Archives for May 2013

‘As Buddy Nix steps away from his role as the 11th General Manager of the Buffalo Bills, here’s a look at the complete history of Bills General Managers, with snapshots from the official Buffalo Bills media guides during the time of their tenure.’

‘”Absolutely, I’m still the same guy,” Hughes said after the Bills’ practice on Wednesday. “If anything, those first two years in Indy gave me the chance to rest up and learn. So now I’m an eager, fresh, hungry, 24-year-old, ready to get out there and get playing football.”‘

‘Chosen 46th overall, the 6-foot-3 and 238-pound Alonso was a hard-hitting tackler during three seasons at Oregon. He had 143 tackles, six interceptions and 3 1/2 sacks in 36 career games, including 17 starts. He was the 2012 Rose Bowl defensive player after having an interception and 1 1/2 sacks in a 45-38 win over Wisconsin.’

‘Only Buffalo’s top two draft choices remain unsigned in quarterback EJ Manuel and wide receiver Robert Woods.’

‘He had 143 tackles (99 solo), six interceptions and 3.5 sacks in 36 games at Oregon. Among his collegiate highlights was being named the defensive player of the game in the 2012 Rose Bowl against Wisconsin.’

‘Spiller will probably receive a greater work load from the new coaching staff. The Clemson product was a guest on the WGR morning show on Wednesday and said the “get to know you”process is moving along with Head Coach Doug Marrone and Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.’

‘”There’s obvious interest from both sides to get a deal done at some point,” Wood said Wednesday. “But with a GM change and a big-time free agent at safety that we’d like to get re-signed — and this is just me speculating myself, this isn’t stuff they said — and rookies, I know I’m not top priority right now. Hopefully we can get a deal done at some point, maybe this summer.”‘

‘Alonso, the 46th overall pick in 2013, is thought to be a candidate to start at middle linebacker after the Bills traded away third-year player Kelvin Sheppard to the Indianapolis Colts just after the draft ended. The former Oregon player would also slot in to an inside linebacker role when the team goes looks that feature the 3-4 defensive scheme.’

‘”It’s been awesome, better than I expected,” he said. “It’s been awesome. I think I’m a very aggressive player and that’s what they want here so I should be a fit.”‘

‘The Bills brought their first week of OTA practices to a close on Wednesday with their first red zone work of the spring and it was extensive. Counting 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 the offense and defense squared off for more than 40 snaps inside the 20.’

‘Mistakes? He made a few. Wide receiver T.J. Graham instead of quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round last year, cornerback-turned-safety Aaron Williams rather than QB Colin Kaepernick in 2011’s second round and defensive tackle Torrell Troup instead of tight end Rob Gronkowski in the second round of 2010 among clearly would qualify.’

‘”I like it. I really do because sometimes when you come in and you are teaching new concepts … it is good to get them when they are fresh and they are not locked into a certain technique that they are doing. So I like a lot of those young guys back there.”‘

‘”It’s just something that happened, and it is what it is,” Williams after Tuesday’s practice at One Bills Drive. “When we’re here, playing ball and inside this facility, with this family, it’s all about us; it’s not about anything else.’

‘”We’re going to stay the course,” NFTA Executive Director Kimberley A. Minkel said late Tuesday.’

‘It’d be a better feel-good story had Nix actually accomplished something in his 3 1/4 seasons in charge.’