Archives for September 22, 2011

‘Kelsay has been there for all 15 losses, including the three heart-breakers. “We’re expecting to win this game in front of our fans,” he maintained. “You hear a lot about how they’ve had our number, which they’ve had. But we’ve got a lot of confidence with the guys in this room. We’re definitely not going to lay down for anybody. We’re preparing to win this game and when we step on the field Sunday we’re expecting to win.”‘

‘It was because of the conversation I had with Chan [Gailey]. Chan called me on draft day. We did our research in anticipation I didn’t get drafted. We talked to about three or four teams we felt would be the best fit for me just in case I didn’t get drafted. I had already known about Chan and his offense, and how he used his big receivers and four-wide receiver sets. So after talking with him, he said he was going to give everybody a fair shot. He liked what I did at Florida and he would give me an opportunity to come in and compete. And that’s all I can ask for. Going undrafted all I wanted was to come in, compete for a job and show what I can do. Coming in from Day 1, he gave me that opportunity. He was a man of his word.’

‘Patriots 38, Bills 27.’

‘Now entering year two Nelson has emerged into a consistent playmaker, with Jones not far behind. According to head coach Chan Gailey, Nelson is expected to handle the majority of Parrish’s role having worked primarily out of the slot himself.’

‘”He’s running the ball extremely well. He’s hitting the holes like we all know he can and he’s such a valuable player for us,” Bills coach Chan Gailey said. “He can protect. He can run routes. He can run the football inside and outside and the line is doing a [good] job of helping him find those creases, too.”‘

‘”What they did to us last year in the running game is irrelevant,” Bills safety George Wilson said. “It’s a new team, a new defense, new guys at new positions and a new mind-set. We know they’re going to try to come in and impose their will on us, just like they do every other opponent they face. Ultimately it’s up to us to play the type of football we know we’re capable of playing.”‘

‘So there will be a lot on the line for Fitz this Sunday. It’s only one game, but it would be an incalculable boost to an evolving Bills team to beat New England. It would also do wonders for Fitz’s confidence and stature, not to mention his bargaining power, if he had a big game against the Pats.’

‘”I’m excited, but I’m doing a lot of studying, a lot of watching film, a lot of meeting time with Fitz [Ryan Fitzpatrick] and the receivers and getting the understanding of where I need to be.”‘

‘In the 17 victories, the Patriots have won by an average score of 30-12. In the two games Brady missed when he sat out all of 2008 with a knee injury, the Bills still lost twice to the Patriots and their backup quarterback at the time, Matt Cassel, but allowed only 33 combined points. Brady has five games against the Bills where he produced more than 33 points.’

‘”Naaman came in at the end of the year last year and did some good things,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any reason that he can’t come in and help where needed and have an impact. He’s not going to ever give you the speed threat down the field that Roscoe gave you, but there are some things he does well in his own right and you try to take advantage of those things he does well.”‘

‘”He’s smart, he sees defenses, he reads coverages, he gets rid of the ball quickly, he’s got good skill players to work with, he’s got a good offensive team,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “He’s done a good job of managing it and of executing it, he’s made a lot of good throws. He’s an athletic guy, he can escape and run out of some pressures. But the biggest thing for any quarterback is accuracy and decision-making, and he’s done a real good job of that.”’

‘”We’re a team full of guys looking to make a name for themselves, looking to make a name for our team,” Fitzpatrick said yesterday during a conference call. “Although most of us are unheralded, and nobody really knows us, we think we’re pretty good, and we think we’ve got a lot of talent on the roster.”‘

‘On if he’s close to a contract extension: It’s one of those things where it’s so hard to worry about that only because you put all our focus on the opponent and the upcoming game. For me it’s not something I can even think about during the season. I’m just focused on beating the Patriots.’

‘On what the buzz around Buffalo has been like over the first two weeks: If it doesn’t happen in my office I don’t know about it.’