Archives for June 2008

‘Running back Marshawn Lynch has eluded a lot of tacklers in his football career. Eluding law enforcement and the NFL’s conduct code might prove trickier for the second-year pro.’

‘If the season opened today, James would start opposite returning veteran Terrence McGee with McKelvin as the nickel back. McKelvin, however, has shown a lot of early skill in organized team activities and it will be a shock if he’s not in the starting lineup on opening day.’

‘Probably the most encouraging aspect of OTAs for Jauron was seeing most of last season’s injured players back in action. The Bills led the NFL with 17 players on injured reserve. "It’s really been encouraging to see our injured players, you know the number we had injured last year, come back and work through these first (weeks)," he said. "And most of them are working now and fully recovered and that’s a big plus for us."’

‘Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark calls Bills running back Marshawn Lynch the “principal suspect” in an alleged hit-and-run accident, saying the player was inside his vehicle when it struck and injured a pedestrian.’

‘Buffalo Bills have announced Thursday that individual game tickets for the Monday Night November 17th game against the Cleveland Browns are sold out. Limited availability remains for the home opener versus the Seattle Seahawks on September 7th.’

‘"As an offense it’s early, but we have to be prepared," said Dwayne Wright. "It’s up to us to go home and watch film and be prepared with our plays. I can understand him getting a little hot because this is his offense and we’re the players in the offense so we have to perform well to win games. And that’s good because we want to win this year. We’re going to work hard so tomorrow is a better day."’

‘"We are grateful for Mr. Wilson’s support and that of our partners to provide kids with a healthy outlet for sports, fitness and competition," said Boys & Girls Club Southeastern Michigan President Len Krichko.’

‘While the Bills’ defense in ’08 probably isn’t going to remind anyone of Baltimore’s elite stop units from earlier this decade, the fact is that it ought to be far better than it has been in Whitner’s tenure thus far. As a result, the former Ohio State star might finally stand out as a Bill.’

‘”I’m like anybody back there,” McGee said. “I’ll say I want to get all of them. I’m sure he’d say he’ll want to get all of them. It may come to a point where I need a blow at times. But we’re all competitors out there, and we all want the ball in our hands.”‘

‘Former Bills coach Gregg Williams told me once that Henry isn’t dumb, he just doesn’t over-think. Here’s hoping Henry puts a lot of thought into what he needs to do to salvage what’s left of his career.’

‘A small part of his speech, however, focused on disappointment. The Bills won four straight American Football Conference titles in the early 1990s but lost the Super Bowl every time. Tasker, who played in the NFL from 1985 to 1997, said the locker room was most sullen in 1993 after the fourth loss, to Dallas.’

‘Lynch did offer an unconfirmed “no comment” to an Associated Press reporter, but otherwise chose to stay silent.’

‘"Whether it’s painting the RV or car (in Bills’ colours) or creating inventive ways to drink beer – through a funnel or out of a bowling ball – it’s a real showcase of creativity and enthusiasm," says Ted Kresse, 30. Tailgating has even become a sport in itself. "It becomes competitive in some parking lots," explains Jane Kwiatkowski, a Bills’ season ticket holder.’

‘"One of the things that made us the team that we were and made the guys that I played with so special, was expertise," Tasker said. "When you are in business, you know that you have to have some level of proficiency and expertise in what you do, and that is no different in football than anything – accounting, or what have you, expertise is part of the fabric that makes your business what it is." Tasker said his former coach, Marv Levy, told him that leadership is not about getting people to follow; leadership is about getting people to join you."’

‘The ball looked to be coming out of the hands of Trent Edwards and Gibran Hamdan with good zip Wednesday. Hamdan got almost all of the second team reps with J.P. Losman not in attendance at the voluntary workout.’