Archives for October 22, 2009

‘While still learning the NFL ropes at a new position, Byrd has not forgotten how to make plays. He had 17 interceptions during his three-year college career at Oregon. Plain and simple, Jairus Byrd is a playmaker. Always has been. Always will be.’

‘Looking back, Fitzpatrick said getting drafted by the Rams and playing for former head coach Mike Martz, the engineer of some of the NFL’s most prolific passing offenses, was a rare blessing. “It was awesome,” Fitzpatrick said. “Talk about a guy known for developing quarterbacks and developing the unknown, not highly regarded quarterback. That’s the guy you want to be put with. The offense thrown at me, the stuff I had to learn, it’s stayed with me and it’s helped me all along the way.”‘

‘It’s not certain when or if Hardy will be activated to the 53-man roster. The Bills have 21 days to decide to activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.’

‘Here’s a term not often ascribed celebrity wide receiver Terrell Owens: role model. Teammate James Hardy, a second-year pro, said Owens, a 14-year veteran, has been more than generous with his advice and time while he has been rehabilitating his knee after ACL surgery. “In the locker room, on the phone, go to his house, whatever I need to get myself there mentally (he’s been there for me), now I just want to get out there and show it,” Hardy said. “Before I ever met him, I looked at it as a great chance to learn from a guy like that.”‘

‘DT Kyle Williams (shoulder) , S Donte Whitner (ankle) and TE Shawn Nelson (illness) all watched the workout. CB Terrence McGee (knee) and T Johnathon Scott (ankle) were absent.’

‘Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was absent from the practice field on Wednesday while he recuperates from a concussion.’

‘Edwards has already been sacked 19 times this season, but the Jets never got to Fitzpatrick. The Bills, with a young offensive line, rank 29th in the NFL in sacks allowed.’

‘Hardy said he still feels a little soreness in his knee, but it’s something doctors have told him to expect. He showed no lingering effects of the injury during individual drills, when he burst off the line at full speed and made a sharp cut over the middle to catch a pass.’

‘”You know, we’ll see,” Evans said. “It’s kind of hard to speculate on him right now. But we just hope Trent gets back healthy, gets himself together, and we’ll move forward with that situation.”‘

‘”I was the starter at (Wednesday’s) practice was how I was thinking about it,” said Fitzpatrick. “Whether or not (Edwards) comes back we’ll welcome him back with open arms and everybody is hoping he’ll be back, but that’s how I have to approach it.”‘

‘”I’m just so anxious to get back out there that I didn’t want to do too much before I’m actually out there,” Hardy told Buffalobills.com. “The last couple of weeks I was just trying to make sure I had my conditioning up.”‘