Archives for August 1, 2008

‘In all likelihood Bowen suffered torn ligaments in his knee though the Bills had no official word on the nature of the injury Friday afternoon.’

‘Bowen, the Bills’ fifth-round draft pick out of Iowa State, was hurt during 7-on-7 drills while pursuing fullback Jonathan Evans at the left sideline. When Bowen pulled up to avoid contact, his right cleat stuck in the turf and his knee buckled. He was yelling in pain as he was attended to by team trainers.’

‘”I was kind of low (on the depth chart), but things worked themselves out,” Greer said about last season. “I think my performance was something to build on. It gave me a foundation to go into the offseason and have a more positive mentality.”‘

‘But two weeks before the first game of the series kicks off, it’s tough to tell how excited Buffalo fans are about the games taking place up the QEW. Near their practice field at St. John Fisher College, the Bills erected a huge, air-conditioned tent, half-filled with team merchandise for sale, and half filled with displays from sponsors. A few metres from the entrance a crew from Tourism Toronto had set up a table, trying to unload some of their allotment of 2,000 seats for the Aug.14 game at Rogers Centre between the Bills and Pittsburgh. "We haven’t had any (sales) yet, so we’re pretty excited," said Tourism Toronto’s Jessica Horton as the booth opened. "We’re hoping to sell some tickets to the game." But hope alone was no match for fan apathy and faulty computers.’

‘”When we were warming up I sort of tweaked my left hamstring a little bit, nothing major,” Hardy said. “After talking with the trainer, he said it was better that I just sit out so I wouldn’t pull it and be out two to three weeks.”‘

‘”I’m loving every minute of it,” Burris said after practice at St. John Fisher College. “I feel I’m working with one of the best, if not the best guy in the NFL on special teams in [coach] Bobby April, and my emphasis is on the returners.”‘

‘The left ankle of free safety Ko Simpson remains a worry this summer. Simpson, who broke the ankle in the season opener last September, sat out Thursday’s practice due to discomfort in his ankle and foot area. He was taken for a magnetic resonance imaging test that coach Dick Jauron said showed no major problem. “It was so we could put his mind at ease and our own about it,” Jauron said. “We think that we’ve eliminated any real serious stuff so now we just work through the soreness.”‘

‘The Bills have the pleasant option between employing an established special teams superstar to keep up the fine work or letting him rest by giving the task to a promising newcomer. Either way, one of the lucky cornerbacks will get to run with the ball more frequently than on interceptions or fumble recoveries. It’s both fun for the player and lucrative for a young offense that could use good drive starting spots provided by one of two defenders.’

‘"I wasn’t getting down about anything," Youboty said, scoffing at the adversity he has endured in his two-plus years as a member of the Bills. "You can’t get down or feel sorry for yourself because no one else is going to feel sorry for you."’

‘Every one of Buffalo’s games in November and December will be outdoors in cold weather cities. That’ll minimize the passing game and mean increased carries for Lynch right in the heart of the fantasy season.’

‘The injury is to the same ankle Simpson broke in the Bills’ season opener last year, and led to the second-year starter being placed on season-ending injured reserve.’

‘"The good thing about Lee is he’ll help you in terms of that quarterback-receiver relationship," said Edwards. "He’s willing to come back to give you advice to make sure you’re on the same page. There was a certain play today where my read wasn’t to go to him, but he was open and he came back in the huddle and said, ‘I know that’s not your read Trent, but I’d like you to look to me on that play because I like that route and I like that matchup.’ So I’ll try to get him the ball."’

‘"Ko went and had that foot tested and pictures taken, an MRI and everything," said head coach Dick Jauron. "It was so we could put his mind at ease and our own about it. I think we’ve eliminated any real serious stuff so now we just work through the soreness."’

‘Yet Jauron also conceded, “I definitely would like to keep Langston at the right (tackle) and have Jason come into camp. (But) we’ll be prepared just in case. Even when Jason comes in, we’ll keep working people at different positions. We’re preparing for any eventuality. We don’t want to move a guy who has never taken a rep there through the whole training camp. We feel the way we’re doing it will give us options."’