Archives for September 2011

‘”People think that guys who made a lot of money playing football, that they never have to work,” Kelso said. “That might be true for Jim Kelly or Thurman [Thomas], but most of us — particularly me — I have a full-time job. I do the broadcasting on top of everything else. So there’s not a lot of downtime in my life. I’m full-time at the school, I’m there 9, 10, maybe 11 hours a day.”‘

‘”I think he’s exactly what we thought we were going to get,” coach Chan Gailey said of the 340-pound defensive lineman who will make his NFL debut Sunday in Kansas City when he starts for the Bills against the Chiefs. “I think he’s going to be a very good football player for a long time in this league.”‘

‘”I’m not sure that everybody understands the significance of Sept. 11 to our country, especially young people who don’t realize it,” Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey said. “I hope they realize the significance of this and there’s going to be something going on in every stadium around the league. I just want them to take it with solemnest and pride; whatever else it is that you do when you’re an American to understand what this is all about.”‘

‘”I got real lean, and I’m a lot more flexible because my hips are a lot more open and I can explode more,” said Merriman, who is a huge follower of the sport of MMA. “It helped me recover from some injuries I had in the past too.”‘

‘Bills 21, Chiefs 17.’

Chiefs not anticipating shootout with Bills (Kansas City Star)

Muir ready to make the play calls (Kansas City Star)

Give the Chiefs the benefit of the doubt (Independence Examiner)

Q&A with Todd Haley 9/9 (KCChiefs.com)

‘Chiefs 17, Bills 14.’

‘Chiefs 20, Bills 17.’

‘”The thing that helps you from getting too high is knowing your competition, going out there and knowing your competition every day and simply knowing that the Kansas City Chiefs were the top running team last year in the NFL and we were one of the worst run stopping so I have to focus in and worry about the runningbacks so that’s the kind of stuff that really goes through your head and keeps you down. I can’t get overly excited out there or I’ll mess up.”‘

‘”They make enough money to go out and pay some players, but not like the New York Yankees can go out and buy a team, basically. They can grab a few. They’ve got the cash flow, and they’ve got the ability to go out and grab some really premier football players. But they’ve opted not to do it.”‘

‘”They definitely commit to the run,” says Buffalo linebacker Nick Barnett. “I think they were the number one team last year on running on third down. They run the ball on third and long as well. So, you’ve got to be prepared, and you gotta be ready to stop it.”‘

‘Buffalo’s third-ranked pass defense of a season ago gets zero credit because most assume that with teams able to run at will on the Bills they never had to pass. While there is some validity to that contention, Buffalo’s defensive backfield with a subpar pass rush still allowed the sixth fewest pass plays of 25 yards or more (23) in 2010. And they capably held the Chiefs’ main threats in check last season. With an improved pass rush in 2011 with Shawne Merriman back to form, the secondary should not only have an easier go of it, but possibly some opportunities for takeaways.’

‘"We play a violent game and getting banged up is just part of the game we play," said Cassel, who was traded to Kansas City from New England in 2009. "If you’re a football player and you don’t feel something each and every Sunday or each and every day then you’re probably not playing much."’

‘”I feel a lot better being in this defense for another year,” he said this week. “Being more comfortable is big. But that’s still no excuse because you are judged on the numbers and the production. Coach [Chan Gailey] always says this is a production business and the numbers are what you are judged by. That is what it is.”‘

‘While the team still hands out DVDs for film study, some players find it more suitable to use their iPads to scout their next opponent.’