Archives for November 5, 2010

‘"I’m having a lot of fun with this season. It’s not as heartbreaking," Andrew Koszuta, a 32-year-old transplant from Tonawanda who lives in Albany, said of getting together with others. "I think it’s therapeutic, definitely. It’s more people to joke with. You share your misery."’

‘Buffalo’s attack had a hiccup last week in their low scoring affair last week against the Chiefs, but prior to that they had been averaging 26 points a game with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center and still rank sixth in the league in red zone touchdown percentage (61.5%). Their success in scoring TDs in the red zone almost matches Chicago’s failure in keeping opponents out. Opposing offenses score touchdowns 60 percent of the time when they cross the Bears 20-yard line, which ranks 24th in the league.’

‘”The first year he got there I was the guy on punt returns and they were trying to fit him in because he was such an athlete,” said Parrish. “They didn’t know whether to put him at receiver or DB. During my junior year we rotated because he had a big role at defensive back and I had a big role at receiver. Coach would make the call based on how our reps went during the game. Sometimes we’d do it amongst ourselves and we’d switch off every other one.”‘

‘I don’t know Shawne, but from what I’ve been told about him he always wants to be the best. This is a great opportunity for him to come in and try to help get things turned around. The key is getting him to see the big picture and to realize it might take a year before things really start to look on the up and up. Hopefully he’s thinking that way.’

‘Despite difficulties selling Toronto fans on the Buffalo Bills, a senior Rogers Communications executive tells The Associated Press his company is committed to extending the team’s five-year series in the city beyond 2012.’

‘Davis missed his third consecutive practice on Friday, and coach Chan Gailey said the injury could become something that may keep the veteran linebacker out for significant time. Davis is fifth on the team with 42 tackles.’

‘”The cold of Buffalo,” says Mathison, “can kill a man.”‘

‘The Bills are not expecting Merriman to come in and instantly make what has been a horrible defense suddenly great. Merriman is basically on a half-season tryout with the Bills.’

‘The fact that Moss carries around more baggage than a cruise ship was a huge factor in Buffalo – as well as every other team not based in Nashville, Tenn. – taking a pass on the future Hall of Famer. However, another reason was Buffalo’s emerging wide receiving corps that includes Lee Evans, Steve Johnson, Roscoe Parrish and David Nelson.’

‘"You go through some ups and downs, and as a quarterback, it’s tough at the time," Cutler said this week during a conference call with the local media. "Once you get through it and look back on it, it kind of helps shape you as a quarterback. That’s kind of how the NFL game is and how the NFL season is. There’s going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be some bumps. You just have to keep grinding and keep trying to work things out."’

‘The Bills’ golden era looks better and better in the rearview mirror, of course. With free agency, is anyone ever going four years in a row again? Doubt it. "We had such a family thing going," he said. "We were really close, did a lot of things together. There was so much trust. The core always stayed together."’

‘”Any time you can pick up a quality player, doesn’t matter which position it is, it helps your football team. We’re fortunate that this guy has a lot of tools. It’s not just a few things.”‘

‘On my ballot, I put players in five groups of 20. I included Kelly and Thomas in the fifth group, 80 to 100. I think they’re both borderline top-100 guys.’

‘”You’ve got to press on every day and work just as hard as if you were 7-0.”‘

‘”They’re not what their record is,” said Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris. “They’re a good team. They’re a dangerous team. They’re not terrible at all. They look good on film. They lose close games in overtime against good teams. You just can’t let them get a victory.”‘