Archives for July 2012

‘”A lot goes into getting sacks,” said defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. “I’ve been involved with college teams and pro teams that have led the nation and led the league in sacks. A lot has to do with the situation that you’re in. Are you playing from behind? Are you playing from ahead? A lot of it has to with the guys rushing the passer.’

‘"Can we be a consistent offense? Can we be that top-10 offense that we were at the beginning of last year and sustain it throughout the year? We know we have the talent and the system and the pieces and it’s just a matter of going out and being consistent," Fitzpatrick said. "I think a lot of that is on me and me being able to play consistently throughout the season."’

‘Given Buffalo’s ignominious decade-plus of persistent disappointment, you have to wonder if the excitement the Bills have generated is merely the result of a fan base that is collectively concussed after all the banging of heads against walls.’

‘He will be tested early on. A litmus-type opponent in the New York Jets in the first week will offer a nice gauge, but the brutal stretch in late September through early November that pits the Bills up against teams that went a combined 66-30 last year will be the ultimate challenge.’

‘Even with the excitement questions remain as the team hopes to return to the playoffs for the first time since the “Music City Miracle.”‘

‘Every one of these players factor largely into the Bills offensive plans heading into the 2012-13 season. They are all critical pieces to the overall puzzle, but the quarterback is looked upon to manage the entire offense. Therefore, it would be difficult for any NFL team to say that their most indispensable player on offense is anyone but their quarterback and the Bills appear to be no different.’

‘Most NFL teams that play a 4-3 defense keep nine defensive linemen on the 53-man roster. The Bills have 11 defensive linemen with noteworthy NFL credentials.’

‘”Determination – that’s what she showed me,” he said. “At the end of the day no matter what it was, you’ve got to make ends meet. When you’ve got people counting on you, you have to do whatever you need to do.”‘

‘Seven months into 2012, GM Buddy Nix and his entire front office deserve applause for cultivating what seems like a renewed sense of purpose, because for years, no team in the NFL circled the wagons of complacency like the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Still, it can’t be minimized in this era of layoffs and austere budgets that the $200 million the Bills seem likely to seek is a quarter of the economic development money the state put up in this year’s regional competition.’

‘As a result, enrollment at the college has certainly benefited from the increased exposure afforded by training camp, and our reputation has been enhanced by our association with a prestigious NFL franchise. I have often said that each child who enjoys a day at training camp is a prospective Bills fan and Fisher freshman.’

‘Ryan Fitzpatrick’s job isn’t in jeopardy — yet — despite a 13-21 record as a starter and a league-high 23 interceptions in 2011. But one of the more interesting hypotheticals in Buffalo is who would replace Fitzpatrick should the Bills choose to pull the plug on the seven-year, $62 million contract he signed a season ago. It could be Vince Young, late of the Eagles. Or it could be Tyler Thigpen, who knows coach Chan Gailey’s system. In a camp without a lot of big position battles, this could be one of the more interesting ones to watch.’

‘Lusteg, who died last Thursday at 73, led the American Football League in kick scoring during his first season with the Buffalo Bills.’

‘”I’m excited about where he is physically,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “Really physically and mentally because he came out every day in the spring with an outlook that was just outstanding. He works hard, looks quick, looks healthy so that part of it has been refreshing for us to see. It’s what I think we’re going to see, which is the old Shawne Merriman this year.”‘

‘”Probably the stiffest competition from what we’ve seen in shorts in the spring might be at number two quarterback,” said Bills GM Buddy Nix looking ahead to training camp. “I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. It’s just a matter of these guys having to play. All this will be decided in camp when things are live and in preseason games.”‘