Archives for August 9, 2009

‘And even faster than Timko picked his best Bruce moment, Smith used to hop across the line of scrimmage, seemingly knowing the opponent’s snap count before the left tackle he was belittling. On the then-Rich Stadium turf, Smith’s speed was overwhelming, and the occasional spin he’d mix in kept opposing linemen befuddled.’

‘A report continues to circulate that Terrell (T.O.) Owens, the recently acquired wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, has been checking out available waterfront residences in the Youngstown area.’

‘”I think if you look at our first preseason game last year versus this year, they are entirely different,” said Trent Edwards, Buffalo quarterback. “We have some new players in here, we are on a national stage, we are the only people playing, we have our owner and a great defensive end (Bruce Smith) going into the Hall of Fame that played for the Bills. We’re excited about and I think guys will be ready.”‘

‘”We’re representing Ralph (Wilson) and Bruce (Smith) and the entire organization. It’s a big weekend,” veteran defensive end Chris Kelsay said. “It adds a little bit of importance to the game, a little bit more so than just your ordinary first preseason game.”‘

‘”This certainly feels like a home game,” he said.’

‘”It was a lucky pick, because over the years, they have supported the team in Buffalo beyond our fondest dreams,” Wilson said.’

‘But these were football fans – many wearing Buffalo Bills blue and red among the 12,695 in attendance. What’s a little bad weather when we’re talking football?’

‘”When you are a player, you don’t really think about (the Hall of Fame) unless the media asks you about it,” said the seven-time Pro Bowler. “I concentrated on playing the game as best I could and being the player I needed to be. I was only as good as the players around me.”‘

‘”It’s as if everyone in Buffalo is being inducted today,” said ESPN’s Chris Berman, who introduced Wilson for his enshrinement. “Mr. Wilson, Bruce [Smith], I think we have a Buffalo home game.”‘

‘That’s the way it is with T.O. He always burns his bridges behind him. Yet Owens always finds a new bridge.’

‘In Detroit, during the summer of 1970, Wilson and his associates produced a gameplan to force Rozelle and his NFL owners into final submission. Al Davis was there, feisty and snotty to local sports journalists, deemed NFL supporters.’

‘To some extent, Edwards and the Bills must’ve known what to expect when they signed Owens to a one-year, $6.5-million deal. The Twitter celebrity turned reality show star – who’s also a six-time Pro Bowler – had an unpleasant split from his last team, the Cowboys, and quarterback Tony Romo. It was the latest in the 35-year-old’s laundry list of major conflicts.’

‘”Since I didn’t find the right spot in free agency, I decided to try something new,” Losman said. “I really haven’t played that much in the last two years, so [if I signed as an NFL backup] now we’re talking 3-4 years with nothing really to show, no game tape, nothing. I’m trying to be proactive as much as I can in getting back into a [NFL] starting position.”‘

‘”When you look back, everything gets rosier,” says Stratton, 68, a retired insurance agent. “But I know we had an excellent, just excellent defense.”‘

‘And when Rich Eisen tried to tell some jokes about Rod Woodson and heard crickets, he should have just pumped his fist into the air and screamed “Buffalo!” Then he would have gotten a response. A big one.’