Archives for September 8, 2005

‘If he can’t go, rookie Duke Preston would get his first NFL start.’

‘In an e-mail sent to The Associated Press on Thursday, Clements’ agent, Todd France, wrote there has been no progress in talks with Buffalo to extend his client’s contract beyond this season. "At this point there is nothing to report," France said. France added he expects to meet with Bills president Tom Donahoe on Sunday while attending Buffalo’s season-opener against Houston at Orchard Park.’

‘This season, the Bills Television Network will produce two shows airing on Saturday nights beginning Saturday, September 10. The Mike Mularkey Show returns for its second season. Bills Head Coach Mike Mularkey and Bills play-by-play announcer and WKBW sports director John Murphy will discuss the inside scoop on what it will take for the Bills to navigate the road to Super Bowl XL in Detroit. Mularkey and Murphy will go behind the scenes with Bills players and coaches as they offer their strategic analysis as the 2005 season unfolds. Mularkey will also take the fans to the film room and breakdown key plays from the previous week.’

‘"Yeah man," Preston said after practice Thursday. "I was brought here to do a job and regardless of age, who you are or where you were drafted, when your number is called you have to be ready. And that is the approach I am taking."’

‘The Buffalo Bills will host a grand opening of The Bills Store, the official team retail store, at Eastview in Victor, NY on Saturday, September 10 from 12:00-4:00 pm.’

‘Villarrial watched practice from the sideline with his ankle taped but did not make himself available to reporters. The Bills had no comment on Villarrial’s status other than to add him to their injury report.’

‘On Friday, September 9, 2005 Heritage Centers and the Heritage-Oak Foundation, in conjunction with Buffalo Place, will host the 2nd Annual "Blue Friday" event in Lafayette Square from 5:30 pm until 9:30 pm. Blue Friday is a large downtown pep rally designed to celebrate the Buffalo Bills 2005-2006 football season.’

‘"We’re never satisfied with our performance," linebacker London Fletcher said. "We understand teams are going to be gunning for us. They’re going to be better prepared for us this season coming up, so we know we kind of have the bull’s-eye."’

‘"The Eagles are a lot like us," said Tasker, who spent the 1986 through 1997 seasons with the Bills. "We didn’t lose a lot of guys to free agency. We had great leadership. Thurman Thomas was a warrior, the hardest-working player I’ve ever seen. He’d get beat up every Sunday and by the time we got back to practice Wednesday he was ready to go, no matter how banged up he was."’

‘Just like the Bills’ defense, the Texans will try to dictate quick dump-offs to underneath receivers with their blitz package. “What it does is force you to throw the ball a little quicker because (blitzers) are freed up,” Mularkey said. “Your scheme changes a little as far as your drops, your routes, your philosophy as far as moving the ball so they don’t get to you. It’ll be a challenge.”‘

‘”I don’t know what he’s done before, as opposed to the last two years, but that guy is special,” Losman said. “Any chance I get in one-on-one matchups, he’s going to be getting the ball. Eric is an elite receiver in my eyes. Lee is an elite receiver in my eyes. It’s a good situation I’m coming into.”‘

‘”The league is making it mandatory,” Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said. “It’s part of the comprehensive security plan we have here at Ralph Wilson Stadium. I want to assure our fans it’s not being done because of some imminent danger. . . . We want to make sure our fans are safe.”‘

‘”I’m excited about those guys,” said Bills Assistant General Manager Tom Modrak. “I watch them every day, and they’re playmakers. That’s the name of the game. Somebody’s got to make a play on offense, defense and special teams. They have the capability. Will it always happen? Probably not. But if you don’t have the guys who can make the plays, you can scheme and plan and hope all you want to, but you can only get so far.”‘

‘Chances are, it’ll take a couple of years to find out about Losman. He’ll have good games and bad ones. No one wants to hear this, but the kid could have a respectable year and the Bills could go 8-8. He’s essentially a rookie. It doesn’t mean he’s a failure if the Bills don’t reach the playoffs.’

‘We’re sticking with conventional wisdom. Losman will win a bunch of games – some for the Bills, some for the opposition. It will be interesting. It will be fun. It will be 9-7, just shy of a wild-card berth.’