Archives for July 26, 2009

‘The offensive guard’s agent Leo Goeas told The Associated Press that “we’re just about there,” noting that the two sides are going over the final language of the deal. The 51st overall pick out of Oregon State, Levitre made 39 starts and was first-team All-Pac 10 last year.’

‘”I think he’s done the time for what he’s done. I don’t think it’s really fair for him to be suspended four more games,” Owens said, referring to reports that the NFL is considering to further punish Vick. “It’s almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground. … The guy’s already suffered so much. And to add a four-game suspension on a two-year prison sentence, that’s ridiculous.”‘

‘”It all starts up front with myself and Geoff Hangartner recognizing what the front is and where the linebackers are and I have to be on the same page with my receivers on where the secondary is,” said Trent Edwards. “I know our defense does a great job of disguising those things and disguising those fronts. Paul (Posluszny) and Kawika (Mitchell) are jumping around a lot making it difficult to identify where the linebackers are and that’s all a credit to Perry Fewell and the way he runs that system. It’s just a matter of getting reps against those sorts of defenses.”‘

‘Schonert has to devise offensive game plans that make things happen quickly and keep opposing headhunters occupied with enough duties to keep Trent out of traction. Another hunt for a “quarterback of the future” would be too dismal a prospect.’

‘They cheered his routine catches. They cheered the way he stretched. They roared when he hauled in a 65-yard bomb from Trent Edwards in the afternoon. They hollered, "Getcha popcorn ready." They wore his No. 81 jersey. They carried boxes of his cereal.’

‘"I’ve been in Buffalo the majority of the summer," Hardy said. "I’ve just been getting healthy. Each and every week, I’m progressing in my weight [lifting]. Everything is going according to plan. I’ve started cutting a lot more the past month in running my routes. I’m very comfortable with where I’m at and hopefully I’ll be out there soon."’

‘If we learned anything on the first day, it’s that the all-world receiver and A-list celebrity carries the heavy load of two personae. Terrell Owens is the guy with 951 career catches, 139 touchdowns and 14,122 yards receiving. He’s the tireless worker who approached his first practice with his new team in blue-collar fashion, making it clear his arrival was no joke. That much cannot be discounted.’

‘During warm-ups, a fan yelled at Terrell Owens that he wanted his jersey and T.O., ever the businessman smiled and responded, "We’ve got plenty of ’em in the pro shop."’

‘"I went over and signed (after the morning practice) over there and no one really cheered that loud," Edwards said with a smile. "He went over there and the whole crowd cheered."’

‘"Anything I can do to keep the fans into it and let them know that I am thankful for them," he said. "I recognize them, I hear them out here. It’s not easy being in the stands and standing in the hot sun rooting and hollering every day, so it’s good to interact with those guys."’

‘"Him coming here is going to break the millennium drought," he said of the Bills’ non-playoff stretch through the 2000s. "He’s the second-best wide receiver in the league and we’ve got him."’

‘"Five is cool; we can work with 5," Rhodes said of Edwards and the QB’s jersey number. "Number 18, that was my brother for years; but it is what it is. Now I have Trent."’

‘"They need to be here," coach Dick Jauron said of the absent rookies. "That being said, I understand all the things that go into the negotiations, both sides, but they need to be here. They’ll miss work that’s just hard to make up, and one of the great advantages of playing in the Hall of Fame game is you have that extra week and for a young player it’s really a week they could use."’

‘The crowd, which would swell from 250 to about 2,500 in less than an hour, erupted in cheers. Boxes of Owens’ new TO’s cereal were thrust to the blue sky, led by a very vocal fan that was obviously riding a sugar high. The man jabbed a "We’re No. 1" foam finger in the air and rooted Owens’ every move, making the receiver laugh out loud.’

‘A winning record (6): Buffalo Bills (they’d tell you making the playoffs is a reasonable goal, but first things first; 9-7 might be good enough for a playoff berth), San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets (can’t bank on rookie QB Mark Sanchez but they could better rating if he’s this season’s version of last year’s Matt Ryan), Cincinnati Bengals (Carson Palmer returns), Washington Redskins (tough division).’