Archives for September 16, 2011

‘”I was in the TV room watching the finals of the French Open, I came back to the bedroom and lost my balance,” Wilson told The Buffalo News by phone Thursday. “I’ve been working with a trainer trying to recover. It’s a slow process, but I’m making strides.”‘

‘The Raiders’ No. 2 receiver, Jacoby Ford, sat out a second straight day of practice Thursday due to a sore hamstring he injured Monday at Denver. Raiders coach Hue Jackson said after the workout there was a possibility Ford could play in Buffalo. The Raiders’ No. 3 receiver, Louis Murphy, missed the Denver game with a groin injury and has missed two straight days of practice, as well. He’s expected to be out.’

‘Hansen will be the ninth player from the Bills’ Super Bowl era to receive the honor.’

‘”It’s been that way since I’ve been here. People have always gotten on the o-line, but now we have some experience and some big dudes in the room who come off the ball pretty well. At times in the preseason we had some breakdowns in pass protection, but when you’re not game-planning for teams, it’s tough for the offensive line.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills are getting significant national media attention after last week’s 41-7 pasting of the host Kansas City Chiefs:’

‘The victory was like dining on a steak dinner — or at least some tasty Buffalo wings — after eating gruel three times a day for the past 12 years.’

‘”The knock on him was he wasn’t fast enough, but he had a long stride and could break the cushion on a defensive back,” Chabot coach Danny Calcagno said. “He’d never played wide receiver before, but he was like a sponge, and he just got better and better.”‘

‘”I just ended up continually taking the right step, my parents put me in the right spot and I ended up going to Kentucky and taking it to the NFL,” Johnson said in a conference call Wednesday with beat writers in advance of Sunday’s game against the Raiders. “Now we’re facing the hometown team. Just blessed I guess.”‘

‘”But they say if you ball, if you play good, somebody will find you,” Johnson said in a media conference call Wednesday. “A few schools saw me (in high school), but they wanted me as a defensive back.”‘

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson makes noise nationally but not at home in Bay Area (Oakland Tribune)

Depleted wide receiver corps takes another hit with Darrius Heyward-Bey’s knee issue (Oakland Tribune)

Bills star has roots in S.F.’s Hunters Point (San Francisco Chronicle)

Raiders’ Giordano may go from waivers to starting (San Francisco Chronicle)

For Raiders kicker Janikowski, the sky’s the limit (Sacramento Bee)

Johnson emerges as Bills’ go-to receiver (Sacramento Bee)

McFadden picks up where he left off in 2010 (AP)

Pryor has hearing for suspension appeal (AP)

McFadden slowed by sore shoulder (CSN Bay Area)

Coach Saunders Media Session (Raiders.com)

Coach Jackson Thursday (Raiders.com)

‘Gaughan said he remembers Hansen as somebody who treated people right, whether it be teammates or fans. He was a true Buffalonian in part because he stayed there in the offseason.’

‘”Seeing the way we work and the talent of the guys on the team, it wasn’t a big surprise,” Hairston said. “It was amazing to see how things clicked and it was great for the first game to play like that. And the tribute for 9-11 before the game was really special.”‘

‘The Bills may emerge as one of this year’s surprise teams, but the reality is they really weren’t as far away from contention last year as their desultory record indicated. Playing the AFC’s toughest schedule, Buffalo lost six games by eight points or fewer, including five by five points or fewer.’

‘Coach Chan Gailey said Johnson was just given the day off, and fully anticipates Johnson to play Sunday when the Bills (1-0) play host to the Oakland Raiders (1-0).’

‘Bills 23, Raiders 17.’