Archives for January 2011

‘Williams will be replacing Oakland’s Richard Seymour on the AFC Pro Bowl roster, and will join Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata and New England’s Vince Wilfork at the defensive tackle position.’

‘”If you’re any kind of competitor, you’re going to go back and look at the season and you don’t want this taste in your mouth,” nose tackle Torell Troup said. “I’ve never played in a defense like we’ve had this year, so hopefully the guys come back with the right attitude, come ready to work, and get another year under our belts.”‘

‘"(General manager) Buddy (Nix) and I will sit down and talk about every aspect of our football team and go from there. I’d be guessing today and then I’d have to take it back and I don’t like to do that. So, I’d rather just say we’re going to evaluate it and make a decision as time goes on."’

‘Coach Chan Gailey didn’t mince words about Whitner’s future, which all depends on the league and player’s union reaching a new labor agreement. Otherwise he would need another year to become a free agent. "Tenuous would be another word you could use there," Gailey said when asked about Whitner’s future with the Bills. "He’s a really good player. You’d love to have him on your football team but you’re in a business where that doesn’t happen every time. So, we’ll wait and see what happens."’

‘Buffalo tied a 1978 team record for most 200-yard games allowed rushing with eight. At least this team didn’t challenge the ’78 team’s record for total rushing yards allowed, 3,228. It allowed 2,714. Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, who led the Bills in tackles with 151 but didn’t have much to feel proud of, said it best: "It’s nothing short of horrible."’

‘After a 4-12 season that ended with a pair of drubbings at the hands of the Patriots and Jets, the Bills enter one of the most important off-seasons in franchise history. In the second year under head coach Chan Gailey and general manager Buddy Nix, the Bills need to show real progress and a willingness and ability to do what is necessary to become a playoff team.’

‘”I’ve been talking to a few doctors around here and I don’t know what the problem is,” he said. “I had prolonged (migraines) this year where they were lasting longer than they usually do. So we’ll see Dr. Wilner and see what happens.”‘

‘"Whether it’s a personal message or not, the question just needs to be asked by me personally, ‘What can I do to make sure that when the time comes, that I’m one of the guys on the field that they know that they need on the field in order to have the best chance to win football games?’" he said.’

‘”That was disappointing on all fronts,” said Posluszny. “We’re playing against a playoff team’s second string, and we still played poor. We do have a long way to go.”‘

‘Defensive coordinator George Edwards’ season mercifully came to an end, and he shepherded a defense that allowed the second-most rushing yards (2,714) in team history. Edwards has much work to do before he gets this defense comfortable in the 3-4 defense, and major talent infusion is a must. Chan Gailey was limited in what he could do with a backup QB, a patchwork offensive line, and only three healthy receivers on offense. The Bills had only six first downs, so clearly, Gailey didn’t do a very good job.’

‘Since Rex Ryan took over as Jets coach in 2009, New York has rushed for 1,117 yards in four games against the Bills. That’s an average of 279 yards per game.’

‘Buffalo Bills player Shawne Merriman will get $3.7 million from two former Duke basketball stars after a federal judge ruled in his favor in a loan dispute.’

‘”Everyone wants to get a deal done as soon as possible,” said Drayton Florence. “I did what I could this year, and played as hard as I could. Being a free agent right now is cool. I’m not sure where I’m going to be next season, but if the Bills want me back I’ll certainly be open to that.”‘

‘Yes, they lost two more games than in 2009, and these last two losses were particularly horrific against the Patriots and Jets, but I think in this case, progression by regression is a good thing. I believe Nix and Gailey will continue to weed out the stiffs on the roster like they did with Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch, and get this thing headed in the right direction.’

‘"Very committed," Gailey said. "He’s done a lot of good things. He can improve. But we’ve got to stop the turnovers. But if we can do that, I think we give ourselves a chance to be a successful offense."’