Archives for January 2010

‘Over the weekend the Bills made a vitally important move, hiring Bruce DeHaven, one of the foremost special teams coaches in the NFL. Special teams play has been a hallmark of the Bills since Marv Levy hired DeHaven in 1987 as the Super Bowl teams took shape. Their reputation continued through Bobby April’s coaching period, which ended when April signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.’

‘Cortez, 59, is a 19-year CFL coaching veteran. He has spent the past four seasons with the Stampeders. He also coached in Calgary from 1992 to ’94 and from 1997 to 2001. Cortez has been to the Grey Cup five times, winning the CFL title in 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2008.’

‘”I’ll sleep easy knowing I gave it what I had every time I played,” said Williams of his 2009 season. “I thought it was my best one. I was far more productive than I have been other years even missing three and half games. I felt good about how I played."’

‘DeHaven lost his job in Seattle when the Seahawks changed coaches. New Seattle coach Pete Carroll opted to bring his special teams aide from Southern California with him to the Seahawks rather than retain DeHaven.’

‘Lynch is featured on a 30-minute “Sports Science” special at 7 p.m. Friday. An ESPN release notes that Lynch is part of “a one-of-a-kind test of man versus machine” on the program.’

‘It’s believed George Cortez is on the verge of accepting an offer to join the Buffalo Bills’ coaching staff as the team’s quarterbacks coach.’

‘The announcement is expected to be made next week. New Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey will name DeHaven the Bills special teams coordinator, as he continues to fill out his coaching staff.’

‘In the actual Pro Bowl game there aren’t any unwritten rules with respect to toning down the intensity of play. The competitive nature of the game is pretty evident. We’ve seen that in just the past couple of years alone let alone back when I played. That being said pass rushing defensive ends are pretty good about not burying you if they have a clean shot at the quarterback.’

‘”That really laid a good foundation to be passionate about politics and government,” he said. “It’s something I really want to pass on, hopefully to kids of this generation. I believe that good politics make good government.”‘

‘"I think he’s by far the best chance we’ve got," Nix said. "He’s smart. He’s a worker. He’s not a flash in the pan. He’s a solid football guy."’

‘Some might ask why bring back any assistant from the failed Dick Jauron regime. But Catavolos and Sanders are quality coaches with 34 years of NFL experience combined. None of Gailey’s other assistants have that going for them.’

‘Perhaps were I not the product of "inbreading," as one angry writer alleged, I would have gotten everything right the first time. Alas, my family has been known to bake together, from time to time.’

‘”I was very honored to have had the opportunity to be a head coach,” Fewell said. “When you enter a process like that, the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If I would have won one more game, I would think I did a good job, because I would have been .500. They thought they needed to make a change. I obviously had aspirations to be the head coach and it is disappointing when you’re not the guy.”‘

‘Butler’s NFL team is also going through a transition, with former Cowboys and Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey in as the new head man in place of interim coach Perry Fewell, who replaced Dick Jauron after Jauron was let go in November following a 3-6 start. “I’ve heard nothing about good things about the guy, that he’s a man of high character. But at the same time, the NFL is ultimately about winning games, and it’s a business. Hopefuilly he can come in there and turn the tide and get us into the playoffs,” Butler said.’

‘Wendling took almost half the votes in a Buffalobills.com online poll where kicker Rian Lindell, punter Brian Moorman and fellow cover man Ashlee Palmer were also nominees. He finished as the team’s second leading special teams tackler in 2008, but finished at the top of the tackle list in 2009 with 26 on the season. Wendling accounted for almost one-fifth of all the special teams tackles by the Bills this season.’