Archives for August 16, 2011

‘”Who said there can’t be more than one leader,” asked Johnson. “That’s what I’m trying to build. Obviously the attention is on me, but I feel as a leader I want to create other leaders and not followers. So in this receiving corps I’m going to try to build leaders out of them and not followers. They can watch me and I lead by example, but I want them to be leaders on their own.”‘

‘Former head coach Dick Jauron seemed one of the few who believed Maybin was more than just a one-year wonder. After 12 sacks for the Nittany Lions in 2008, Jauron and the Bills hoped he could be the pass-rushing menace the team has lacked for so long. Instead, even Jauron lost faith in Maybin quickly and relegated him to third-team duty and special teams work.’

‘Responses came from public and private schools, municipalities, community centers and youth sports organizations, said Grant Loomis, a spokesman for Erie County Executive Chris Collins. Some of them requested all 86,000 square feet of the turf; others wanted just a portion of it.’

‘Delaware North is looking for temporary food service and retail employees to work at Buffalo Bills football games this fall.’

‘”I feel like I am improving every day out here,” Jasper said after Monday’s practice. “I’m still an underdog; I’ve got a long way to go and a lot of things to learn.”‘

‘It is becoming clear that the Bills are trying to distance themselves from draft mistakes made during the Marv Levy/Dick Jauron era. Of the players drafted in the first three rounds from 2006 through 2009, only Leodis McKelvin, Eric Wood, Jairus Byrd and Andy Levitre remain on the roster. No one from the entire 2007 draft is on the roster, a draft in which the Bills’ first three picks included Marshawn Lynch, Paul Poslusnzy and Trent Edwards.’

‘”It wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t bad for us,” Gailey said. “We needed the rain, we needed to work in it because you don’t know when you’re going to get a game like that. One of the good things is the ball didn’t go on the ground out there.”‘

‘Former coach Dick Jauron fell in love with Maybin’s speed off the edge during the one year he was a starter for Penn State (2008). While rumors persisted that others in the organization wanted to stay clear of Maybin, who was the quintessential one-year wonder, Jauron got the man he wanted.’

‘”It was a surprise to me, especially (with) the end of last season when I thought I played pretty strong on the outside,” Moats, a sixth-round draft pick, told reporters last week. “Now I’m moving to the inside and I have to deal with it.”‘

‘The Bears and 30 other teams have until 3 p.m. Tuesday to consider placing a claim for Maybin. His contract for the next three years is affordable. He’s owed $757,500 this season and $3.36 million through 2013. The question is whether anyone believes he’ll produce if he’s moved to defensive end from outside linebacker, where he lacked instincts.’

‘Maybin becomes the latest in a string of disappointing first-round picks drafted by the Bills this past decade. It’s a group that includes offensive tackle Mike Williams, who was cut after only three seasons after being selected fourth overall in 2002. Other first-round picks who have failed to make an impact in Buffalo included quarterback J.P. Losman and defensive tackle John McCargo.’

‘The former Buffalo Bills coach and general manager has completed a novel titled, “Between The Lies,” due out in September, Kansas-based Ascend Books has announced. Ascend describes the story as featuring two fictional teams en route to the Super Bowl with the integrity of the game hanging in the balance.’

‘Maybin, a former first round selection, appeared in 27 NFL games — all with the Bills — and posted just 24 tackles.’

‘”I saw where somebody said he didn’t fit the scheme. I don’t know what scheme he fits at that size, unless you’re a strong safety. He says his metabolism and maybe that’s what it is. He couldn’t hold weight. He was 250 at the combine when we saw him and then he was 228 this fall. He goes up and down some but not very high.”‘

‘So now with a brand new week of preparation to ensue, trying to get ready for Denver on Saturday night, the Buffalo Bills have elected to cut Aaron Maybin. It was a smart move, it was a necessary move, and a move that will draw applause from the fans. He was not a Nix/Gailey draft pick, but the team gave him a year and change to see if he had anything that could contribute to this roster. The answer to that query is no, and the Bills cut him.’