Archives for August 10, 2001

"For the fans, the pre-season’s tough to judge. It’s hard to determine exactly where your team is, but we feel our fans will see regardless of who’s on the field, a well-prepared team that will play hard and with a lot of enthusiasm. I think those are the things the fans can look for as the pre-season begins to unfold."

‘"If you know Billy, when you’re in meetings with him every day for the past four years, you know that the only thing that he’s lacking is experience," veteran tackle John Fina said Friday during training camp at St. John Fisher College outside of Rochester, N.Y. "As far as the calls being made, Billy can make them in his sleep."’

‘The last time the Bills played a game in Orchard Park, it was one of the worst weather conditions ever seen for a Bills game, with snow, wind and ice making for a blustery afternoon in Buffalo’s home finale against New England.’

‘FULL SQUAD SIGNING ON FRIDAY: While there are no more Monday night

practices, the Bills would like to alert fans that there will be a total of six practice sessions between now and the end of camp when the entire team will sign autographs following the session.’

‘Bills quarterback Rob Johnson answered questions e-mailed from buffalobills.com users. Thanks to Rob for taking time out to answer the questions, as well as the fans for sending them in!’

‘"Sam had his back tighten up a little bit and he got hot," coach Gregg Williams said after the morning session at St. John Fisher College. "So for a precaution we said back off a little bit. He’ll be fine."’

‘Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe was the Steelers’ director of football operations while Brown was in Pittsburgh. He drafted Brown in the fifth round in 1995 out of Indiana University. During his first season, Brown played for Pittsburgh and the Arizona Cardinals, then returned to the Steelers for two seasons before being released. Brown signed with Buffalo last March.’

‘”Everyone’s helping each other out,” Sheldon Jackson said. “There is no one person bad-mouthing the others. Everyone’s helping each other because they do realize that there’s room for the guys that are here. And we have to pull for each other to be successful in the position.”‘

‘With the jettisoning of Wade Phillips and the entire offensive coaching staff, the straitjacket that Price played with all last year has been removed and the former Tennessee standout and Sports Illustrated cover boy expects to enjoy a breakout season in 2001.’

‘Once he reached the sideline, the training staff immediately doused him with water, and a few minutes later he was carted into the locker room. Williams said Cowart was fine after practice, but as a precaution, he did nothing during the special teams workout in the afternoon.’

‘"I think graduating from any university is an accomplishment, but Notre Dame, they did demand a lot," O’Leary said. "The transition has been easy because I came in here from a place where they disciplined you and forced things on you. I think that’s paying off because in camp, you’ve got to have your head on straight to get through this."’

On injuries: "Sam Cowart has his back tightened up a little bit and got hot just from the heat. Just for precaution we said back off a little bit and you’ll be fine. Nothing significant. Keith Newman had a very slight strain and again I think that was heat related too and repetition and real slight, we are going to look at what he’s doing this afternoon, Keith is having a really good camp."

On what he wants to accomplish Sunday: "Hopefully a couple of touchdown drives. I want to go in there, go through my reads, play sharp and keep everyone healthy."

With the heat this morning, linebacker Sam Cowart left practice with what coach Gregg Williams described as having "his back tightened up a little bit, and [he] got hot just from the heat." He added, "Just for precaution, we said back off a little bit and you’ll be fine."

‘Bills rookie Josh Whitman has been presented with some interesting changes in his first training camp for the pros. With the trade of tight end Bobby Collins to Green Bay, more opportunities are knocking for hopeful rookies such as Whitman and Notre Dame’s Dan O’Leary. Whitman is keeping cool with all the competition on the practice field though.’