Archives for April 2008

‘The Bills are not switching to a pass-happy, horizontal, West Coast attack similar to those run by Philadelphia and Seattle. Jauron said he still will emphasize the running game, putting a high priority on getting talented running back Marshawn Lynch his carries. The Bills are not forsaking Lee Evans’ ability to run deep, either. “We have to run it, and we have to run it to throw it,” Jauron said. “We have to use play action. We have two good young quarterbacks with live arms. They can get the ball out quick and be accurate and get it down the field. We have some speed. So we have to take advantage of all those things.”‘

‘However, the family Merling made the decision for is not financially challenged parents, but rather his one-year old daughter Justice. "I decided to come out early because I have a little daughter," said Merling plainly. "And my fiancée – she’s about to graduate from the University of South Carolina, so this was a perfect time."’

‘While DiGiorgio is likely to go back to being a back-up with the anticipated return of Posluszny, but the Bills know they have good depth at linebacker and should he pressed into starting duty, he will not disappoint. “I’ve always set the goal of playing in the NFL and I never shied away from it,” DiGiorgio said.’

‘I am not naive enough to think that height conquers all. But tell me why James Hardy of Indiana should not be at or near the top of their list.’

‘”What I’d like to add to that group – because it’s not there – is a big receiver; a big, physical receiver,” the Bills coach said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. “Our guys are all physical, but they’re not big. Josh [Reed] is compact. You wouldn’t say Josh is small by any stretch. But we want a big, rugged, tall receiver that’s open when he’s not open. That’s what I’d like to add.”‘

‘Although his own tendency toward surliness was an issue itself, Moulds somewhat understandably left the Bills with a harrumph in part after he wasn’t surrounded with enough weapons to excel. While it seems unlikely that he would be the type to do so, Buffalo better start doing everything conceivable to ensure Evans doesn’t also earn the right to be pouty.’

‘The Canadian Football League Hamilton Tiger-Cats attempted to pull a fast one Tuesday, announcing on their Web site plans to play the Buffalo Bills in a game — one half NFL rules, the other CFL — at Orchard Park in June. April Fools. "We actually got a few people going with this one this year, so we’re pleased with that," said Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young, who came up with the idea.’

‘In lieu of the annual Black and Gold game during training camp, the Ticats will travel to Ralph Wilson stadium in early June to play a demonstration game against members of the 2008 Buffalo Bills squad during one of their mini camps. It will be the first time the two teams have taken the field against each other in 47 years.’

‘"I feel like I’m a little further ahead than the last time I had the surgery so that’s the good thing," Reed said. "I feel like I’m in better shape than I was at that time. I’m a lot more active, so I feel the healing process is quicker this time."’

‘From March 31st to April 26th, fans can visit buffalobills.com/mtbdraftcontest to make their prediction.’

‘If the Bills have a productive draft for the third consecutive year, missing the postseason yet again shouldn’t be an option. With two more picks come greater expectations for Buffalo’s head draft guru, vice president of college scouting Tom Modrak, whose above-average eye for young talent will need to come to the forefront later this month.’

‘Football fans, beginning Tuesday, can go to the team Website, www.buffalobills.com, and register to win in one of several contests. One involves the team’s partnership with M&T Bank, who will reward a fan who accurately predicts who the Bills are going to pick in this year’s draft. The draft is set for the weekend of April 26 in New York City. In addition, fans can win tickets, airfare and overnight stay in a New York hotel for this year’s draft, courtesy of JetBlue Airways. Fans can register for the JetBlue giveaway through April 18.’

‘Wilson refuses to gloat over the issue, and he says he wasn’t surprised he was portrayed as clueless. “That’s understandable because the vote was 30-2, and people thought, ‘Wilson must be out there by himself on a canoe,’ ” Wilson said Monday from his office in Detroit. (He’s letting his team executives handle league business this week.) “When the proposal was passed out to us it was rushed out,” Wilson said. “We had about 45 minutes to consider it. There was a lot more to it that we never saw and we didn’t realize at the time. In sum and substance, we voted on the thing, and I didn’t think we should.”‘

‘The picks came as a bit of a surprise in part because the formula for determining compensatory picks is complex and not public knowledge. The formula takes into consideration salary, playing time and postseason honors for unrestricted free agents signed the previous year.’

‘The Bills will now have 10 selections, starting with the 11th overall pick, after being awarded a fourth-round pick (132nd overall) and a seventh-rounder (251st) on Monday. Under a complex formula developed by the league, the NFL determined the Bills had a net loss of two free agents last year.’