Archives for May 2009

‘”I’m just a little sore, but I feel alright,” said McGee after practice Thursday. “We were going stride for stride and just trying to make a play on the ball. When I came down I just kind of landed wrong. I’m alright, but the way I landed kind of had me scared.”‘

‘"I feel like there’s not too much more I can do because I’m going on my fifth year," Parrish said. "They’ve seen me. They know my ability and what I can do. It’s just I probably haven’t been given the opportunity. The NFL is all about opportunity."’

‘"It’ll play out however it plays out," Kelsay said after another day of organized team activities. "Just give it your all and do everything to the best of your ability. That’s all you can control anyway."’

‘”Well, I think it’s very, very important, especially for me being new to the system,” Owens said. “Obviously, I have to get used to the way he throws the ball and he has to get used to my body language as far as when I’m going in and out of cuts. We’re just trying to get a sense of timing and some chemistry and just working through some routes we’re going to be running throughout the course of the year.”‘

‘A Chautauqua County winery’s Strawberry Festival in June will feature Ruben Brown, a former Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears offensive lineman, and the Buffalo Jills. The event, which will be held at Merritt Estate Winery on June 13 and 14, will raise money for the Ruben Brown Foundation and Ruben’s Motorcycle Run of Buffalo.’

‘What’s interesting is that, out of the 41 columns I’ve written since I joined the Tonawanda News, this mistake generated more e-mails than the other 40 combined. Comments for most of the other columns were either neutral or supportive of my opinion.’

‘Stroud, a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, will be hosting the Marcus Stroud Pro Bowl Football Camp this Saturday at Brooks County’s Veterans Stadium.’

‘”Bill Parcells didn’t call me by my name either, so what’s the difference?” he said, referring to the Cowboys former coach who would refer to Owens only as “The player.”‘

‘Unless a new suitor comes into play for Pisa Tinoisamoa, it looks like the veteran linebacker will choose between the Bears and Buffalo Bills.’

‘"Just getting used to the playbook is the biggest thing," Wood said. "The transition to guard is going really well. I’m picking up the techniques. It’s just getting down the plays and jelling with the other offensive linemen."’

‘The cornerback contingent for the Bills was pretty short-handed Wednesday. Leodis McKelvin was not participating for undisclosed reasons, but was in attendance. Reggie Corner was filling in for him with the first team defense on the right side. After McGee left practice early with his injury, Drayton Florence stepped in for Buffalo’s top corner.’

‘During team drills, McGee was shadowing Owens up the sideline when the two went up for a pass. Owens initially caught the ball but had it ripped out by McGee. The two then fell to the ground with Owens partially landing on the cornerback.’

‘”I have been working with [offensive line] coach [Sean] Kugler every day for 10 or 15 minutes [after practice] continuing to work on my sets,” Butler said. “At tackle, every day it’s sets, sets, sets, sets. When you see a tackle get beat, it’s usually because he had a bad set. It’s something I’m going to continue to have to work at and get better at.”‘

‘"It won’t be easy," coach Dick Jauron said, assessing the challenge of getting all five working together by September. "There’s no doubt it’s a challenge. I believe we have the right group of guys for it."’

‘For $195, the kids will learn about football and fitness, plus meet the Buffalo Bills receiver and whichever famous friends join him.’