Archives for August 2004

‘A .500 season looks like a reasonable expectation, and if those questions receive positive answers, the Bills could have a shot at 10 wins and a return to the postseason.’

”’He doesn’t seem like a first-time NFL head coach,” Bledsoe said Friday after Buffalo’s practice with Cleveland at the Bills’ suburban Rochester training camp. ”He seems like a guy that is a very natural fit for the position.”’

‘Gildon said the Bills are in for a challenge this weekend and should get a great test from the Browns. He said they always come to play and never back down. "It’s going to be a very spirited and physical practice as well as scrimmage," Gildon said. "Those guys want to come down with the mind set of getting something done and we’re going to take the same approach. We’re going to go out there and be physical and get something done. It’s going to be a good one."’

‘On the four-second ‘quarterback alarm’ on Bills QB Drew Bledsoe during practice:

That’s been the history of that clock. That clock is supposedly a sack. We are presented as when that clock goes, throw it to your check down, your outlet, and that’s still giving him time before a sack. He’s done really well with it, we chart it and monitor it everyday and let him know what he’s done, and for the most part he’s getting it out of his hands.’

Bills DB Troy Vincent said the morning was a “feeling-out process” and said the key to getting something out of those practices was staying away from unnecessary activity. “I saw what most of their guys can do,” Vincent said. “So after this first practice I’ll have a different game plan for this afternoon and the scrimmage.” Vincent even asked Browns WR Andre’ Davis before practice what Davis wanted to work on. Davis gave Vincent some ideas, and Vincent said he tried to oblige.

Browns linebacker Brant Boyer is out indefinitely after breaking his right foot during practice with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, Aug. 6. Boyer was hurt during the first of two sessions between the teams at the Bills’ training camp in suburban Rochester, where the teams will scrimmage Aug. 7.

‘”I think, top to bottom, this may be the best defense I’ve ever played with,” free agent cornerback Troy Vincent said. “If we can put it all together, we’re going to be awfully tough to beat.”‘

‘"They’re big, strong guys up front," said Bills guard Chris Villarrial. "It will be a good test for us to see where we’re at because we want to run the ball. We’re committed to running it, and we want to see where we stand."’

‘No, Reed is not Peerless Price. But Reed is a very good football player who can be effective in the right system. New Bills coach Mike Mularkey plans to make better use of Reed’s talents than the previous coaching regime. That means working more as a slot receiver and taking advantage of his run-after-the-catch skills by getting him the ball on short and intermediate pass routes.’

‘Three NFL refs were at practice and calling penalties Thursday. The penalties for illegal contact by defensive players versus receivers 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage and defensive holding are major points of emphasis this year, according to head coach Mike Mularkey.’

‘”I was a Browns fan, yes,” said Evans, whose parents and two sisters will be in the crowd. “But I’ve got to go out there and do my job. I’m a Buffalo Bill. The Browns are a secondary thought.”‘

‘”I feel confident in my ability, and if given the opportunity I can still go out there and play every down,” said Gildon, who last year passed L.C. Greenwood to become the Steelers’ all-time sack leader. “It’s just coming in and getting that opportunity.”‘

‘Buffalo’s linebackers are a formidable group, the strength of a Bills’ defense that last season ranked second in yards allowed, eighth against the run and fifth in points.’

‘The scrimmage will run from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, with the first teams battling for 10 to 12 plays, then moving on to the second team. Field goals and extra points will be attempted before the scrimmage.’

‘“Maybe another team would have said, `You’ve got a coach whose heart’s dying and he can’t speak above a whisper or a quiet conversation and he hasn’t coached in nine years. Let’s see, do we want him on our staff?’ ” Wyche said. The Bills did.’