ll ever have, just a great guy to have on your football team."’

‘When the Denver Broncos started 3-0, I wrote that they’d be 3-3 after this week’s Monday Night Football game in San Diego. Oops. My apologies to Josh McDaniels and I hope Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson is watching what a difference the right rookie coach and a fresh program can make for a stale organization.’

‘Owens is rarely double-covered – the myth notwithstanding – and hasn’t gotten near the separation that marked his younger days. His greatest attributes now are size and strength … he’s effectively a big possession receiver.’

‘The blossoming Byrd will have to keep up the good work for a team that has been beset by injuries on defense during its 2-4 start. “He makes unbelievable plays on the ball and terrific ball skills,” said Jauron of the Oregon product, “Just a really good player.”‘

‘A shake-up is needed and since Ralph Wilson won’t fire Dick Jauron, this will have to do.’