Archives for September 2010

‘”You never know what’s going to happen,” Spiller said. “That’s why you just have to go out there and prepare yourself. It just goes to show you I’ve put in a lot of hard work, but there are two other great guys and everybody is always capable of being the starter.”‘

‘Dolphins 17, Bills 12.’

‘"I think we’re under further review, so to speak," Gailey said about the status for Mitchell. "We’re still evaluating what’s going on. Since he didn’t work today and we’re giving him more tests, you’d have to put him more toward the doubtful category, but I don’t have to do that until [Friday]."’

‘Coach Chan Gailey declined to divulge details of the injury Thursday, except to say Mitchell was hurt in practice a day earlier and is “doubtful” to play. Mitchell was having tests to determine what Gailey called a “short-term and long-term” prognosis, an indication the injury could be severe.’

‘”We’re still evaluating what’s going on,” said Gailey. “Since he didn’t work today and we’re giving him more tests you’d have to put him more toward the doubtful category, but I don’t have to do that officially until (Friday).”‘

‘"I think we have to be really smart with how we handle him, especially early in the year," Gailey said of Spiller, who isn’t expected to get 25 to 30 carries, more like high teens. "I think it’s incumbent upon us to make sure we don’t throw him out there and work him overly. With that being said and everyone stays healthy and everything goes according to plan, that should never be an issue with the backs that we have."’

‘Wilson, the team’s locker room statesman, on the so-called "experts" picking the Bills to finish last in the AFC East and miss the playoffs for an 11th consecutive season: "Well, they only call you an expert when you’re right. So right now we have control over whether or not the experts end up being right. I’ll just say that we’re not really focused on what anybody outside of our locker room is expecting of us or saying about us. We know that we’re the guys that control that and all we have to do is go out there and prove it."’

‘Meanwhile, RG Eric Wood has been taking snaps at center in case injury were to strike Geoff Hangartner. Wood played center at Louisville and that position could be in his long-term future on a permanent basis.’

‘”I feel like I’ve been through a lot in my career here,” said Edwards. “I feel like I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen the highs and lows and I’m still standing here, I’m still enjoying the sport I love. I do feel like the thing I’m doing when I come to work every day is I’m carrying myself the way I want to see my teammates carry themselves. So, I’m a reflection of them, they’re a reflection of me and I’m making sure I’m doing everything I can to help this team win. That’s what I want out of my teammates and that’s the attitude and the approach I’m taking. Hopefully the other guys can see that.”‘

‘While being a member of the Buffalo Jills may seem like it’s the pinacle of success, it’s not a guaranteed career. Jessica will have to try out every year, competing against rookies and veterans alike. This season, she competed against an overall 150 girls, including 20 to 30 veterans.’

‘"He picked up the offense very quickly and he’s one of those guys that has his eyes open and he’s making eye contact with you in the huddle," Edwards said. "He comes to work every day and he plays hard and runs hard and you want teammates like that."’

‘"I’ve got to go get an X-ray tomorrow and see what it looks like," Jackson said of his broken left hand. "It’s feeling pretty good so I think that’ll be all right. But then we mold whatever it is that I’ll be wearing. We’ll see how that goes after taking the X-ray."’

The season opener, at home, against the Dolphins. Does it get any better for Bills fans? The rivalry has produced some memorable games and memorable moments….here’s one longtime fan’s list of his favorites.

‘Instead, the Bills begin the season with the same three quarterbacks and their impossibly bad NFL credentials. Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm have a combined record of 22-31, with an average passer rating of 62.9. Tough guys to build the “Do You Billieve?” ad campaign around.’

‘"A lot of times the best thing to do is put yourself in their shoes," said starting outside linebacker Reggie Torbor, projecting the mindset of Miami’s offensive coaches. "We’re gonna go out and see if you’ve made the transition. We’re not going to take your word for it. We’re gonna see if you can cover. We’re gonna see if you can come off of blocks. … We’ll see if you can hit a guard, come off and make a tackle. It’s not like in the 4-3, where you’re just running through free making tackles."’