Archives for September 1, 2005

‘Believing his first-stringers need more time to jell, Mularkey’s prepared to break convention and play them as long as necessary when Buffalo closes its preseason schedule hosting Detroit on Friday. “We’re going to play more because we need to be in a rhythm on both sides of the ball, special teams, altogether before we come out of this game,” said Mularkey, who’s Bills (2-1) are coming off a 16-12 loss at Chicago. “Hopefully, it happens early, but we’ll just wait and see.”‘

‘The difficult part for them is their fate is in the coaches’ hands once Friday’s game is over. After that, all Ritzmann and Gause can do is sit, wait and hope they are not one of the players told to bring his playbook to Mularkey’s office Saturday afternoon. “It’s kind of tough because you don’t know what the coaches are thinking,” Gause said. “The best thing you can do is go out and leave it all out on the field and whatever happens, happens. I’ve worked hard and tried to do everything I can to make this team. Hopefully that will be enough when it’s all said and done.”‘

‘”I have a tremendous connection to New Orleans,” April said. “I’m going back to live when I retire, whenever that day comes. Oh, I’m going back for good, and I’m going to be buried there. I do have an attachment to the city, and I want my kids to think of it as their hometown. It’s not a perfect place, but there’s a draw for me.”‘

‘”I think those type of plays are going to happen,” he said. “Yes, I might get hit every once in a while and the less I take the chances of getting hit and the less I put myself at risk the better for our team, of course. But like I said a couple of days ago, those type of plays are what makes me good. Using my feet, that’s what makes me good. I just have to be smart about it. I don’t want to be running and thinking I can’t run. It’s very hard to play like that.”‘

‘It’s unlikely the Oct. 2 game against the Saints will be played at the Superdome – not only because part of the roof was blown off during the hurricane, but because the city is all but uninhabitable and probably still will be that way in October.’

‘Last season, Buffalo’s defense and special teams scored 10 touchdowns. "It’s very nice, yes," said Losman when asked about having that kind of support.’

Battle of the week: Josh Reed, Sam Aiken, Jonathan Smith for the No. 3 receiver job – With rookie sensation Roscoe Parrish out indefinitely, the job is suddenly wide open again.’

‘Do NFL players, who work out year-round, really need four preseason games to get ready for the regular season? "I’d like to see two myself," said nine-year veteran Kelly Holcomb, 32. "Obviously, the owners are making money with four preseason games, but I think pretty much the coaches (already) know whom they want and what they need to do with the depth chart. I can understand where some guys need four, but four, along with 16 regular season games, that’s a lot on the body especially when you get to be my age."’

‘Playoff outlook: Fair to good. You would feel better with an experienced quarterback, but Buffalo chose the Losman route. Losing big Pat Williams from the defense will hurt vs. the run. In a division that features Curtis Martin, Corey Dillon and Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown in Miami, that could be the difference in making the playoffs.’

‘”I think experience is the only thing that is holding me back,” Wire admitted the other day following a practice inside Ralph Wilson Stadium. “I feel athletically I can play ball with the best of them at that position in the NFL. I’m right there, it’s just a lack of experience.”‘

‘”I’ve got a mother and brother who are down there and they decided to ride it out like a lot in New Orleans did. It’s hard to explain why but they did,” April said. “I grew up on the east side, which is really flooded, but we don’t have any family there anymore. But I have nieces and nephews with my mother and they were in a safer location in terms of the water, and they’re getting out today and trying to get up to Arkansas somewhere.”‘

‘The Bills have one more tune-up for young quarterback JP Losman. One of the things they’re trying to get across to him is that he’s not alone. He’s got targets, including a good group of tight ends.’

‘A battle worth watching will be at defensive end where George Gause and Constantin Ritzmann may be fighting for the final roster spot along the defensive line.’

‘Approximately 20,000 tickets still remain for the game…’

‘Buffalo’s starting unit has a chance to play beyond the customary one quarter this week, with the inconsistency the team displayed in last Friday’s loss to the Bears impacting that scenario.’