Archives for September 2011

‘”You see the number, you see the stat, but every year it’s something new,” said Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson. “We’re not really thinking about what happened last year. We’re just thinking about what’s going to happen this upcoming Sunday against these guys. Yeah, we know or we’ve seen that we haven’t won a game against them in 15 games but it’s a new year. Who knows what’s going to happen this time.”‘

‘Stevie Johnson, Kirk Morrison and Spencer Johnson all opened up the practice stretching with their positional teammates without shoulder pads or a helmet, but left the practice field to work with trainers once individual drills started up.’

‘”We’ve approached them and it hasn’t gone the way that we’ve wanted it too,” Jackson said after practice on Wednesday. “I’m a three-year starter, playing at a high level, I would like something to get done about it this year. I would like to get something done that’s fair to me and the team.”‘

‘”When you become a part of this team, you become a part of that streak,” Nelson told News 4 Sports. “Guys who haven’t played here become a part of that 15-game streak. They’re a part of that streak now, because they’re a part of this team, they’re a part of this franchise, so they’re a part of that. We’re all taking on that responsibility together, and we’re gonna come out this week and work, and we’re gonna do our best to try to end that streak.”‘

‘On if Fitzpatrick is a long term answer for the Bills: Again, I don’t get into all of that. Is he capable of being a guy that can play for you and win for you a long time? Yes he is. I stay out of those, all that negotiation stuff. That’s not my area.’

‘”He’s coming along,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “The more he touches it, the better he’ll be. He’s getting better I believe each week.”‘

‘”We played them here last year in the first game and they certainly gave us all we could handle,” Belichick said of the Bills, who lost 38-30 and 34-3 to the Pats last season. “I know we have a lot of respect for Buffalo and the way they play. It’s always competitive against them, and they’ve done nothing but get better since early in the season last year. They have a good experienced quarterback, good running backs, good receivers and tight ends, an offensive line that has really improved. Add (defensive tackle Marcell) Dareus to a strong defense . . . We’ve got our hands full this week.”‘

‘The Bills also reached an injury settlement with linebacker Robert Eddins, releasing him from injured reserve, and signed guard Keith Williams to the practice squad.’

‘The offensive line is the biggest surprise on a surprising team. Buffalo leads the NFL in rushing (190.0 yards per game) and has allowed only one sack.’

‘”I was impressed with their character and stick-to-itiveness they showed in that game. They’re definitely a team on the rise. It’s quite obvious.”‘

‘Harvard’s Ryan Fitzpatrick is the steady hand that runs Gailey’s spread offense. He is sixth in the league with a 109.6 rating and has thrown seven touchdowns and one interception. Fitzpatrick is unaffected by pressure – the Bills run a lot of shotgun out of the empty set – tough, and mobile. He has a strong arm with a long motion and doesn’t throw the prettiest spirals, but he gets the job done.’

‘”We lost a lot of those last year,” Fitzpatrick told reporters of the Raiders game. “It’s good to be on the other end of it. Chan told us after the game, ‘2-0 feels good, and it feels right.'”‘

‘It’s the second straight year Parrish’s season has ended early. He missed the final half of last season with a broken wrist.’

‘Naaman Roosevelt was promoted from Buffalo’s practice squad to take the open roster spot.’

‘It was reported last week that the Bills had shown interest in potentially extending Fitzpatrick, and now the franchise has taken the next step. There are no details on dollar amounts being exchanged or term of contract to this point, but according to the source, the Bills have indeed made an official offer.’