Archives for May 18, 2012

‘”I’m real excited to be working with the talent we have,” Catavolos told Buffalobills.com. “They’re good athletes and good people. They’ve just got to get a lot of work in camp and a lot of work in the preseason. They’ll be fine once the season starts.”‘

‘”It’s good to put it behind us. [It] lets him start working on learning the defense and getting himself acclimated to being in Buffalo,” Gilmore’s agent, Jason Chayut, said. “We have a longstanding relationship with the Bills, our agency [New York City-based Sportstars Inc.] does. We were at it together and got it done.”‘

‘”My agent felt like this was the best opportunity,” he said. “Moorman’s a great punter. He’s been here 12 years, and just being able to learn from him will be great for me.”‘

‘I hope I’m wrong and the light goes on for Young in Buffalo and he uses his time wisely. I applaud the signing of Young as a backup for the Bills under Gailey. But I don’t think he’ll ever be an NFL starter again. I’m not convinced he ever will be in a legit quarterback competition. Sadly, he’s the last one to know.’

‘Gilmore becomes the seventh of Buffalo’s nine draft picks to sign with the team. The only players left unsigned are Buffalo’s second- and third-round picks, offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and receiver T.J. Graham.’

‘Gilmore was selected with the 10th overall choice of April’s draft after a standout career at South Carolina. He left school after his junior season, during which he recorded a team-high four interceptions.’

‘”I’m pretty much used to it,” Young said of accepting the role of backup. “All you can do is come in and work. This league is crazy injury wise, all kinds of things. I’m not wishing that on him (Fitzpatrick). He’s our starting quarterback and I’m behind him 100 percent. The biggest thing is and not just at my position but any position on a football field, you have to be always ready because you never know what’s going to happen.”‘

‘The NFL’s new rookie wage scale, part of last summer’s collective bargaining agreement, is making the signing of draft picks seem effortless compared to the past. As of May 17, the Bills had seven of their nine picks done, including No. 1 pick Stephon Gilmore.’

‘Progress is being made toward a renewal of the Bills agreement with Rogers Communications to play games in Toronto. The NFL’s International Committee is expected to take up the topic as part of its May agenda. The five-year deal expires in 2012. “Discussions are ongoing with the Buffalo Bills about extending the Bills Toronto Series deal,” Rogers Media president Keith Pelley said in a statement. “While I am cautiously optimistic, we have nothing to announce at this time.” The new deal is expected to be less than the $78 million the Bills reaped originally. Games have been difficult to sell out in Toronto, in part because of the poor on-field product.’

‘The total money in the contract is guaranteed over the four-year span. The Bills also have the option for a fifth year of the contract, like any first round pick signed in the past two off-seasons.’

‘”It’s great,” Sanders said. “Just after the first day of practice me and Nigel were kinda laughing because it’s a pro practice and at the same time still talking to people back at Florida State. Just trying to keep that tradition so it’s good, it’s cool.”‘

‘”It feels good to get it over with and I’m just ready to get back to work now,” Gilmore told Buffalobills.com.’