Archives for February 2013

‘It seems pretty obvious that there isn’t anyone worth taking at No. 8 overall in the first round. Assuming one or two quarterbacks get picked late in the first round, that narrows the pool for Buffalo in the second round at No. 41 overall.’

”’I spoke with Ryan and Tarvaris and told them we will have an open competition at the quarterback position – similar to what we will do at all positions,” Marrone said, in a statement released by the team. ”I believe that our players will embrace this challenge.”’

‘Jackson has started 34-of-51 career games and has totaled 7,075 yards on 59.4 percent passing with 38 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. He spent his first five NFL seasons with Minnesota, starting 12 games in 2007, before moving on to Seattle in 2011 and starting 14 games for the Seahawks.’

‘Jackson is a seven-year veteran in the NFL, with previous stints in Minnesota and Seattle. He’ll be 30 years old when the 2013 season starts.’

‘”Just being that he’s a new coach I was pretty sure, most coaches when they first come in, aside from a few positions they have an open competition to see exactly what he’s got in all his guys,” Jackson said. “That was the thought going into it, but we talked about it. That’s a good sign.”‘

‘With Buffalo needing to free up cap space to upgrade a defense that finished 26th in the league in points surrendered (27 per game) and 22nd in yards given up (363 on average), other veterans on that side of the ball would seem at risk. That’s particularly true of ends Chris Kelsay (nearly $6 million this coming season) and Mark Anderson ($4 million).’

‘”You wonder, ‘What would it have been like if I stayed healthy?’ That’s what I don’t want to leave the game wondering. I know it would eat me up for the rest of my life. I want to be healthy for a season and then be able to leave the game with my head held high.”‘

‘With the release of McGee, a fourth-round draft choice in 2003, defensive end Chris Kelsay and kicker Rian Lindell are now the longest-tenured players on the team, though one has to wonder, given all the change in the past week, if Kelsay’s days aren’t numbered as well.’

‘Having spent 10 seasons in Buffalo, McGee was among the Bills’ longest-serving active players. Injuries, however, began catching up to McGee who finished last season on injured reserve for the third time in four years.’

‘In 122 games with Buffalo, McGee has 519 tackles, 17 interceptions and three sacks, and earned two All-Pro berths in 2004 and 2005.’

‘Plenty of pundits predicted the Bills would make the playoffs last year, but no one will have them penciled in for the postseason in 2013. They could easily be starting a rookie quarterback and the defense will be completely revamped.’

‘”Terrence has been a contributor to the Bills organization for 10 years and we thank him for his efforts on the field and off,” Nix said. “We wish him the best of luck in the future.”‘

‘Corp re-joins the Bills after a stint with the team in May as an undrafted free agent. The 6-3, 205-pound Richmond product threw for 2,682 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games in 2011. He began his collegiate career at USC (2008-09) before transferring to Richmond (2010-11).’

‘The Bills need about $5.5 million in cap space for their 2013 draft choices. They need $6.8 million for a franchise tag to retain the rights to safety Jairus Byrd. A tender offer for restricted free agent David Nelson is $1.3 million. Those costs total $13.6 million. How much space do the Bills need to do their free-agent shopping? Two top-flight starters would cost about $7 million or $8 million in cap space.’