Archives for August 15, 2009

‘”We will probably be in a little longer,” said Edwards. “Again, you get so mentally ready for the games. I still get butterflies, you still play hard, and it is kind of a letdown when you get taken out of a game. But, it is all part of the preseason.’

‘None of the Bills’ second-string linebackers have ever made a tackle on defense in a regular-season NFL game. Linebacker depth is one of the big worries on the team.’

‘Cutler is expected to play into the second quarter, Bears coach Lovie Smith said this week.’

‘Last year, Buffalo’s opponents scored on their first offensive possession nine times, including seven touchdowns, and the Bills were outscored in the first quarter 108-46.’

‘Mort’s bus is equipped with Direct TV, Wi-Fi, dual sets of bunk beds, a shower, bathroom, refrigerator and three flat-screen TVs. Climbing up the four stairs leading into the bus’s cabin, pizza boxes, a coffee maker and empty water and Red Bull bottles line the tables, essentials on Mort’s great American road trip. A chart of visited training camp sites with team helmets and host cities is posted along a wall and the back of the bus has a map of all the completed visits, plus a team sticker that’s been placed on the bus by an NFL player.’

‘"I know that when you’re on defense facing the no-huddle, it’s hard to get your calls in, hard to catch your breath and hard to get your personnel substitutions exactly right," said safety Donte Whitner. "Now you throw a player like T.O. in the mix and, hey, we have some really good players at receiver like Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed, so I think this no-huddle is going to be a handful for the defenses we face."’

‘”Any edge that we can get is going to be good for us,” running back Marshawn Lynch(notes) said. “When you’re out there and get into a flow, the defense starts guessing on where you’re going to be. And that’s when you can come and hit them with something they’re not expecting.”‘

‘While Edwards barked out the play calls, rock and heavy-metal music cranked through the speakers around the stadium. Bills practice was part football, part concert. It made for a winning evening. We’ll see if that translates into winning on Sundays.’

‘For my money, it’s been left guard Eric Wood, the Bills’ second of two first-round draft choices. The 6-4, 315-pound red-head from the University of Louisville has looked terrific. Plus, the Cincinnati native has a bit of an edge to him and a ton of personality.’