Archives for December 2010

‘Chandler (6’7″, 272) is a third-year player who was waived by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week. He’s also a player with whom Bills GM Buddy Nix is very familiar. Chandler is a former fourth-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers in 2007, where Nix served as Assistant General Manager at the time.’

‘It’s clear that he has a grasp on what type of players he has and what plays he can call. To be honest I think Chan Gailey is at a point where he’s very comfortable having Ryan Fitzpatrick in there and that he can pretty much go into the game calling whatever plays they both feel comfortable with.’

‘Playing in a different defense with new duties, Byrd has learned how fleeting success can be. As he heads into Minnesota for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, he has zero interceptions.’

‘But Joe Callahan may have been the first person ever wandering through the bus lot before an NFL game with a dozen hockey sticks, his equipment bag and a suitcase.’

‘"The thing I wanted to do was go back to Buffalo [in 2006] and have about three interceptions and beat them by like 30 points," Winfield said with a laugh in a conference call with Buffalo media this week. "But that didn’t happen. We lost that game. I enjoyed my time there, but it’s in the past. It’s another game for me."’

‘”I felt I put my best foot forward and did the best I could in that area,” he told the Buffalo media during a conference call this week. “It was a good experience for me. It was a good opportunity. Things worked out like they should. I’m happy with where I am and I’m sure the Bills are happy with their choice, so things worked out great.”‘

‘”It’s so the center can keep his eyes on the defense,” Levitre said. “If they’re in shotgun and the center has to look between his legs to see the leg-lift, then either the guards have to make the [line] call or the center has to see what’s changed when he brings his head up. Sometimes the defense will rotate once the center puts his head between his legs. The ‘backers will move. So if the center is blocking a certain guy, he’ll look up and think, ‘Where’d he go?’ By doing it this way, the center can keep making the call. The leg-lift means the quarterback’s ready for the ball.”‘

‘Johnson will likely go back to bland pronouncements about what he’s having for breakfast, which seems to be where we are headed with most athletes on Twitter, as they embrace the technology as a means to connect directly with fans and then discover in short order that maybe they don’t want to be that connected.’

Gruff, old-school coach takes over Vikings defense (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Frazier feels positive about new position (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Status of injuries should clarify Friday (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Fred Pagac brings old-school intensity to his job as the Vikings’ acting defensive coordinator (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Meet Vikings defensive coordinator / linebackers coach Fred Pagac (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Report: Vikings RBs coach Eric Bieniemy returning to Colorado as offensive coordinator (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Two things: Vikings running back Toby Gerhart (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Two things: Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Will Peterson play? Either way, he’s made progress (AP)

Harvin among the many missing Vikings at practice (AP)

Vikings Hope To Use Home Crowd To Their Advantage Sunday (Vikings.com)

Peterson Making Progress With Ankle Injury (Vikings.com)

‘”It gives me a great deal of hope for what we can build here because you have the foundation of character, you have the foundation of work ethic, you have the foundation of never-quit attitude,” Gailey said. “And if you have that foundation, you give yourself a tremendous chance to be a championship team down the road.”‘

‘The Bills signed free agent rookie tight end Mike Caussin to fill the roster spot. The James Madison product spent the first 12 weeks of the season on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.’

‘Edwards finishes the year tied for fourth on the team with 59 tackles.’

‘Vikings 30, Bills 27.’

‘Caussin joins the Bills after spending the first 12 weeks of the 2010 season on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. The 6-5, 252-pound tight end originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars this past April. The James Madison product finished his college career with 66 receptions for 1,009 yards and 14 touchdowns.’