Archives for July 2008

‘I don’t know if Buffalo can make the playoffs this season; I don’t really care. I just don’t see Whitner’s comment so much a guarantee as a vote of confidence in his teammates. And maybe a challenge. What’s so wrong with that?’

‘Buffalo probably is one year away from being an elite team, but they should become a very competitive one this season. This team is very capable of winning nine games, including a few that no one expects them to win.’

‘Running back Marshawn Lynch’s legal problems stemming from a hit-and-run incident in late May are behind him. But with training camp set to begin July 25, his public image will need repairing. The NFL is reviewing his case for possible sanctions under its personal conduct policy.’

‘The Bills acquired veterans Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson in the offseason because their run defense was so weak — 125 yards per game, 28th in the league. For that, Williams gets a fat raise?’

‘At some point, you’ve got to figure playing error-free football is going to pay off for the Bills, who have missed the playoffs eight consecutive seasons, longest such streak in the team’s history. In coach Dick Jauron’s first two seasons (consecutive 7-9 finishes), the Bills have established club records for fewest penalties and last year they tied for the fourth fewest turnovers in the NFL.’

‘The Buffalo Bills & Perry’s Ice Cream will hold a press conference and FREE sampling of the new Buffalo Bills ice cream flavor on Monday, July 14, at 11:00 a.m. Media and shoppers will have the first opportunity to taste the new flavor. Tops Friendly Markets, another local hometown team, will host the press conference and sampling at 2101 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Billy Buffalo, the Bills team mascot, and Perry Winkle, Perry’s mascot, will be on hand to assist with the Buffalo Bills Brownie Blitz sampling. The ice cream sampling will end at 1:00 p.m.’

‘"We’re really pleased with the way it’s moved," series general manager Adrian Montgomery said. "Obviously, we wanted to put the registration program forward to give football fans the first chance at the best tickets. And we’re thrilled with the number of tickets they’ve purchased, particularly since, to this point, we’ve only offered them on a multi-game, multi-year basis."’

‘Buffalo’s nickel corner job is completely up for grabs as veteran slot corner Kiwaukee Thomas was not re-signed by the club this offseason. The main candidates to claim the role are veteran free agent signee Will James and rookies Leodis McKelvin and Reggie Corner.’

‘Lindell is emerging as the best kind of player at his position, one who’s easy to ignore until he goes out and does what he’s supposed to when called on.’

‘”A roof for a December home game? As a kicker, you have to like that,” Moorman said yesterday at a downtown Toronto event to push VIP ticket packages to eight of the National Football League team’s games here during the next five years. “You are talking to a guy who plays at Ralph Wilson Stadium in some bad winter conditions. I remember once against Arizona when I put my helmet down after a play and it started blowing across the field. So, yeah, I’m for playing indoors at that time of year.”‘

‘”The demand is very, very good,” Rogers vice-chairman Phil Lind said. “There are still some seats. But even when this thing is sold out to the brim, we’ll still continue to promote it. There’s a promotion schedule, and we’re doing this not just for the 50,000 at the game, but because we want to hype the interest throughout all of Toronto.”‘

‘The obvious crowd-drawers were The Jills, two of whom are Canadian gals, who took to the stage to give a sample of their cheerleading routines.’

‘Robert Royal is the incumbent, but he hasn’t taken a snap since last season as offseason knee surgery forced him to miss the entire spring. Jauron and tight ends coach Charlie Coiner need to see Royal bounce back and return to more of his 2006 form.’

‘But whether the Bills make the playoffs probably will hinge on how much the offense improves, specifically Edwards. Schonert will allow Edwards to call audibles at the line and will mix in some deep shots to Lee Evans. How Edwards handles the added responsibility will tell us whether Buffalo’s offense can escape the doldrums.’

‘Mitchell will be given a chance to deflate that miserable prospect and instead prove he was a contributor and not a passenger on the team that ruined 19-0. His new side is hoping that he’s a chameleon in the sense that he adjusts with the flow and not that he fades into the background.’