Archives for December 18, 2009

‘The Bills’ team record for players on IR is 17, set in 2007. Simmons became the sixth offensive lineman this year to be placed on the list.’

‘Playing last Sunday in the St. Louis Rams’ 47-7 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Incognito head-butted Sen’Derrick Marks in the first half. He did the same thing to Vincent Fuller later in the half, then was benched by coach Steve Spagnuolo.’

‘It wasn’t the cold that kept Terrell Owens off the practice field late this week, it was an illness. Owens missed practice on Thursday and Friday, and it’s left him questionable for Sunday’s game against New England.’

‘Bills guard Richie Incognito, two days after Buffalo claimed him off waivers from St. Louis, has been fined $50,000 for two unnecessary roughness penalties from last week’s Rams-Titans game, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.’

‘The eight-year NFL veteran had started the past three games after signing in late November to help an offensive line devastated by injuries. He becomes the Bills’ fifth offensive lineman put on season-ending IR.’

‘Simmons suffered the injury in last week’s win over Kansas City and has been unable to practice all week. Though the team has indicated otherwise, the injury is what likely prompted the Bills to submit a waiver claim for Richie Incognito Wednesday.’

‘That being said when you’re shorthanded on the offensive line due to injuries it compromises the effectiveness of Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s dropping back and he doesn’t have an opportunity to read defensive coverages because his focus is drawn more to the defender that may not be blocked. As a quarterback you have to focus on the coverage, but when you don’t have time to do that it makes it real tough and your confidence level can take a hit.’

‘Heaven knows, the 81-year-old Miller deserves a book. “Fasten Your Seatbelts: The Van Miller Story” isn’t it.’

‘"I think they polled like 90 guys [actually 99] and nine guys answered that I’m the dirtiest player in the league, so now everybody [he raises his arms and points around in a circle] runs with it, that I’m the dirtiest player in the league," Incognito said Thursday after his first practice with the Bills. "So you can call me what you want. I’m a hard-nosed football player. I bring my "A’ game every Sunday."’

‘”It was very sad. Tragic news,” a somber Fitzpatrick said at the Bills’ practice facility. “It definitely makes you stop and think. Everybody in this locker room is affected by it, even the guys that didn’t know Chris on a personal level. When the news broke, everybody was gathered around the TV, watching. It’s always something you never want to see happen, especially somebody in the NFL brotherhood. It affects everybody more than people realize.”‘

‘ The Bills have plenty of capable complementary players. They have enough solid players. They don’t have enough studs.’

‘”From the first day of practice,” he said, “you could see he was special. He had great feet, and he could make all the throws.”’

‘”Yeah, we’ve pretty much seen him every year,” said Springs, before what may be the final meeting. “We’ve kind of grown together. I’m quite sure some other guys have gone like that, maybe Jerry Rice and Deion (Sanders).”‘

‘”I’ve liked his leadership and his command. I’ve liked his communication with not only the offensive line, but with the running backs and receivers as well as the coaching staff,” Fewell said. “That’s been good and that’s been something we can draw on.”‘

‘”It was a lot of keeping your head down, not letting the air get into your nose and mouth and stuff like that. That was pretty tough. It was pretty rough conditions.”‘