Archives for July 2009

‘"The difference between this year and last year are heightened expectations, and much of it has to do with T.O.," said Andy Major, executive director of marketing for the Buffalo Bills. "There is a lot of excitement about the team this year and we are expecting an incredible crowd because tickets were selling out pretty quickly."’

‘"I don’t really listen to any of it," Whitner said. "Any other team I talk to, they congratulate me on the way I play the game. The natural thing to do would be to get frustrated, but you have to understand people’s mindset. You have to understand that a lot of people who talk haven’t played the game or played in the NFL. Now if it was a lot of people inside the NFL who watched the film and knew football and said those things, that would be a different story."’

‘"He’s had some outstanding games and he’s had some poor games and that happens with young quarterbacks," Jaworski said. "Everyone wants to see Joe Montana on the field in his second or third year and that’s not going to happen. I think the experience that Trent has now gained is going to pay big dividends down the road."’

‘Is Trent Edwards ready to emerge as a better-than-average quarterback? His development is the key to the team’s playoff hopes. The fact that no other NFL team signed J.P. Losman to compete for a back-up QB job is a strong clue that the Bills made the right choice.’

‘The Bills will host seven night practices this summer. Tickets are required for night practices and all tickets for the July 28 and Aug. 4 practices have been distributed.’

‘Players will be in the tent following each session signing for children 14 and younger (limit one item/child).’

‘The Buffalo Bills return to St. John Fisher College today to begin their 10th training camp in Pittsford, and this edition promises to be different than any of the previous nine. The reason: Terrell Owens.’

‘Critics feel there are way too many marketing distractions in Rochester, including night practices so fans can attend after they get out of work. They point to Buffalo’s 9-16 record in September from 2000-07 as proof.’

‘Buffalo isn’t known for tossing money around so it will likely not panic and let the market set itself before signing Maybin. But it means he could miss a week or more of camp.’

‘"Training camp is a time where you get with your teammates, you develop camaraderie for the upcoming season. You got through the hard times, the sweat, the blood, the tears of training camp to make you a better football team." – Safety Donte Whitner.’

‘Elsewhere on offense, the team will look for quarterback Trent Edwards to restore his confidence after a poor second half of 2009, and will need to ensure that Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes are prepared to handle the rushing load while Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games of the season. Much scrutiny will also be placed on Langston Walker’s attempt to replace Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, who was dealt to the Eagles during the offseason.’

‘”They wanted to bring me and see what I could do,” Holland said of the Buffalo coaching staff. “They brought six of us in and I thought me and a guy from Nebraska probably had the best shot coming out of it. I really felt like my workout went really well. My footwork was good and I threw the ball exceptionally well.”‘

‘”I like it a lot,” he said. “I like the system that we have in place right now. As a quarterback, it puts a lot of pressure on you. It adds a lot of responsibility in terms of getting your offense in the right play and the right call and that’s enjoyable as a quarterback. You want the ball in your hands late in the game when the game is on the line, and every play on this field is like that.”‘

‘If negotiating trends of recent years hold, Maybin could miss a week or more, and several other picks might be absent for the camp’s start. The reason is the Bills open camp a week early this year, and that is making it harder for the team’s top draft picks to negotiate deals in time for the first practices.’