Archives for August 2010

‘"I’m basically in the biggest dogfight I’ve been in my whole career," Mitchell said a couple months ago following a mini-camp practice. "I’ve accepted that. It’s my situation that I’m in."’

‘”It always grows this time of training camp,” Gailey said of the injury list. “That’s part of it, you deal with it and go on. We obviously have to cut some reps and that’s part of camp. You let the guys work who can get work.”‘

‘"We’ve installed a lot here at the start of camp, technically and fundamentally," said Edwards, a 12-year veteran who gained experience in the 3-4 coaching linebackers in Miami the past five years. "Guys are doing a good job of executing the blitzes and stuff that we’re putting in. We’ve had some good pressure out of the four-man rush up top. We’re just out here every day trying to improve, see what different guys bring to the table and see how we can adjust to situations."’

‘Schobel never got to the playoffs. It matters. He was no team leader. Like Smith, he was no fan of practice. Coach Chan Gailey was hoping Schobel would show up and be a vocal leader this season, which shows how little he understood the quiet, irascible Texan.’

‘C.J. Spiller celebrated his 23rd birthday Thursday and had plenty of time for cake and ice cream, because he missed his eighth day of practice, still unsatisfied with the Bills’ contract offer. His holdout equaled that of Whitner, the Bills’ top pick in 2006. Spiller and Seattle’s Russell Okung are the only unsigned first-rounders.’

‘”He’s big and strong and he’s just got to get a feel for what offenses are trying to do to you,” Williams said. “So, he’ll keep getting reps and he’ll keep getting a better feel and I think he’s going to be a good player.”‘

‘A three-time first team AFL selection by the Associated Press, Byrd finished his career with 40 interceptions. That mark, as well as his career interception return yardage (666) and returns for touchdowns (5), stand as Bills franchise records to this day.’

‘The Bills? Well, about the only good news is that Buffalo should get a very nice draft choice next year. So, how about those Sabres?’

‘”Let’s see, there was Eric Moulds, then he left. And then Peerless (Price), but it was only for a year-and-a-half because he got hurt, and then Josh (Reed) and … ” Evans said, stopping in mid-sentence. “It’s a tough situation, but it’s nowhere I haven’t been before.”‘

‘He eventually had his hand wrapped extensively before being escorted to the locker room.’

‘”We have physical corners,” said Chad Jackson. “And when they get in our face, are pressing us and they’re putting their hands on us, we’re putting our hands on them also.”‘

‘Unless Maybin starts to pick it up in the run situations, he is going to wind up as a situational pass rusher. Gailey is excited about building special teams with the extra linebackers the 3-4 defense will provide.’

‘Even so, the thinking here goes that the Bills may surprise some people in Gailey’s inaugural campaign. The offensive guru – known for getting the most out of the talents at his disposal – is installing a smash mouth brand of football befitting a blue collar city and a roster where running back is one of the few positions of strength. As the Jets showed last season, you can win games with a quarterback that posts a 12-20 touchdown to interception ratio if you have a killer running game.’

‘”I’m doing fine. It’s coming along – it’s not 100 percent; it may not be for awhile – but we have to pick and choose our days and get a lot of good work in when we can."’

‘”Coach Edwards being here played a role in my decision,” Davis said after a recent practice. “When Denver let me go, (Edwards) was one of the first people to get a hold of me. Everything has worked out perfect. I have reunited with a coach who is like a father figure to me.”‘