Archives for August 4, 2008

‘"We’ve got a big challenge because those guys that we lost were really good for us, and they were really good for four years," April said. "So yeah, it’s going to be a neat deal to see how we come along, who rises to the top."’

‘"(Donte’s) got a little ankle injury and we want to make sure, so we’ll examine him," said Jauron.’

‘Buffalo Bills rookie linebacker Alvin Bowen is scheduled to have surgery next week to repair a torn right knee ligament, and is expected to miss most if not all of the regular season.’

‘"I’m excited," said Spragan of joining the Bills. "I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me so I’ve got to put the time in, but I’m looking forward to it and feel I can help."’

‘One of the really cool things about attending a camp practice is witnessing some of the oddities that a team practices, but rarely uses in a game. Special Teams Coach Bobby April put his squad through a series of fake field goal executions. Holder Moorman would flip the ball to a crossing back, keep it himself or pass it to a flanker downfield. On one play, the recipient of his pass was none other than Marcus Stroud. The big man had such a head of steam that there’s no way a 170-pound defensive back would have ever brought him down.’

‘The Bills had an opening on their roster after formally placing Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters on their reserve-did-not-report list. Peters is being fined for refusing to report to training camp because he wants the final three years on his contract restructured.’

‘Hawthorne (5’11”, 168) is a converted cornerback that only played receiver for one season at Hawaii. He played his junior college ball at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and Southwest Gulf Coast CC.’

‘There was hope that Bowen, a fifth-round pick, would be a marginal candidate to start next in 2009, as his bulky-safety size of 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds could make him a good weakside fit in the Bills’ cautious system. He seemed like a sensible choice for Buffalo in that he fits the mold of a coverage specialist and not a Bryce Paup-style “linebacker” who regularly lines up with his hand on the ground.’

‘”That’s a part of this business,” Royal said after an afternoon practice at St. John Fisher College. “We’ve got to go out there and compete and every year you’ve always got somebody that’s trying to bump you, so I’m all for it. I’m a team guy . . . whatever it takes [to win]. I’m just out there trying to get myself to be the best that I can be.”‘

‘Peters’ beef is legit. He’s scheduled to make $3.25 million plus incentives this year, decent money for sure for your average left tackle. But Peters is more than that. He’s the force responsible for protecting the blind side of the quarterback, which makes him 1-B when ranking the players most important to the success of the offense. Yet he’s being paid less than Walker ($5 million), less than Derrick Dockery ($7 million). As much as this is about money it’s also about respect. Your best offensive lineman ought to be paid accordingly.’

‘"It was great to have Mr. Wilson here, it was great to have the commissioner here and the senator here; it was really a thrill, I think, for our football team prior to the practice, to hear from all of those gentlemen was good," Jauron said. "It was very good for all of us, and the message was about football and about the community and how it all fits together and the responsibility of players and our organization in the community, and that was all a big plus."’

‘CB Leodis McKelvin is running with the second unit and getting a lot of repetitions. He has had his moments, good and bad, but his athleticism is evident. He’s expected to get a shot returning kicks and punts in Friday’s preseason opener at Washington.’

‘Left tackle Jason Peters’ contract holdout is entering its second full week with no end in sight. Peters apparently hasn’t responded to electronic and phone messages left for him by team officials and his agent, Eugene Parker, isn’t operating under any sense of urgency. The Bills won’t negotiate with Peters unless he shows up for work, COO Russ Brandon has indicated. In the interim, the coaching staff has moved RT Langston Walker to the left side, with Kirk Chambers also getting reps there. "It reminded me of when I was younger and about 100 pounds lighter," Walker said of making the move. "It was good. It was a learning process and this is what we are going to need depending on what goes on with Jason’s situation." Peters is coming off surgery to repair a sports hernia, but because he’s had virtually no contact with team trainers, the team doesn’t know if he’s 100 percent ready to play when and if he reports.’

‘Things are on the upturn, the defense, the special teams, which, under Bobby April are always great, but they’d better get their offensive left tackle, Jason Peters, in camp or the whole equation goes kaboom!’