Archives for May 2008

‘”Broke my arm, third game of the season,” Posluszny said, still shaking his head in disbelief. “Who breaks an arm? You think of a 3- or 4-year-old kid when you talk about someone breaking an arm.”‘

‘"You’ve got guys who are set, ready to play. These guys have been working to get better every year. Right now, I think they’re right on the edge and hopefully I can help to push them over."’

‘Is this a trend for the Bills? What’s troublesome is that all three players arrived in Buffalo with a bit of a question mark on their pedigrees. It conjures that adage, “If it happens once … shame on you. If it happens twice … shame on me.”‘

‘Evans, who had minor surgery on his shoulder this offseason, will likely command a salary comparable to that of Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, a two-time Pro Bowler, inked a four-year, $40 million contract — with $30 million guaranteed — in March.’

‘With more than a handful of players coming off injured reserve, another eight returning from offseason surgery and 18 rookies there were a lot of players lining up in spots they had not manned in a while at the Bills first OTA workout Monday. Buffalobills.com breaks down where some of the more interesting names of note were positioned as the voluntary offseason sessions began.’

‘"The only thing is I shouldn’t have been there," Hardy admitted. "It sort of feels like every time I go home something negative, I’m always on the end of it. Now I’m in Buffalo and this is the best thing to happen to me since the birth of my son and I just want to get on the right track in Buffalo. This is something that will never happen again and nothing will ever be blown out of proportion again because I will never be in this situation."’

‘Considering the odds of the NFL — the best-run, richest league in America’s pro sporting landscape — undergoing such tumultuous times in the near future are relatively slim, all of this is obviously hypothetical. With that said, Bills fans shouldn’t necessarily fear the prospect of a season in the future that doesn’t include a salary cap. It may seem frightening, but it’s a situation that wouldn’t spell imminent doom for Buffalo. Of course, anything that would take place after 2010 would be up in the air for the Bills, especially because their 89-year-old owner, Ralph Wilson, would be in his 90s by then and the idea of relocation would likely still be prominently looming.’

‘But if a new owner has to borrow $500 million to purchase the team, that loan will carry interest payments that could average around $35 million a year, effectively wiping out most of the franchise’s current profits.’

‘Bills officials have stated in the past their revenues hover near the dividing line between the top three-quarters and the bottom quarter of the league, ranking anywhere from 23rd to 26th out of 32 teams.’

‘Girls in Sports, a program founded last year by Mary Wilson, wife of Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr., introduces girls under age 12 to sports and healthy living through workshops, free sporting events and newsletters.’

‘To this end, a major fund-raiser – the Van Miller Hometown Hero Scholarship Fund – has been planned for Shorewood Country Club on June 20. The event will include a day of golf as well as a dinner that will include Miller’s attendance. Proceeds from the first golf tournament, which is being presented by Lake Shore Savings Bank, will go toward the scholarships.’

‘If the Bills’ ultimate goal is to keep the top remaining pass catcher with their final receiver spot, then odds are Johnson will be the choice. Johnson certainly has the talent to become one of the steals of April’s draft, but whether he’ll follow in the career path of Marques Colston, the New Orleans Saints’ spectacular wideout who was a seventh-round pick in 2006, is probably wishful thinking; of course, stranger things have happened.’

‘Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon claimed character counts with him. "It’s very important but we feel comfortable with James," Brandon said on draft day. "The issue he had was dismissed. We talked to him at length and we feel very good about James Hardy."’

‘Some fans are media are suggesting Everett by enshrined on the team’s Wall of Fame or be honored with a statue in the stadium concourse.’

‘According to ESPN, the Bills have roughly $5.3 million in rookie pool money to sign their 10 draft picks with. It will go fast but there are loopholes a plenty to get all of Buffalo’s picks into camp on time.’