Archives for November 2010

‘Bears 16, Bills 13.’

‘While the Bills, who receive a reported $9.75 million per game in Toronto, would like to see capacity crowds at each game, their main objective behind the initiative is to help keep the franchise strong and viable in western New York. In that regard it appears to be working as 12 percent of Bills season ticket holders are from the Toronto and Southern Ontario area, up from 10 percent in 2007.’

‘”What I knew about him when he played, he obviously was one of the best in the league at his position,” said Gailey. “If he comes in here and is healthy, and I think he’s supposed to be, and he decides the play the way he’s capable of playing he can really help our football team. He can help make a difference for us. He’s one of the best players in the league when he plays.”‘

‘Coach Chan Gailey provided the update after Merriman was absent from practice Thursday, a day after the once-feared San Diego Chargers pass-rusher was claimed off waivers. Gailey says if the player passes all his necessary physicals and looks good in practice next week, there’s a possibility he could play against Detroit on Nov. 14.’

‘”I want him to have the best game of his career, in a loss,” Gill said. “He understands the rules of engagement; we both are in it to win. He’s played well in games and I’d like that to continue in a loss. So it’s not hard at all.”‘

‘”You would think that would instantly help our pass rush,” said linebacker Chris Kelsay upon learning the news Wednesday afternoon following practice, which he said had been in the works for a couple weeks.’

‘The Bills don’t appear to have much to lose, besides some money, in claiming Merriman. They must pay him the remainder of his salary over the final nine weeks of the season, which amounts to $1.7 million. The cost factor makes the addition somewhat of a surprise, even though the Bills have plenty of money to spend. They’re in the neighborhood of $25 million under last year’s salary cap in terms of cash spent this year, according to News figures. (There is no salary cap this season.)’

‘But above all, this deal accentuates how badly the Bills have botched the outside linebacker position, and how utterly bereft they are of players who can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.’

‘Green injured his knee in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ loss to Jacksonville on Oct. 10 and has missed the past two games. Green had battled some nagging injuries before that game, as well. That means undrafted rookie Cordaro Howard will have the chance to start the rest of the season at right tackle — or as long as he can hold the job.’

‘”He’s a highly intelligent football player,” Chan Gailey, in his first season as the Buffalo head coach, said of his quarterback. “He’s got just enough gunslinger in him to go out there and try to throw the ball in some spots that some other people might not throw it in. And it’s paid off more than it’s hurt.”‘

‘”He would come to me and say, ‘How many were the most in your career, dad? What, seven? Well I had nine.’ And we had a great time talking about it,” said Gill, a former two-time Pro Bowl pick with the Chargers who had a franchise-record 42 career interceptions. “I expected Jairus to play well, but I don’t think you can ever anticipate someone coming in and leading the league in interceptions his first year.”’

Byrds on collision course (Chicago Tribune)

It’s time for Bears to make run (Chicago Tribune)

Bears quarterback needs sense of urgency (Chicago Tribune)

Taking a pass on Moss (Chicago Tribune)

Bears have to say ‘bye’ to erratic ‘O’ (Chicago Sun Times)

Martz thrilled to have veteran Garza back on O-line (Chicago Sun Times)

For Bears’ Idonije, mother did know best (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Vikings waiving Moss stunned Cutler (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Bears’ Tice has interesting theory on ‘winning football’ (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Bears pass on Moss (Northwest Herald)

Garza’s return bolsters O-line (Northwest Herald)

Idonije thriving in starting role (ESPN)

Idonije returns to humbled beginnings this week (CSN Chicago)

Bears COULD lose to Bills, and then what? (CSN Chicago)

Offensive changes at the top? (CSN Chicago)

Cutler says Bears didn’t ask him about Moss (AP)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Angelo explains why Bears didn’t put claim in for Moss (ChicagoBears.com)

‘”You have a hard time dealing with this, you do,” Gailey said. “If you say it’s easy, you’re lying. At the same time, it reveals character. I think we have a lot of guys with character and I think they will continue to work and fight. I know our staff will.”‘

‘”We’re not in the position of evaluating coaches in the season,” Gailey said. “That doesn’t make any sense to me.”‘

‘The Bills continue to struggle covering opposing tight ends. Last week, Kansas City rookie Tony Moeaki was having a quiet day until getting open for receptions of 18 and 11 yards to help set up the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal in overtime. Buffalo has assigned countless players on the tight end, from linebackers to safeties, but always seems to be a step too late on critical plays. “We’re just not in the right place at the right time on some of those plays,” said FS Jairus Byrd, who last year seemed to always be around the ball in making nine interceptions. “But you have to give the other guys credit. They get paid, too. They made the plays they had to make and we didn’t.”‘