Archives for December 2011

‘It’s not surprising the Bills were shut out. After running back Fred Jackson was placed on injured reserve after a Week 11 loss to Miami, he became ineligible for the team. Jackson would have been a shoo-in for the squad if he had not gotten hurt, as he was second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,376) through 10 games.’

‘The Bills’ offensive line is really a mess at this point. They are now missing three Opening Day starters.’

‘Buffalo also signed WR David Gilreath and OL Jake Vermiglio to its practice squad.’

‘Jasper, the team’s final pick in the 2011 draft, has been on the Bills’ practice squad all season. After playing at nose tackle for all of training camp Jasper was moved back to the offensive side of the ball where he had played his final two seasons in college at Bethel.’

‘Tebow tossed four interceptions against the Bills with a career-low passer rating of 35.4 percent. Over the last two weeks – two straight losses to opponents out of the AFC East – Tebow is a combined 24-for-52 with just three touchdowns, all coming courtesy of the 236-pound QB’s leg work. He’s also been sacked seven times for 78 yards during that stretch.’

‘”I’m just trying to give them good field position and get it past the 20,” Rogers told Buffalobills.com. “The goal is to score, but the guys on our kick return team in front of me, they’re doing a good job of giving me seams. My job is to hit those seams as fast as I can.”‘

‘After intercepting Denver’s Tim Tebow four times in Saturday’s 40-14 victory over the Broncos, the Bills are tied for the league lead with Detroit for touchdowns after an interception with five. The Bills are also tied with the Lions for fourth in the NFL with 20 interceptions. Until Saturday, the Bills had just one interception in the last six games. They got all four in the second half.’

‘The long-term concern regarding the injuries to Bell and Urbik centers on their availability for next season.’

Sal: Let me ask you this? Would you rather have Tebow starting at quarterback, or Ryan Fitzpatrick? Right now, I’d take Fitz, and for me to say that given how bad he has been the second half of the year only illuminates how strongly I feel – and always have ever since Denver took him in the first round – that Tebow simply isn’t starter worthy.

‘”I think everyone still has a pretty bitter taste in our mouths from the last time we lost to the Buffalo Bills,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said yesterday during his contractually obligated weekly appearance on WEEI. “It was an incredibly difficult loss for our team. I think everyone is going to be excited to go out there and see if we can do a better job this week.”’

‘Coach Chan Gailey on Monday rules out left tackle Bell (knee/ankle), right guard/center Urbik (right knee) and reserve tight end Mike Caussin (right knee). All three were hurt in a 40-14 win over Denver on Saturday as the Bills (6-9) snapped a seven-game skid.’

‘Gailey added that all three stand a strong chance of having offseason surgery.’

‘Two players that were members of the opening day starting offensive line each had their seasons ended one game early. Both left tackle Demetrius Bell and guard Kraig Urbik suffered knee injuries that will keep them out of the Bills’ final regular season contest against the New England Patriots.’

‘When asked if all three are headed for offseason surgery Gailey said he’s pretty sure all three will go under the knife, but wasn’t 100 percent certain.’

‘”Kelsay did a heck of a job on the back side pursuing Tebow and coming around,” said Johnson. “He hit his hand and the ball popped up in the air. I was in the right place at the right time. I caught it and there was no one in front of me.”‘