Archives for August 2005

‘Losman also said that Saturday’s contest will be another opportunity to get rid of the nerves that accompany any first-year starting quarterback. “I hope so,” he said. “I come out here to practice and I’m fine. I remember when I first started practicing it took me a couple of days to get warmed up and now it’s like second nature to me. So I’m just waiting for that game opportunity for me. Hopefully it doesn’t take a whole quarter to get warmed up.”‘

‘The Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills will not be going head-to-head with home games on Dec. 17.’

‘"(The Bills) kind of caught us off guard — especially our young guys," Rossley said.’

‘Buffalo sports fans will be able to see Sidney Crosby and Company take on the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on Saturday, December 17th and then watch the Buffalo Bills take on the Denver Broncos at Ralph Wilson Stadium later that night.’

‘The game on Saturday, December 17th in Buffalo has been moved to 5:00 p.m. from the originally scheduled time of 7:30 p.m. [Avoids conflict with Bills-Broncos game at 8:30 p.m.]’

‘”We weren’t a playoff team last year, nor the year before,” Vincent said. “We’ve done a lot of good things defensively, don’t get me wrong. But statistics are for losers. I want to be in the postseason.”‘

‘Do you have any pre-game rituals?

"I just pray. I pray everyday and I ask the lord to help me be the best I can be everyday. I ask to keep us safe."’

‘Clements, because of his big-play history, will be offered what the market will bear and he’ll have his pick of teams. And that’s why his re-signing with Buffalo is becoming more and more unlikely. With a stable of talented young corners on his roster, it’s doubtful Donahoe will undermine his salary structure … even to keep a player as young and talented as Clements.’

‘Buffalo received a positive first preseason outing from quarterback J.P. Losman (11-19 passing, 88 yards, 1 TD, 17 rushing yards), who will be bidding to get the Bills to the playoffs in his first season as a starter. The second- year pro threw a five-yard touchdown pass to receiver Lee Evans (2 receptions, 16 yards) in the victory, before yielding to backups Kelly Holcomb (3-5, 15 yards) and Shane Matthews (5-7, 19 yards) Running back Willis McGahee carried four times for 16 yards and caught a four-yard pass against the Colts, but may be held out against the Packers after suffering a minor knee injury in the game. Rookie wide receiver Roscoe Parrish, who broke his wrist last week in practice, will definitely be absent against Green Bay and is expected to miss roughly 6-8 weeks.’

‘Two weeks ago when the teams took part in a scrimmage at Lambeau Field, the Bills surprised the Packers with the amount and variety of blitzes they ran and the Packers reacted poorly, surrendering eight sacks and generally struggling to run their offense. On Saturday, the teams meet again in Buffalo for an exhibition game and the Packers hope to give a better accounting of themselves. “We’ll be better prepared for it this time,” offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said after the morning practice. “To say we’re game-planning, no we’re not doing that, but we’ll be better prepared for their blitzes.”‘

‘”In this league, there’s always someone trying to take your job,” Kelsay said. “Ryan’s still right there competing for it. I’ve got to come out here every day and show I’m getting better and continually show the coaches I’m deserving of the job and that I’m the starting guy.”‘

‘While it’s not in the class of last summer’s camp battle between Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney for a starting a job, Ritzmann and Gause, along with free agent Uyi Osunde, are wagering a fierce if quiet fight for the fourth and final defensive end spot on the team.’

‘"Their defense preceded what I thought in terms of their quickness and their mobility and their execution of some complex defensive schemes for a first game," Levy said. "(Coordinator) Jerry Gray has made me raise my eyebrows."’

‘But Losman is the No. 1 quarterback, and he has to accept all the praise and criticism that comes with it. In a small city like Buffalo, Losman will have trouble escaping the limelight. Whether it’s going out to dinner, shopping at the Galleria Mall (I find it hard to believe he’ll be looking for bargains at the outlet mall), or enjoying the nightlife on the Elmwood Strip, Losman will be hard-pressed to be just another face in the crowd.’

‘”I was hoping that we wouldn’t play them again,” Packers quarterback Brett Favre said, only half-kiddingly. “We got whipped in the scrimmage. … Had it been live, I might have been in trouble.”‘