Archives for January 2011

‘Going into the Bills’ locker room was like entering a tomb. Norwood was approachable, and I was standing right next to him as he softly talked about a moment that no doubt haunts him to this day.’

‘Still, the old-school Gailey isn’t one to sugarcoat. His team played a total of nine games against playoff teams and went 0-9 while being outscored 273-140.’

‘"We certainly like Fitz," Nix said. "[His performance] wasn’t more than we expected because I knew Chan would get him to play better. We counted on that and he did. I really like him. I think he’s got a lot of qualities you need. We just need to keep putting good players out there."’

‘”If you think about that, you’re wasting brain cells,” Gailey, who is coaching the North team for Saturday’s Senior Bowl, said yesterday. “To me, you got to think about how to get your team better. And all you got to do is win when you walk on the field on Sunday. All the other games don’t matter, what they’ve done before, what they did last year, what they’re going to do this year. All that matters not. Don’t worry about who somebody is supposed to be. Go be who you’re supposed to be.”‘

‘"We get to learn about these players intimately, which you don’t get the opportunity to do unless you coach them for a week," said Bills coach Chan Gailey. "It’s a great opportunity for us."’

‘"We have the most passionate fans in the National Football League, and my focus is to continue to strengthen this franchise for Buffalo and the Western New York Region," Owen said.’

‘Owen is the niece of Bills owner Ralph Wilson, and has worked with the team since 1997. The promotion announced on Monday adds the executive name to her title.’

‘”My vision for Mary since she first joined our organization in 1997 was for her to earn her way into a senior management position and this promotion is an evolution of her hard work, knowledge gained and continued experience,” Wilson added. “She plays an integral role in our organization and her promotion is based on her performance.”‘

‘”When you get to the Senior Bowl and you’re practicing with the NFL coaches and all of the scouts are standing around the field. You know it’s serious then,” said Jones. “The practice sessions for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the most important.”‘

‘In the hysteria that was the Bills locker room following the game, I remember Kelly giving former Bills legend and NBC sports analyst O.J. Simpson a big, bear hug, and the Juice responding, “Thanks, Jimbo, for finishing the job.” I also remember Ralph Wilson beaming. “I’ve been to almost every Super Bowl, and every time I’m there, I daydream,” recounted the Bills owner who had waited nearly three decades for this moment. “When the players would run out on the field, electricity would fill the stadium and I would think, ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be great if someday the Bills were able to run out of the tunnel on a Super Bowl Sunday?’ I’m a little shell-shocked by the tremendous performance the team put on today. This is probably the best performance the Bills have ever had.”‘

‘”The positive is it’s been six years since I’ve been back in the NFL,” Wannstedt told Buffalobills.com. “So there will be a little bit of a transition, there’s no doubt about that from the standpoint of getting back in the groove a little bit. I’m excited to see what our division opponents are doing. I know the philosophy that Chan (Gailey) has and the game plan that he has for this team to win. I’m excited about trying to just be a part of that number one and trying to help make that happen.”‘

‘Posluszny, whose rookie contract expires at the end of this season, is expected to become a free agent in March, provided the league and its players can agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. But if the two sides don’t agree by March 4, there is the possibility of an owners lockout. And a lockout would cloud Posluszny’s free-agent status. It is believed free agency would not begin until a lockout ends.’

‘"I’m thankful for the opportunity given to me by Mr. [Ralph] Wilson and Buddy Nix to be part of a great organization with a rich tradition," Wannstedt said in a team statement. "I’ve coached in Ralph Wilson Stadium several times. I am excited to have those great Bills fans supporting our team and making it difficult for opposing offenses each week."’

‘The rings, according to the Associated Press, were in a briefcase that was stolen from Kelly’s vehicle while it was parked at his home.’

‘Wannstedt had reportedly interviewed with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday and previously with the Carolina Panthers but chose to join Chan Gailey, who served on Wannstedt’s staff as his offensive coordinator in Miami in 2000 and 2001.’