Archives for April 2011

‘Offensive line: The Bills like four of their five starters but right tackle was a revolving door.’

‘"It’s not a sin to tell a lie pre-draft," Gailey said. "Everybody does it. It’s accepted. So everything you hear or read or see, you need to keep in mind that about 10 percent of it’s the truth."’

‘If he were fully healthy, Carter would be a consideration late in the first round. But he still is likely to go somewhere in the second round, according to numerous draft analysts. The evaluation of NFL teams’ medical staffs will be a big factor in the decision. Carter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and had surgery Dec. 14. He would not likely be ready to play at the start of training camp but might be able to get on the field for the start of the season.’

‘Due to the presence of top prospect Adrian Clayborn on Iowa’s defensive front, Ballard is a name that is nearly as recognizable by those that are not engrossed in Big Ten football. But in a class seemingly littered with versatile trench players, Ballard is yet another scheme diverse defensive lineman, and he knows it.’

‘"He’d have been the first or second overall if he didn’t have the knee issue," said ESPN analyst Mel Kiper. "Last year [in 2009], you’d watch and he’d be close but he wouldn’t get the sack. He got hurries, he got tackles for loss, but he didn’t get sacks. … He had a great year [in 2010]. He did everything on the field he could do. I have him going 12 to Minnesota right now because of the knee concern."’

‘The scenario they had to work with was this. The Buffalo Bills are popular and profitable. But the team, which was worth $800-million in 2009, according to Forbes, would be worth even more if it was in a bigger city than Buffalo, which offers little room for growth. Western New York has 2.5 million people and is shrinking.’

‘”I think I can bring a lot of good things to a team,” said Bowers. “You can get a pass rushing defensive end, a humble guy, a guy with great character. A guy who is going to work hard, a guy that is going to go about things the right way and a guy who is willing to compete with anyone anywhere.”‘

‘North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, California defensive end Cameron Jordan and North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant toured the team headquarters in Orchard Park in preparation for the NFL draft.’

‘The life of former Buffalo Bills star Cookie Gilchrist will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday in a memorial service in St. John Baptist Church, 184 Goodell St. Gilchrist was 75 when he died of cancer in an assisted living center near Pittsburgh on Jan. 10.’

‘Cal’s Cameron Jordan and North Carolina’s Robert Quinn were both at the Bills facility in Orchard Park.’

‘”We are open to trade down,” Nix said in a Tele-forum with Bills season ticket holders last week. “I’m not sure that that’s always the answer. If there’s a guy you really want at your pick, you better take him. If you think you can trade down and still get the guy you want, a lot of times you’re disappointed. And just because you want to trade down and get extra picks it takes two to do that, and a lot of times there are not a lot of teams willing to move up.”‘

‘Maiocco’s research reveals that Buffalo had 43 draft picks from 2006 through 2010. Of those 43 selections, 23 still are on the team and eight are starters. His best pick was CB Jairus Byrd, and DE-LB Aaron Maybin was the worst. Both were chosen in 2009.’

‘If the pick in the first round is a quarterback, there are a lot of second-round possibilities who could upgrade the pass rush, both among outside linebackers and defensive ends. Jabaal Sheard of Pitt may be selected way before the second round, but if not the Bills would have an inside report on him from his college head coach, Dave Wannstedt, now an important addition to their coaching staff. That would also be true of another highly regarded Pitt player, offensive tackle Jason Pinkston.’

‘"People don’t realize," said Bills General Manager Buddy Nix, "they talk about what a good athlete Cam is, which he is, but this guy is a very similar athlete."’