Archives for March 2009

‘"He’s got 951 catches in the National Football League, that’s a lot of catches," said Jauron. "He has 139 touchdowns, that’s a lot of points on the board. In the last three years alone in Dallas he scored 38 touchdowns."’

‘”If he keeps his mouth shut and toes the line, it will be great for the Bills. We need one more piece on the offensive line, and even an average quarterback like we got can win when he has time and some stud receivers to throw to.”‘

‘The sad positive is that Owens joined a team where he can basically only add to the scoring total. Buffalo’s distressing inability to find players who can either catch a pass in the end zone or run one there has been beyond troubling. But it’s something their new guy is equipped to do. Plus, it’s not as if they’re creating something negative with one of his positives: Owens will increase the amount instead of merely being the beneficiary of the amount getting redistributed.’

‘Peters and the Bills, in fact, may be more than $3 million-a-year apart on their offers toward a long-term contract, league sources have told The News.’

‘If Evans and Owens don’t both top 1,000 yards receiving, it would be a disappointment.’

‘Anyway, hopes are high that Owens’ acquisition will stimulate the placement of fannies into the seats at Ralph Wilson Stadium. More national media coverage throughout the season is also certain, once Owens’ locker room follies get into full swing. TV ratings for games involving the Bills are sure to be significantly stimulated, as well. Who knows, Our Bills may even win one or two more games thanks to Owens’ presence. Stranger things have happened.’

‘The monetary value of the move can be measured, but it is finally going to make football interesting again for all the Bills fans across the region. The Bills have gone 7-9 for three straight seasons. They started last season 5-1, and crashed and burned the rest of the way to finish 7-9 after teasing their fans with playoff hopes. The offense was anemic at best, and fans can only watch so many 10-3 thrillers.’

‘And considering the deal is a one-year, $6.5-million bargain and Owens’ history is to behave and put up big numbers in the first season after joining new teams, it’s very low risk.’

‘The Bills have no starting left guard after releasing Derrick Dockery and only one veteran interior lineman under contract (starting right guard Brad Butler). Tackle Kirk Chambers could play guard. Pittsburgh free agent Kendall Simmons was in for a visit but he’s coming off Achilles’ surgery.’

‘DT Marcus Stroud on NFL Sirius Radio concerning Owens’ personality overpowering what has been a very low-key Bills locker room: “Well, I think we can coexist. One thing that may work in his favor is we don’t have all the high publicity (media) type people up there in the locker room every day and the microscope is not going to be as big as it was in like a Dallas and Philly and San Fran, all those other places that he came from. So, hopefully, that will work on our favor.”‘

‘Meanwhile, the team announced numbers for three other free-agent acquisitions, center Geoff Hangartner (No. 63), quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (No. 14) and cornerback Drayton Florence (No. 21).’

‘It’s unclear whether Hardy will be compensated by Owens to switch numbers. In the past, veteran players joining new teams have been known to pay for or provide compensation for the right to switch numbers.’

‘How ironic that Owens, a player who has given coaches headaches, could help save a coach’s job. It gets awfully cold in Buffalo. But for Jauron, the seat has become even hotter.’

‘Hardy wore jersey number 81 as a rookie for Buffalo in 2008, but had worn number 82 in college at Indiana University. The Bills announced that Hardy will wear jersey number 84 in 2009.’

‘If Buffalo had been willing to adjust that season and punish defenses by attacking the relatively open box with the run, it may have ended the playoff drought seven years ago. But the option of using Lynch as a counterbalancing attacker may be off the table this season because throwing to Owens fewer than 10 times per game will prove unacceptable to Buffalo’s brand-new diva.’