Archives for October 2011

‘Though the Bills (4-2) are entering their bye week, coach Chan Gailey already has ruled out Williams from playing against the Washington Redskins on Oct. 30. Gailey says Williams could miss a second game before having his injury re-evaluated.’

‘”Kent was a terrific player for us, who was often overshadowed by some of the bigger names we had in our Super Bowl teams,” Bills owner Ralph Wilson said in a statement released by the team. “But Kent was one of the key components of our team and of our high-powered offenses in the 1990s.”‘

‘Coroner Will Gnemi in Leflore County, Miss., released his finding Wednesday, a day after Hull died in his hometown of Greenwood, Miss.’

‘The biggest name on that list is the former Pro Bowl player Kyle Williams, and he will be missing even more time. Head Coach Chan Gailey told reporters Wednesday that Williams would be out a game or two. He already missed the Giants’ game due to a foot injury. Gailey said that Williams did not have any surgical procedures done on his foot. Williams was not available for comment for either times of availability.’

‘There are plenty of athletes that I covered over the years who I was not a big fan of, despite their great on field or on ice accomplishments but I can truly say I was privileged to cover the career of Kent Hull. There’s a rule in our business that you don’t cheer in the press box and you aren’t supposed to applaud at press conferences. When Kent Hull finished his retirement press conference, we all gave him a well deserved and heartfelt round of applause. He was so special that we broke one of the media credos.’

‘Kelly told me several times over the years that Hull was his “rock”. After a tough hit in a game, when Jim might stumble back to the huddle a little woozy, it would be Hull who would tell the team, including Jim, what play to run. Hull knew virtually all the line positions and also knew what to run or not run with the complex K-Gun no huddle attack. The team, especially Kelly, totally respected Hull as it’s leader, and Hull always wore the responsibility with pride and humility.’

‘Kelsay stated on Wednesday that he expects to be full go in practice Monday and play against Washington in Week 8. Merriman also intends to be ready for the Washington game following an Achilles flare up in practice last week.’

‘The Bills’ best asset is their chemistry and resiliency. Rallying from a couple of huge deficits and beating some very talented teams is a good sign that the playoff drought could be ending soon. However, the Bills still are not as talented across the board as the elite teams in this league and that will catch up to them eventually. There is still lots of room for big improvement from this roster. Merriman, Dareus, Spiller, McKelvin, and Williams are just some of the players the Bills need bigger production from in order to be a real threat in the AFC.’

‘"He has a lot of friends, made a lot of friends, and has made a good impression with his personality and demeanor over all these years," Harris said. "I know he was very well thought of, and I certainly did."’

‘"We called him big ‘un, and he was always there to take care of you when and if you needed it," said John Bond, Hull’s MSU teammate from 1980-82. "He was my brother and somebody I could always count on for the 30 years I’ve known him."’

‘In the team’s 52-year existence, only once – Dec. 30, 1996 – has the media ever feted a retiring player with a luncheon.’

‘“But let me tell you, at the end of that training camp, I loved football. I found a family and it wasn’t the team – it was the city. It was so much like where I’m from in Mississippi, other than the snow. People go out of their way to help you. They’re friendly, you feel that you can trust them, and I think that sense of security I felt from the city made me enjoy football for the first time.”’

‘”It’s a problem we’ve got,” said Gailey of the Bills pass rush. “We do have a problem. There’s no bones about it. We tried to come after (Manning) with five on a lot of third downs especially in the first half and we still didn’t get there. So we’re going to have to figure something out to generate some kind of pass rush.”‘

‘Mississippi State University officials say former Buffalo Bills center Kent Hull has died. He was 51. Hull played at Mississippi State from 1979 until 1982. He spent three years with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. After that league’s demise, Hull joined the Buffalo Bills and played from 1986 to 1997.’