Archives for March 14, 2013

‘”I can tell you there will be a lot of arguing between him and I, but it’s not bad arguing,” Lawson told Buffalobills.com. “There’s going to be a lot of bantering, of who is going to get to some place or who is going to do something first, so it’s going to be a lot of competition just for the defense in general.”‘

‘The team agreed in writing to both of these protections months ago. The reason for the proposed legislation is thus a complete mystery to us.’

‘”This team really wanted me here,” said Lawson, who arrived in Buffalo on Tuesday night, the opening of free agency, “and that was just enough for me to come here.”‘

‘The “clawback” provision would seek to recoup the entire cost of renovating Ralph Wilson Stadium as part of the agreement Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo made with the team in December.’

‘”This team really wanted me here, and that was just enough for me to come here,” he said. “I was really one of the choices they wanted to go to, that spoke volumes of what I meant to them. If somebody comes at you and tells you, ‘You know what, we want you. This is here. We need you here.’ Just to hear those words, indescribable.”‘

‘”Buffalo was the first team to reach out (and) pushed hard.”‘

‘”The money they had to spend and the market money my agent had me at didn’t match up,” Levitre said of failed negotiations. “Buffalo is a great place. It’ll always have a place in my heart. They gave me my start and I wouldn’t trade it back in a second.”‘

‘Linebacker is regarded as a primary need in Buffalo, with the defense switching from a three- to a four-linebacker base system under new coordinator Mike Pettine. Buffalo released two-year starting linebacker Nick Barnett last month, and also allowed veteran backup Kirk Morrison to become a free agent. Shawne Merriman isn’t coming back, either, after announcing his retirement last week.’

‘A former first-round pick of San Francisco in 2006, the 28-year-old Lawson has compiled 331 tackles and 18 sacks in 96 career games (81 starts) with the 49ers and Bengals.’

‘Lawson, 28, made $2.1 million in 2012 and started 10 games at strong-side linebacker.’

‘West Virginia’s Geno Smith, USC’s Matt Barkley were opponents and Ryan Nassib started 38 games for Syracuse. With the No. 8 pick in the draft, most draft analysts believe the Bills should be in great shape to take any of those quarterbacks.’

‘According to a league source, it’s a four-year deal that brings Lawson to the Bills after playing the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. The linebacker started 25 games for Cincinnati, amassing 91 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.’

‘With the draft a little more than six weeks away, let’s run through three strategies the Bills must consider as they search for their quarterback of the future.’

‘”The last 24 hours have been a blast. Just talking to the guys and getting a feel for the organization,” Lawson told Buffalobills.com. “I’m happy to be here and I expect a lot of things. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. I think we’re going to put a show on for the fans out here in Buffalo. I’m just ready to kick the season off.”‘

‘And as far as where I see myself fitting in, I see myself fitting in where I always see myself fitting in: making plays. I have played in several different types of defensive schemes. I have played in several special teams schemes, so whatever and wherever they need to put me at is where I will be.’