Archives for September 2006

‘"Donte has done a nice job for us," said Bills coach Dick Jauron, who announced the news about Whitner to the team after practice. "He came in late, obviously. He didn’t have any spring with us to speak of. He’s coming along fast, which is great to see."’

‘Which one of your former teammates at Ohio State is going to win the Heisman Trophy?’

‘The Bills coaches forced Losman to stay in the pocket instead of scrambling in training camp, and that was the right thing to do. They want him scanning the field from the pocket and running as a last resort. Part of the reason Vick has taken so long to mature is he bailed out of the pocket too soon his first several years – and he still does at times.’

‘According to the team, Whitner is just the third Bills rookie to win the league’s monthly award, following Gabe Northern in November 1996 and Sam Cowart in October 1998.’

‘Lindell is on one of those rolls that golfers who can’t miss the fairway and batters who can’t miss a pitch get on. The uprights seem as wide as the field itself and they extend all the way up to the clouds.’

‘On Saturday morning after walkthrough, the veterans send around a sheet of paper on which everyone writes down their order. The phone call is placed ahead of time. I don’t think it would be a good idea to walk into a restaurant at lunch time, on a Saturday, and ask for more than 30 orders of food, to go. You would probably get that reaction that says something is growing out of your forehead.’

Taylor and McGahee should be busy again (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Coach says offense is close (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Thin secondary, short memories (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Thomas ready if Leber can’t go (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Vikings.com Insider (MinnesotaVikings.com)

Vikings notebook (MinnesotaVikings.com)

‘Minnesota 20, Buffalo 13.’

‘Head coach Dick Jauron and his team should hang close for a while, but Minnesota’s ball-control offense and stifling defense will be too much in the end. Bills fall to 1-3, with a 23-14 loss.’

‘"Once you learn how to win the ugly ones, the way Minnesota beat Carolina, that’s what separates the 8-8 season from the 12-4 season," Price said, noting the Vikings’ 19-16 overtime win over the Panthers in Week 2. "That’s what we have to learn to do."’

‘Vikings 21, Bills 17.’

‘On if this vindicates the Bills pick: They picked me and I’m glad they picked me, but I still want to go out there and prove other people were wrong and prove the Bills made the right choice.’

‘The Bills were widely criticized for selecting the former Ohio State star as No. 8 overall pick in last April’s draft, but Whitner has paid early dividends. In three games, including two starts, he is seventh on the team in tackles with 17, and is tied for the team-lead in interceptions with one.’

‘Parrish provides the Bills receiving corps an intriguing dimension because of his elusiveness. While he can outrun most defenders, the Bills are using Parrish less as a deep threat and more in the slot because he’s so small and fast that it’s difficult for defenders to keep up with him off the line of scrimmage. And once he gets into the open field, look out.’

‘On Spikes, Bowen and Kiwaukee Thomas: They’re still questionable, but they all participated. We’ll take it day by day, probably right up to game time.’