Archives for November 2010

‘”My main thing is just to get it healthy. It’s been there for a year. I haven’t had many other problems other than that. It’s been there constantly — on and off — for a year now, and I never really had a chance to take care of it. I’ve been pretty healthy the last couple of years — other than that. It’s unfortunate, but I have to get it taken care of.”‘

‘”We were sitting there watching film and we were looking at it as, this is a team that’s not acting like they’re 2-8,” cornerback William Gay said.’

Bills’ receiver Johnson poses threat (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Foster prepares differently (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Steelers’ Pouncey putting it all on line (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Mendenhall being slowed by opposing teams’ defenses (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

‘"Because the 30% rule, the uncapped year, the uncertainty of 2011," Posluszny stated. "They said ‘We’re going to put everything on hold, you know, wait until a new CBA is in place and then we’ll go from there.’"’

‘”The juices are always going to be flowing no matter who you’re playing,” said Urbik. “I spent two camps with those guys. I went against their defensive linemen every day for two years, so I know their moves and what to expect from them watching film.”‘

‘Spiller practiced for the second straight day on Friday after missing one game while nursing a hamstring injury sustained against Detroit in Week 10. Wood didn’t practice all week because of an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s win over Cincinnati.’

‘Buffalo has struggled protecting the football the past few weeks and cannot afford to lose the turnover battle to a team the caliber of Pittsburgh. The Steelers rank first in the AFC in takeaways with 24.’

‘That’s one of the things to really build on. They understand that they’re only a few players away from being a great team. People are stepping up and they’re making plays when they have to, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is surprising a lot of people. I like seeing it. You just hope his play will continue so that top draft pick wherever it may be might be a more open selection that can be used on a position other than quarterback that’s of great need for this team.’

‘"I figured I’d sometimes come in on four-wide (receivers), things like that, but then mostly be on special teams," the 22-year-old Plainfield, N.J., native said. "I definitely didn’t envision being as involved in the offense as I am."’

‘”For years, he only hung out with certain people,” wide receiver Hines Ward told reporters recently. “Maybe that was his defense mechanism or whatever. But he’s opened himself up to everybody, playing basketball with all the rookies, hanging out with offensive and defensive players, special teams guys. Coming over, conversing. It’s good to see him making a conscious effort to better himself.”‘

‘”He’s been a breath of fresh air for us. He’s been an awesome addition to our program. He’s very knowledgeable. He has a nice way of conveying messages and capturing a group.”‘

‘No disrespect to Ryan Fitzpatrick, the current occupant of the revolving-door position, but with not all that much respect either, these fans reasoned that only a signal-calling saviour cut from the Manning mold, preferably Peyton but Eli would do; with the arm of an Aikman, the bravado of a Bradshaw, the elan of an Elway and the pluckiness of a Plunkett would be the only answer for the long term.’

‘”We had the talent, we just had to go out and get that winning feeling. And learn how to win football games,” said Posluszny, a Hopewell graduate. “It is the same situation (in Buffalo). We have started off rough, but we feel like we have all the right people in place. We have the ability to win games. We just have to play with a lot of confidence and be able to win those games.”‘

‘Q: You’re in the last year of your existing contract you signed as a rookie. Do you hope to be re-signed by the Bills and help the franchise become playoff contenders soon? A: “That sounds like a great plan to me. As long as they want me to be around, I want to be here.”‘

‘”They hadn’t been playing him the last two years, that’s why nobody had ever heard of him,” said Taylor. “But as far as what he’s showing on tape and what he’s been doing, ain’t nobody messing with him. He’s good. He’s got great ball skills, body control. He doesn’t like going down easy. He’s a competitor.”‘