Archives for August 2009

‘However, it’s possible the Bills may need a completed contract by 10th pick Michael Crabtree before they finalize the deal. Crabtree and the San Francisco 49ers reportedly are far apart in negotiations. Crabtree was expected to be taken much higher than 10th overall, but fell due to a stress fracture injury that came to light in February.’

‘Rookie punter A.J. Trapasso scored on a 40-yard fake punt that required a Houdini-like piece of sleight-of-hand and quarterback Kerry Collins easily guided his first-team offense through Buffalo’s first-team defense 73 yards to another score as the Titans raced to an early 14-0 lead before 22,153 fans at historic Fawcett Stadium.’

‘”For me it’s just a blessing to be in there and have accomplished a feat worthy,” said Owens, who made his Bills debut Sunday night in the Hall of Fame Game against Tennessee at Fawcett Stadium adjacent to the Hall.’

‘The Hall of Fame coach is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the sixth annual Men’s Health Day, hosted by the University of Rochester Medical Center. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rochester.’

‘Buffalo had a chance to win it late, but Ryan Mouton’s interception of Matt Baker sealed the win for the Titans.’

‘”It feels really good to get the opportunity to come back here, not just to play in the stadium, but just to run around and play against some different people. I’m definitely excited about it and having some fun right now.”‘

Titans get preseason off on the right foot (Nashville Tennessean)

Titans’ trick stuns Bills (Nashville Tennessean)

Photo gallery (Nashville Tennessean)

Titans knock off Bills in Hall of Fame Game (Nashville City Paper)

Titans’ Young happy with ’09 debut (Nashville City Paper)

Titans Game Notes (TitansOnline.com)

Titans Halftime Quotes (TitansOnline.com)

Photo gallery (TitansOnline.com)

‘”It’s a beautiful thing, not just that (interception) but everything,” Corner said. “Being on my home field, my home fans and having my family here, and just getting the chance to get out there and play.”‘

‘Denise Burton, director of sales and membership for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce was working at a souvenir booth inside Fawcett Stadium. She and others in the booth agreed that Buffalo merchandise had far outsold Tennessee items, perhaps by a 3-to-1 margin, especially Saturday, and especially Bruce Smith T-shirts and caps, and Buffalo pennants. Sunday night, game shirts also were hot sellers.’

‘With much of the second floor dedicated to radio and TV, the print media and the public relations staffs from both the Bills and Titans occupied the first floor. In past years, as much as half of the credentialed media were forced to sit outside in the stands.’

‘Owens now has what may be one last chance to prove he really is a good guy, that his burning desire to win was misinterpreted by others as counterproductive to the cause. As his athletic skills gradually diminish, a 35-year-old player like Owens will be given increasingly less leeway to demonstratively demand passes, chew out his quarterback or exhibit me-first behavior at the expense of his team like last season in Dallas. If these headaches happen in Buffalo, the T.O. Show will get canceled as soon as his one-year contract expires. Another NFL suitor may not be forthcoming.’

‘Bills fans who haven’t had the chance to watch them at St. John Fisher and caught their first glimpse of the no-huddle offense Sunday night on NBC’s broadcast might feel disillusioned that it looks nothing like the K-Gun. But the system implemented by offensive coordinator Turk Schonert came off as natural against a live opponent.’

‘Edwards finished 3 of 4 for 34 yards and one interception while Owens hauled in the aforementioned two passes for 34 yards.’

‘The bigger picture involves Lynch learning from his mistakes and not putting the team in this situation again, coach Dick Jauron said.’

‘”Tempo to me, I’d like to see a little more speed between plays, I guess, a little more in that area, at times,” he said. “But other than that, I don’t have any issue with how they work. The contact, we’re not a team that goes full contact. We’ve got five exhibition games to do that, but we go hard in our drills. Our nine-on-seven drills and our team work will go heavy thud at times. We try to stay up and off the ground. It’s hard, try to not make piles of bodies where people can have their legs fallen on and things. Generally, they do a really nice job with it.”‘