Archives for May 2012

‘”Our fans have been with me through thick and thin,” Jackson said. “That’s what I want to do. I want to be there for them. They’ve always supported me and I want to continue to be there for them and play well.”‘

‘”I think we’re doing some tremendous things here,” Jackson said after he signed a new contract that ties him to the team through 2014. “I think we can get a lot accomplished in three years. They’re doing a great job in the front office getting us the pieces that we feel like we needed. To kind of take that next step, I’m excited to be a part of it. I’m excited to sign the extension to stay here because I feel like something special is about to go down and I want to be a part of it.”‘

‘Jackson, who has led the Bills in rushing in three straight seasons, was scheduled to make a base salary of $1.955 million in entering the final year of his contract. He had expressed his dissatisfaction on several occasions last year of feeling underpaid.’

‘Terms were not disclosed, but the Buffalo News reported it to be a two-year deal that will keep him with the club through 2014. He was entering the final season of a four-year deal he signed in May of 2009.’

‘Jackson will make a total base salary of $8.7 million split up over two seasons — 2013 and 2014. However, there are numerous attainable performance-based incentives to the deal that could bring up the total of the extension to $11 million. Those incentives are for the 2013 and 2014 seasons of the contract.’

‘Jackson led the Bills in rushing for the third straight year in 2011, posting 934 yards on 170 carries with six touchdowns in 10 games. He finished the season first in the AFC (second in the NFL) with a 5.5 rushing average.’

‘When reached over the weekend for an answer to the question, "Has there been any progress between you and the Bills," Jackson’s agent Ron Raccuia responded quickly and succinctly: "Check back with me in a couple of days."’

‘The move paves the way for Gilmore to win a starting job and for the Bills to get faster across the board at the position.’

‘More likely, it was merely to let go a player who wasn’t measuring up on the field. According to Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus, NFL passers had a 103.3 quarterback rating against Florence last year — not good.’

‘Browne did not know details about how the tryout process will work, but he said he will spend some time at home in Lisbon for a few days before flying to Buffalo to begin his professional football career. Browne had been training in Arizona in an attempt to get ready for the NFL.’

‘Florence took the news in stride in a message posted on his Twitter account. He wrote ”Business is business,” adding that he’s moving on and thanked his fans for their support.’

‘Tanney created a big buzz last year in the self-titled ”Trick Shot Quarterback” video by showing he can hit a receiver in a moving vehicle and throw footballs from across the court and swish them into basketball nets. He even banged a pass off the crossbar of an upright from 50 yards out – from his knees.’

‘”We have some good, young talent at the cornerback position that has tremendous upside,” he said. “They need to take as many of the reps at practice as they can to continue to develop that talent.”‘

‘With first round pick Stephon Gilmore, Aaron Williams, a restructured Terrance McGee, Justin Rogers, fourth round pick Ron Brooks and Leodis McKelvin on the roster, the Bills had a choice to make at the position. Ultimately, they elected to cut Florence.’

‘The next big day for the Bills will be on May 11, which marks the start of rookie mini-camp. All of the Bills’ drafted rookies, undrafted free agent signings and players brought in on a tryout will be on hand for the three-day event.’