Archives for August 2014

‘”I think he’s actually a four-down player,” Bills General Manager Doug Whaley said earlier in camp. “I don’t know which one is going to play (strongside) and (weakside), but he’s going to have to step up and take the lead between him and (Brandon) Spikes and whoever takes the other one. I think he can play on special teams and passing downs and nickel situations.”‘

‘”It’s so, so important for the Bills to stay in Buffalo,” continued Russert, clad in a blue Bills polo shirt. “All the NFL owners know that, they should know that. Keep the team in Buffalo: the town deserves it, the people deserve it. Go Bills!”‘

‘Many people consider Joe Montana the man or Brett Favre, but no one mentions Kelly — the only QB to appear in four straight Super Bowls. Most QB’s who actually have won one have a difficult time returning at all, let alone the following year.’

‘”What we’ve seen from him in the spring and what he’s been doing in the preseason, it’s a definite competition,” Whaley told The Buffalo News after Sunday night’s game. “He performed well. He went out there and took us on a nice long drive. … We’re encouraged with him and hoping for him to just keep growing like he has so far.’

‘The game had a 26.5 rating on Channel 2, which is in the range of some of the low-rated regular season games in years past.’

‘”All things being equal, I would prefer bidders from Western New York, because they’re committed to the area,” Schumer said during a news conference in Williamsville. “But whoever bids, we’ve got to make sure it’s an iron-clad commitment.”‘

‘It was a wonderful show as they cheered for the greatest receiver in Bills history as he reached the pinnacle of his career. But once the ceremony ended late Saturday night, once the last glass of champagne was consumed at Andre’s after party at the Canton Club, and then once that coin landed on the turf Sunday night, there was this reality: There will be no more celebrations of Bills greatness at Fawcett Stadium, likely for a long time.’

‘The other attribute they showed – along with other standouts from that era, like fellow Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, the greatest defensive player in team history; linebacker Darryl Talley, who Reed called the “heart and soul of us”; Steve Tasker, Kent Hull and so many others – is they hated to lose.’

‘”I think they have a lot of work ahead of them,” Marrone said. “I think both of those guys have a lot of work ahead of them, I really do. It’s tough to play tackle in the National Football League.”‘

‘The front-line of the Bills defense is going to have to produce more plays like the one we saw Sunday night as two of the biggest ball hawks on the Bills last season, Kiko Alonso (4 INT) and Jairus Byrd (4 INT) are either out for the season or on another team.’

‘”One thing about Andre, and I’ve always said this to everybody, he just has absolutely no weakness in his game, you know,” Beebe said. “Caught the ball well. Very strong. Got off the line of scrimmage. Explosive. Maybe the best ever as a run-after-the-catch guy. So in that respect, I needed to be back there to be there for Andre.”‘

‘”We’ve got to keep working on the fades,” said Watkins. “Going against a great corner, he kind of widened me, so I need to get a better release.”‘

‘Yeah but Jeff Tuel just looks like he has more command.’

‘”Just my knowledge of the system is really the biggest thing and the knowledge of the defenses and our new quarterbacks coach, Todd Downing, has really helped the room out a ton with that stuff,” said Tuel, “I feel a lot more comfortable and confident with the schemes and protections so it’s allowed me to take a jump.”‘

‘”You just come out and work. I try to earn my spot everywhere I go,” said Williams. “I’m just coming out here working and I want to be the best player at my position and that’s what I’m working on. That’s what I came here for. Winning is the number one goal and me playing well is a part of that so I’m going to do the best job possible to help us win as a team.”‘