Archives for July 2011

‘Both signed their contracts out at St. John Fisher Friday evening. Under the new league rules however, they cannot participate in any physical activities (conditioning, weight room work, practice) until the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is ratified by the NFL Players Union, which first must recertify before voting on the CBA.’

‘”It’s a lot more exciting because you’re signing and now you know you’re officially part of the team,” Williams told Buffalobills.com. “I’m really happy and excited to be with a great organization like Buffalo.”‘

‘WQBJ (103.5 FM, Albany) and WQBK (103.9 FM, Cobleskill), the “Q103” stations that have carried Bills games the past several seasons, have decided not to renew their contract with the team. It likely means there will be no Capital Region outlet for the Bills.’

‘The Bills also announced the signings of defensive back Da’Norris Searcy, a fourth-round pick, and running back Johnny White, a fifth-round pick. The rookies were teammates at North Carolina.’

‘"It’s crazy," Dareus told Buffalobills.com. "You can’t explain it. It’s a dream come true. You go from one step to the next and to finally get to the point where you sign your name on the dotted line, I couldn’t even wait for the ink to dry."’

‘”I’m excited for T.J. to get this professional football opportunity with the Buffalo Bills,” Wonder Boys Head Coach Steve Mullins said. “I hope he has a successful camp and performs well.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills signed DT Marcell Dareus, the third overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, to a fully guaranteed four-year, $20.4 million contract, according to a league source.’

‘”With respect to the new players everyone is going to be at a disadvantage this year because you don’t have that evaluation process (from the spring) behind you and you don’t have anything in the bank there,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. “It’s going to be difficult to evaluate these guys and give them a true evaluation because they are on such a fast learning curve. You don’t know if it was a physical mistake, a mental mistake or they just can’t do it. You don’t know which one of those it is."’

‘"Born-again rookie," said Easley, who had surgery last summer to repair loose and torn cartilage. "Hopefully I’m on the Blake Griffin plan and I can bounce like he did. … I know the lockout’s been about four months for everybody else, but I’ve been locked out close to a year now. It’s been a long time coming. I’m excited for this year. I’m healthy. I’m stronger mentally, physically and I’m just ready to come out here and compete."’

‘To say they don’t spend money isn’t true. How about Takeo Spikes, Langston Walker or the immortal Derrick Dockery? Just spend it better.’

‘The Bills have a competition for the starting job at right tackle in training camp, with six-year NFL veteran Erik Pears at the top of the depth chart. Pears was acquired by the Bills last Dec. 14 and started the last game of the season. He started 26 games for Denver in 2006 and 2007. He missed the 2008 season due to injury and played in 12 games with Oakland in 2009.’

‘”The goal is to get everybody that is capable of playing on our football team and helping us be a winner ready for Sept. 11,” he said of the season opener in Kansas City. “It used to be you were trying to get everybody ready for the first preseason game because you had all of the OTAs and their knowledge was much more advanced. Now the whole process is geared toward Sept. 11.”‘

‘”Josh came down and worked a high school camp with us and we were tickled to just sit down and talk some football again,” Milligan said. “He just wants a shot to make a team. We’re true believers. We’ve seen him in action and we think he’s capable of doing whatever he puts his mind to.”‘

‘The 6-foot-3, 240-pound White, an all-SEC linebacker at Mississippi State last season, was a sixth-round pick (No. 169 overall) by the Bills in April’s NFL draft. He totaled a team-best 110 tackles as a senior, winning the Conerly Trophy as the top college football player in Mississippi.’

‘”Relief is what I felt first,” said Smith who for five years has been a wide receiver/quarterback/kick returner for the New York Jets. “Honestly, it’s not been a long process, but it’s been kind of stressful, hearing from different teams, keeping late hours.”‘