Archives for October 27, 2009

‘There is still plenty to not like about this Bills’ team – quarterback play, a struggling running game, little production out of Terrell Owens, an inexperienced and injured offensive line – but Byrd is not one of them.’

‘But something happened on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte as April’s crew showed up with an attitude.’

‘Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes approved Whitner’s participation in the diversion program Monday. Court spokesman Ed Ferenc says Whitner must report to a probation officer monthly and avoid trouble.’

‘If Whitner completes the intervention program, he will not have a criminal record. He asked if he qualified for the program for first-time offenders at a hearing Sept. 29. Judge Angela Stokes placed him in it yesterday, the day before a scheduled hearing. He is due back in court Jan. 26.’

‘”That’s one of the things you want to be able to do,” said Draft. “Two weeks ago with one play being able to get a sack and then this past week being able to be involved in the short yardage play, it’s important to be able to do that. This league is about results and making plays and you always want to be able to say that I contributed to the game.”‘

‘While the Bills’ offensive line did a decent job on some plays, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was under duress a lot. A review of the game showed that Fitzpatrick got sacked twice, knocked down five times and pressured seven times on 24 drop backs.’

‘I’m guessing it’s the same bridge Losman reached two years ago, the one that leads an elite QB to his lucrative second contract, with the huge bonus. The bridge was blown up by the time Losman arrived. And they’re likely to push the plunger on Edwards, too.’

‘"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it," is all Jauron had to say about who might start when Edwards is healthy enough to play.’

‘”I want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” said Byrd, a second-round pick out of Oregon who has provided the Bills a huge lift with four of his picks coming in the last two weeks as Buffalo has pulled out road victories over the Jets and Panthers.’

‘Right now the Bills have one win over a team with a winning record. I’m guessing that you’ll be more impressed if the Bills were to beat Houston at home this Sunday.’

‘Did Lynch not realize it’s the team’s first rushing touchdown in seven games? He’s lucky he didn’t get a helmet in the ribs. Act like you’ve been there, Marshawn.’

‘Byrd still has a ways to go in run support, but when the ball’s in the air, he knows how to go get it. On his first pick against Carolina’s Jake Delhomme, he was leaning toward Panthers star wideout Steve Smith on the left side, but he saw Delhomme throwing deep down the middle to Gary Barnidge. The ball was overthrown, and Byrd tracked it down to make the grab and then returned it 37 yards to the Carolina 7, setting up a Bills touchdown.’

‘For just the second time in his tenure, Dick Jauron has seen his team win back-to-back road games, and despite all the second-tier players he’s being forced to use because of injuries, the effort has been noteworthy. On defense, Perry Fewell’s guys are giving up gobs of yardage, but they’ve allowed just 28 points the last three weeks. Alex Van Pelt’s offensive unit still has plenty of work to do. The offense is not clicking, no matter who is at quarterback.’

‘The injuries just never seem to stop for the Bills. Against the Panthers, defensive tackle Kyle Williams left after the first series with a knee injury. He had started the day with a bad shoulder. If Williams can’t play against Houston, he would be the sixth starter on the Bills defense to miss at least a game. The Bills played without four injured starters in Carolina. Corey McIntyre also left the game early with an ankle injury. He’s the only fullback on the roster, and it’s uncertain what the Bills would do if McIntyre is sidelined, though it seems unlikely they would replace him. Tight end Derek Fine could line up and play in an H-back role is needed.’

‘Dick Jauron has not lost the team. They have played with some emotion. They have gotten themselves back to a place where they can at least see some light at the end of the tunnel without assuming the light is on oncoming train. Of course a negative person would tell you all the Bills have done is set themselves up for another 7-9 season. It is a good thing I am being positive today.’