Archives for August 2003

‘Buffalo has been great to me in the few months that I’ve been here. I wanted to let the fans know that their support has meant a lot to this team. We have some of the best fans in the NFL and I can’t wait to walk through that tunnel for the first time as a Buffalo Bill and listen to that crowd.’

‘We didn’t have a real good showing down in Tennessee, so we knew that things needed to be done and that improvements needed to be made. We have a lot of potential but we also realized that potential means nothing. We have to actually go out on the field and prove ourselves week in and week out.’

‘David Baca joins forces with NFL Hall of Fame’s Jim Kelly and the Hunter’s Hope Foundation.’

‘"He’s the classic example from a coach’s eyes of a guy who has had an opportunity handed to him and has taken it and run with it," Williams said Wednesday after the Bills’ final camp practice at St. John Fisher College. "With the limited reps that everybody gets, when you take advantage of the reps you’ve got, you deserve more. He’s deserved more throughout the offseason, throughout the minicamps and off-season conditioning program. And he’s done a very good job in training camp of putting himself in a position to make this football team."’

‘"It’s been very good how we’ve got up the frequency of snaps without taking the pounding and without having these guys on the field too long," Williams said.’

‘An estimated 2,000 fans attended the final workout. Though no official tally was released, attendance appeared to be down from last year. However, the Bills had 6,000 spectators for each of their three Monday night practices. "We really want to thank the fans for everything they do. They get a chance to be around the Bills and the Bills enjoy being around the fans," said Williams.’

‘The Bills enjoy the chance to be around the fans. We’ve had good chemistry throughout camp with the fans.” While the Bills and Fisher don’t provide official attendance figures, a logical assumption is that the total was down because there were only 16 days of full-squad practice. There also were only two days with two-a-day practices for the entire team.’

‘If it’s up to quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and it is to an extent, second-year receiver Clarence Coleman will make the final 53-man roster. “Clarence had a great camp,” Bledsoe said. ” We expect him to be a productive player for us this year. He’s really taken that next step, from a young guy to a legitimate NFL player.”‘

‘Through two preseason games, the line has allowed seven sacks and been flagged for 11 penalties, five on the starters.’

‘Fans who attend home games at Ralph Wilson Stadium will learn more about the disease through video messages on the scoreboard.’

”’Our offense needs to get on track, and our defense needs to shorten the field,” coach Gregg Williams said.’

‘After practice, the annual rookie relay race began. The rooks had to run to the veterans, who then spun them around a baseball bat (mercilessly). The confused players would then run to a football, pick it up, and tag the next man in line. Drew Bledsoe and Sam Gash didn’t have to worry about actually running in the race, but both said that it’s the type of thing that goes a long way for team chemistry.’

‘The cuts came prior to Buffalo’s preseason home-opener against the St. Louis Rams on Saturday, and six days before NFL teams are to reduce their rosters to a maximum 65 players. The moves leave the Bills with 75 players, including first-round draft pick Willis McGahee, the former Miami star running back who’s recovering from a left knee injury and is on the active non-football injury list.’

‘"We’ve got to come out and we’ve got to play well in the third preseason game," Bledsoe said. "It’s still a preseason game but we need to come out and be productive and get something done."’

NFL rosters must be reduced to 65 by next Tuesday, August 26

Paris Jackson, WR; Jason Johnson, QB;

Omari Jordan, DT; Jerel Myers, WR;

Justin Sands, OT; T.J. Watkins, G;

Jason Witczak, K