Archives for September 2011

‘Breitbach calls Fred “hardheaded,” but in a good way. “He wouldn’t shy away from a challenge,” Breitbach said. “He didn’t feel like he was done (with football after Coe). That hardheadedness applies to his running style, too. He doesn’t get tackled easily. He carries people with him.”‘

‘Bills faithful may recall that in the 1990 season, leading to the team’s first Super Bowl appearance, in consecutive weeks Buffalo came back from big fourth-quarter deficits, against Denver and Oakland. Now history appears to be repeating itself. Of course if Buffalo makes the Super Bowl, the city will want history to stop repeating itself.’

‘”We know what it feels like to be on the losing end,” Bills center Eric Wood told reporters. “We were kind of the loveable losers last year. Everyone rooted for us because we tried so hard but that’s not what it’s about in this business and that’s not what keeps you around.”‘

‘Wheatley was promoted on Tuesday to add depth to an injury-depleted defensive backfield. Veteran starter Terrence McGee is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, while rookie Aaron Williams is out indefinitely after hurting his collarbone in a 34-31 win over New England last weekend.’

‘Cornerback Aaron Williams was carted off on a stretcher with a chest injury in Sunday’s 34-31 win over the Patriots. He is expected to be out for a month.’

‘The playoffs, a division title? I don’t know. Beating New England for the first time since 2003 opens the door to dream a dream. No fluke this time. No Lawyer Milloy signing to temporarily mess with the Pats. No gadgets, tricks or conservative games of keep away either. The Bills showed up for a shootout with one of the best and shot their way to a win, not ducking it for a second. It’s just so satisfying.’

‘C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson, Chris Kelsay, Leodis McKelvin, George Wilson and Steve Johnson drew a big crowd Tuesday night at the Boulevard Mall, where they collected donations for Kids Escaping Drugs for limited edition posters with their signatures.’

‘Hundred came out to the Boulevard Mall on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst Tuesday, some six hours early, for a chance to meet and get autographs from some Bills starters.’

‘”That’s definitely something we bond over, and I think it makes us appreciate the opportunity we’ve been given even a little bit more, because we’re all so unheralded and had to work so hard to get where we are,” Fitzpatrick told me. “All of that fits with this city, that blue-collar mentality. I enjoy playing with those guys so much. There’s zero ego. That makes my job a lot easier. The guys that I work with, they’re all in to win, they’re not about individual statistics.”‘

‘Wheatley (5’9″ 185), a former second-round pick of the New England Patriots (2008), appeared in 11 games for the Patriots his first two NFL seasons in a reserve capacity, but staying healthy proved to be an issue early in his career. In his first career start for the Patriots in 2008 he suffered a wrist injury that landed him on injured reserve.’

‘The key word there is respect. That is what the Bills have lacked from opponents and the national media. Before this 3-0 start, the Bills were in serious danger of falling further into NFL irrelevancy. They are back on the radar – for now.’

‘Suddenly, the Bills’ immediate future doesn’t appear as bleak as when the schedule was released last April.’

‘"It gives you a piece of home," Jauch said. "A lot of us left for economic reasons, for jobs or whatever. It unites us. It brings back all of the memories from growing up. The Bills and the Sabres are my link to home."’

‘"We mixed it up a little bit, hardly any blitzes at all," Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. "They’re really savvy in what they do protection-wise. The center will back up and turn and try to clear out the middle. While you’re engaged in a rush he’ll try to pick you off so Tom can step up. That was one thing we talked about during the week, condensing the pocket, getting push up in his face, so he couldn’t really step up and move around the way he likes to. We were able to do that in spots. On a couple of the picks we were able to get there in his face."’

‘"This is different," Rex said. "Even you wrote it. There’s a feeling about these guys. A bunch of no-names who were drafted late or not at all. They have a blue-collar charm. They reflect Buffalo. I feel like they’re out there playing for me."’