Archives for May 2010

‘”We lose $25,000 per year providing that service,” NFTA Executive Director Lawrence M. Meckler said Monday. “So we’ve said let’s see if we can cut into that deficit before we make any decision about renewing the service for this year.”‘

‘”It’s been great so far,” he said. “I feel great out there. I feel like it’s a very natural position for me and it feels like I’ve been playing it for a long time. As we move through this preseason I think I’ll only get more comfortable.”‘

‘The New York Daily News reported that the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens were the only teams (of 20 polled) who indicated they would vote against the New York bid for the 2014 Super Bowl.’

"It’s definitely frustrating because I don’t know how much time Jim has spent in California," Edwards said. "I love the state of California. Obviously, I’m very biased towards where I grew up in, but it’s a little bit naïve maybe that he makes comments like that.

‘The main reason why is Gailey and his offensive staff have been on the practice field with Brohm already. They’ve also had the opportunity to review Brohm’s practice tape, and Brown’s for that matter. Gailey, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins and quarterbacks coach George Cortez need to get an up close and personal feel for how Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick operate and perform in the practice setting.’

‘"It feels good to be in the NFL," Cortez said. "But I can’t say enough good things about Calgary. It’s a great city. It’s very vibrant … it’s a new city. It’s glass and steel downtown, and the mountains are beautiful. Growing up in East Texas where there are no mountains within the entire time zone, it’s something to look out and see the mountains every day. I was very content there. And we had great success, which always makes it good for a coach."’

‘Everyone understands, in a situation as grim as Buffalo’s has been, why there would be a temptation to find a shortcut to the time-consuming work of building a team from inside out and Spiller is the ultimate shortcut with his game breaking potential. Going into the season, he looks like the only card the Bills have to play and if it works out like it has the last few years, they’ll be drafting high again next year, looking for a quarterback like Washington’s Jake Locker.’

Once upon a time, an offensive line coach could pencil in his starting five and count on the same group lining up every week, and perhaps from year to year. Former Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally, who spent 14 seasons tutoring blockers, noted a few years ago that one could review a bunch of team pictures and "notice that the offensive linemen were the same four, five, six years in a row … and were basically in the same places in the picture."

“I’ve never been a quitter,” Lynch said. “My mentality is that it’s time to get back to work. All I can do is showcase what I’ve got, and if they utilize it, they do. And if they don’t, then you know what, they don’t. At the end of the day, it’s still going to be a business. It’s not just an audition for them. Cause there’s 32 teams in the league, and somebody is always looking.”

‘”Being good friends and already knowing C.J. and his competitiveness and my competitiveness I thought we were going to be able to push each other together,” said Bell. “It was a good fit as far as being able to come here my first year and be able to hopefully learn under Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson.”‘

‘"Well the first thing I talk about is what our team is based on and the first thing you talk about with our football team is toughness, but then I told them that this camp is not about toughness. We don’t have pads on," said Gailey when asked to describe his core message to the rookies and young vets. Toughness we find out when we get to training camp. This is about mental capacity, effort, being able to take what we teach and put it on the field, and at the same time seeing work ethic without us having to say anything. Who gives that kind of work ethic that you know what you’re going to get day in and day out? That’s basically what we’re looking at."’

‘OLB Nic Harris, who suffered a knee injury late last season, was unable to take part in the team’s recent rookie camp. "He’s getting there. He’s not 100 percent," coach Chan Gailey said. Gailey said he does expect Harris to be on the field for organized team activities in June but could not give an exact timetable on the player’s recovery.’

‘Former Bills great Jim Kelly, who first proposed a new stadium be built in Niagara Falls to capitalize on the Ontario, Canada market, still thinks it’s a good idea but is toning down his campaign out of respect for 91-year-old Bills owner Ralph Wilson. "He’s the guy that has kept this team in this city, and I thank God for him every day," Kelly told the Niagara Gazette newspaper after giving the commencement address at a local community college. "Of course, Niagara Falls would definitely be a (possible future) site because they have so many things there. They have the seventh wonder of the world, the casino, the hotels and the land. It’s closer to drawing people from Toronto. But that’s far off. Right now, I’m focused on the Buffalo Bills getting better, because I don’t want fans to get too frustrated. I was out there watching the other day and I think this team might surprise people."’

‘Fans can get a spring preview of the Buffalo Bills when the team holds an open practice on Saturday, June 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission and parking will be free.’

"The whole Buffalo family has been nothing but encouraging, and showing nothing but support. Everyone’s excited about getting the season started and my main thing is to not put too much pressure on it. Just do what I’ve been doing my whole life, and that’s play football."