Archives for April 2009

‘"Any time there is negative light shown upon this organization, it affects everyone at One Bills Drive, it affects everybody in our community quite frankly," Brandon continued. "Any clubhouse or locker room is a microcosm of society. We have 85 players on this team, 150 people in the organization and to say you’re not going to have a problem crop up here and there is ignorant. But we do everything in our power to educate them and make sure these situations do not occur."’

‘Thank God we’re giving all the money we could be making here in New York state to impoverished regions of North America like East Rutherford, N.J. and the fifth largest city in Canada.’

‘Preston failed to impress, though, and Buffalo never made a serious effort to keep him.’

‘That means the Bills don’t have to do anything, but they’re trying — and it reminds me of something Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner once said about renegotiations: That both sides should win. When the team provides a player financial security by cutting a deal years in advance, he said, it should expect something in return — and what it should get is a break on the cost. Peters doesn’t see it that way, and he has the Bills so frazzled now that negotiations have ground to a halt and they’ve thrown open the doors to a possible trade. That doesn’t mean one happens, but it means one could — and that should tell you something. It should tell you that Peters is wearing them out.’

‘But the real key stretch, for a team that’s had three straight 7-9 seasons, comes in weeks 12 through 15. After tough road games at Tennessee and Jacksonville in consecutive weeks, the Bills host Miami on Nov. 29, entertain the Jets in the Thursday nighter at Toronto, visit Kansas City for the second straight season, then welcome the Pats to “The Ralph” on Dec. 20.’

‘”As much as ever you have to be making sure that guy is the right guy for you and be able to utilize him,” Modrak said. “But I wouldn’t rule out the pass catching personally and a talent like that. I wouldn’t rule anything out at this point. We kind of build it and some guys will fall by the wayside.”‘

‘”Any time there’s a negative light shone on this organization, it affects everybody at 1 Bills Drive,” Brandon said Wednesday, referring to the team’s address. “Any locker room is a microcosm of society. We’ve got 85 players on this team and 150 people within this organization, and to say that you’re not going to have a problem crop up here and there, I think, is ignorant.”‘

‘In his fifth season in Buffalo, April’s special teams finished in the top 10 in four statistical categories, including a league-leading 15.5 yards per punt return.’

‘Rhodes, 30, became an unrestricted free agent in late February. The Colts have not ruled out re-signing him to again pair with returnee Joseph Addai.’

‘Buffalo Bills Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Bobby April has been voted Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers and received the award Tuesday, April, 7th at an award ceremony in Reno, NV.’

‘On paper, the 2009 schedule looks brutal. The Bills have the sixth-toughest schedule in the NFL based on their opponents’ 146-110 record (.570 winning percentage) in 2008. Won-loss records from the previous year aren’t always a true gauge of how hard or easy the following year’s schedule is going to be. But the Bills’ 2008 schedule lived up to its lowly preseason projections.’

‘If the game is blacked out, NFL blackout rules would apply in Rochester as a secondary market to Buffalo. If the game is sold out in time and the blackout is lifted, it will be made available to a public airwaves station in Buffalo – the primary market – but not Rochester.’

‘It had been anticipated that Toronto was going to get the game featuring Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, which would have been a further irritation to the fans of Western New York who already resent sharing their team with Toronto. But to surrender a rare prime time slot for a community that has passionately supported its team for 50 years is probably even more of a kick in the teeth. A poll on Buffalo radio station WGR last evening confirmed that impression.’

‘”When I was your guys’ age and going to elementary school, I was not allowed to have any sugar cereal or any video games,” said Edwards, who grew up in Los Gatos, Calif. “How many of you guys eat sugared cereal and play video games?” With this, the entire student body put up their hands, sparking laughter.’

‘”We’ve got T.O. in prime time, the spotlight of a national game in Canada and the U.S., and a division rivalry at the most crucial time of the season,” said Adrian Montgomery, general manager of the Bills in Toronto series. “A Toronto NFL fan could not ask for anything more.”‘