Archives for July 2009

‘”We all know about him as a player, it adds a lot of excitement,” Jauron said. “Wherever I was, and I wasn’t that many places during this little break we had, there were a lot of questions, and all of them, almost all of them, were about him.”‘

‘Levitre, who played at Oregon State, signed a four-year contract believed to be worth roughly $3.6 million, with about $1.8 million guaranteed, according to the Buffalo News.’

‘The Bills are still without the other rookie guard projected to be a starter, first-round pick Eric Wood, along with their other second-round pick, Jairus Byrd, and defensive end Aaron Maybin, who was drafted No. 11 overall.’

‘"I think it’s unfortunate," Owens said. "I think the way the commissioner has handled it, I think is unfair to Michael Vick. 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. That’s almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground.’

‘"He’s the complete package," said Levitre’s agent, Leo Goeas of Colorado, who spent eight seasons in the NFL. "He is extremely smart. I think in their offense, with a lot of no-huddle being used, calls are changing on the line of scrimmage quickly, and you have to be a smart guy in that type of system. … From a physical standpoint, Andy is a blue-collar, hard worker. He likes to mix it up in the trenches. You don’t see him on the ground much because he plays with great balance."’

‘Levitre comes in determined to prove he’s ready to start in the NFL. “That’s my goal,” said Levitre. “I’m not coming in here to be a backup. I’ll definitely come out and compete with these guys. I know there are some great players here, but I’m going to play my best and if I get the starting job that’s it.”‘

‘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."’