Archives for September 2011

‘Such siege is vital today against Matt Cassel, Kansas City’s quarterback, who had a superb season in 2010. Cassel suffered an injury in the Chiefs’ final preseason game and for a time was not expected to play against the Bills. His coach, Todd Haley, was called a dozen varieties of knothead by the local and national media for over-playing Cassel in a nothing game.’

‘”We were in disbelief just like everyone else,” said Moorman, the only remaining member of the 2001 Bills. “We didn’t know what was going to happen, what was going to happen next and then we heard something was going on at the Pentagon and then there ended up being another one going down in Pennsylvania and there was speculation that was the same thing. We didn’t know what was going to happen next.”‘

‘Here’s the reality for the Bills: They play in the AFC East, where New England and the New York Jets reside; they are playing, on paper based on 2010 records, the second-hardest schedule in the NFL this year; they play one less true home game than every other team in the league thanks to the neutral-site Toronto deal; their offense is very much a work in progress and lacks a go-to star, particularly at the most important position of all, quarterback; and their defense, abysmal last year, appears to be markedly better, but won’t be nearly good enough to overcome all of the above.’

‘The Bills seem to believe – or at least they want their fans to believe – that they can win without a top-caliber quarterback, an offensive line, more than one solid receiver or a tight end. In past years, especially 2010 when they ranked dead last in the league in run defense, they also thought it was OK to not tackle anybody.’

‘”I don’t know all of the inner workings,” Levy offered during a telephone conversation from his home in Chicago. “I don’t know what’s going on with the salary cap and that stuff. I can’t say that I’ve been studying the Buffalo situation. But I’ve been stunned a little bit by some of the players who’ve been sent along their way. Paul Posluszny. Lee Evans. Donte Whitner. Trent Edwards. I’ve been surprised by the constant turnover of some pretty good people who are no longer there. You can’t keep changing, changing and changing without disrupting. It has stunned me that the Bills have done so much along those lines.”‘

‘Chiefs 20, Bills 17.’

Chiefs’ Haley on the clock in his coaching career (Kansas City Star)

Chiefs-Bills scouting report (Kansas City Star)

As the season begins, the Chiefs are lacking arrows (Kansas City Star)

Buffalo Take Five (KCChiefs.com)

Chiefs Players Place Themselves On 9/11 (KCChiefs.com)

‘”Buffalo is the kind of community that really takes players and makes them their own,” special teams coach Bruce DeHaven said. “He’s just the kind of kid that really has imbedded himself into the community. He does so much charitable work. He’s always got time for people.”‘

‘”Working with Coach Dave and Bruce DeHaven and Stan Kwan on special teams, both have been in the league about 30 years. That knowledge from those guys, you can’t put enough importance on it for the future.”‘

‘”After the season my wife and I came back to Naples and our plan was to sit back and weigh our options,” Wannstedt said. “But in January I talked to Chan and the Bills’ owner Ralph Wilson sent his private jet down and took us up to Buffalo. It just felt right.”‘

“We’ve got a task this week,” Merriman said. “They’re one of the best rushing teams in the league, and it’s no better test for us to go out and have a good game against guys who are not only known as the best, but they’re physical and they’ve got two great backs who can make things happen. It’s going to be a challenge for us to go out there and play well.”‘

‘Easley has an illness and Troup is out with a lower back injury.’

‘Easley left Friday’s practice due to illness. Head coach Chan Gailey had hoped it would clear up before today’s game, but it has not as Easley stayed back in Buffalo and won’t be available for Sunday’s game.’

‘On offense Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named a captain for the first time in his career with Buffalo. The Bills starting quarterback was a player the team rallied around last season when he took over under center in Week 3.’

‘”Yeah, I struggled but I’m gradually getting into a better rhythm than where I was at the start of the season,” he said. “It just comes with time. The more we do something, the better off we get at it, and the more comfortable you get with it, the faster you play. It’s all about rhythm.”‘