Archives for August 2009

‘”I’m proud of being a part of football for 50 years,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun, met a lot of great people. I’ve just had a lot of fun. It’s not a good investment, you know, but if you’re having fun — winning or losing — I think it’s all worth it.” Smith played 19 NFL seasons in all, enduring 11 knee surgeries on way to a league-record 200 sacks. His proudest achievement? “The relationships I’ve built over the years,” said Smith, 46, a real estate developer in Virginia Beach. “I can depend on every one of these guys I played with at the drop of dime. We are family. And now to be welcomed into a fraternity like no other, well … it’s better than any frat house or organization you can belong to. This is the elite of the elite. What a privilege to belong to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”‘

‘”We can build off that one opening series,” said Edwards, who exclusively ran a no-huddle attack. “Preseason is about getting comfortable. You make mistakes, then work on them. But you can take a good drive like that and go with it, too.”‘

‘Tennessee reached into its bag of tricks on the game’s opening drive and pulled out a beautifully designed fake punt. A.J. Trapasso, a rookie punter out of Ohio State, bluffed a reverse and scampered 40 yards to the end zone.’

‘”The no huddle looked good at times and looked poor at times,” said Jauron. “We’ll certainly get better at it too. We would like to keep moving, but for the first night I was pleased. I don’t recall that we had an illegal procedure or a delay of game.”‘

‘”When I first saw them they blew my mind,” said Chris Kelsay of the white throwbacks. “I really liked them. They look sharp. I think they’ll look good on the field, but ultimately whatever they give us we’ll play hard in them.”‘

‘Like almost all owners of big league sports teams, Wilson has been the object of a love-hate relationship, depending upon how the Bills fare. No owner in any sport has handled it better. During downbeat times, such as the current one, he has had bricks thrown at him by the media, some from this direction. Speaking personally, we have been friends for many years and we remain friends. He is a classy man.’

‘”My luck prevails. And closing in on 91, I still feel that I have youth on my side.”‘

‘ “In the annals of NFL history the sum total of my career will forever be defined by the 15 years I spent playing for the Buffalo Bills.”‘

‘More than half the crowd was Bills fans. Once the night wore on, it was a running joke among the presenters. Those Bills jerseys were everywhere – Smith, Thomas, Kelly, Smerlas, Flutie, Posluszny, Buffalo Soldiers, you name it. It was a sea of red, white and blue.’

‘”History is starting to be nice to us, I would say,” said linebacker Darryl Talley, one of numerous players, coaches and administrators in attendance to join the Buffalo celebration. “I think they are starting to recognize that we had a good team. We had a lot of tremendously talented people on that team. It’s just one of those things that you’re glad to see some of your teammates in there, and you’re proud as a peacock to watch them go in there.”‘

‘”At first I took a deep breath, and then I just said thanks,” Cottrell said. “It’s quite an honor. Not too many people get that chance. I was very appreciative of it. It’s going to be one of the finest moments of my life, something I’ll never forget.”‘

‘Now Bruce’s career was 19 years. 19 years. That’s a long time to play at a contact and collision position in the NFL. But, 15 of those years were played in front of the best and the loudest fans in the NFL, the Buffalo Bill fans. So Bills fans, now’s the time that we’ve all been waiting for. Now’s the time. Let’s get this noise level up in here. Come on now. You know how to do it. Come on. You know how to do this. Show the world. Come on fans, you’re the loudest fans. There’s no other group like you. Get it going.’

‘You may sometimes feel discouraged by the challenges you face, but never give up. The journey may be difficult, but press on in the face of adversity. Have faith in your capabilities. Set your goals high, and then work diligently, diligently to achieve them. Keep your heads head high, and above all, trust in God. Because all things are possible to those who believe.’

‘And standing in the background of all of this, the one constant through it all, Ralph Wilson Jr. He is not an owner that you see pacing the sidelines, exerting his team or exerting the fans. All right, I guess he had to come down on the field once. He had to. They renamed the stadium after him, and someone had to give him the keys to the place. Now it’s 2009. Buffalo is far from the 14th largest metropolis in America. These are certainly tough times in a lot of places, certainly in Western New York. Yet 50 years later, the Bills still belonged to Buffalo because your owner has given you his word.’

‘It was a lucky pick, because over the years, they have supported the team in Buffalo beyond our fondest dreams. And without the support, I wouldn’t be on this platform tonight.’