Archives for October 29, 2011

‘Fitzpatrick’s quick decision-making also has helped the team’s pass protection. This season the Bills have allowed the fewest sacks per passing attempt in the league.’

‘”Chan and I always came back, after Ryan got to be the starter, that this is the best guy for us,” Nix said. “It has been good and I think it will get better. If you go through every year trying to decide who the franchise quarterback is and when you’ve got to draft him and can you move up and get him, it hinders the growth of the rest of your team.”‘

‘”He’s a smart kid and he’s got good size and he’s a tremendous athlete,” Smith said. “So he’s not only able to help you versus the run, but he can give you some pressure on pass too.”‘

‘But having lost two of three games and with a defence that has been suspect, Sunday’s nominal “home” game with the Redskins could be one of the turning points of the season. “We’ve had a couple of close three-point losses this year,” Fitzpatrick said. “We still feel like we’re a good team and maybe with a few plays here or there, we should have won those games.’

‘Dressed in jeans and cowboy boots before a small gathering of media at the Bills practice facility, with his three children yelling and playing in the next room, Fitzpatrick said the big contract isn’t going to change his every-man attitude or his hunger to get better. “I know that they have confidence in me, and this just shows it,” said Fitzpatrick, who admits he never envisioned getting this kind of NFL deal.’

‘”It’s just the kind of guys I’ve had through the years, guys who are confident in the huddle,” Cortez said sheepishly. “But yes, you always think if you do a good job and you’re successful, people will take notice.”‘

‘Buffalo has not won a regular-season game in the Rogers Centre, with a dubious 0-3 record in the first three years of the Bills Toronto Series. But Sunday is the first time Buffalo has come into the game with a winning record. And the players, who have decried the lack of home-field atmosphere as compared to rollicking Ralph Wilson Stadium, hope that will make a difference. A pregame tailgate party outside the Toronto stadium will hopefully put the fans in the right frame of mind.’

‘The questions remain: How did 32 teams pass up on Jackson in the NFL draft? How did the same teams need three more years to offer him an invitation to training camp? And how is it that the Bills drafted three running backs in the first round over an eight-year span, yet Jackson, arriving from football obscurity, defines their team?’

‘As late as Friday, prime tickets were still available in almost every section of the stadium. I tried using a “limited time offer” code for 50% off that was posted online weeks ago and found that I could get a pair of mid-field seats just about anywhere – lower bowl, upper bowl, club seats. Apparently the “limited time” offer runs right up until kickoff.’

Redskins make extra preparations before facing Bills in Toronto (Washington Post)

Redskins’ Shanahan goes on the defensive (Washington Times)

Injury update; Shanahan helps the D (Washington Examiner)

London Fletcher Expecting To Play Against Buffalo, Keep Games Played Streak Alive (Fredericksburg Free Lance Star)

Rex Grossman Recovering From Pneumonia, Expecting A Long Recovery (Fredericksburg Free Lance Star)

Redskins Release Jonathan Compas; Brandyn Thompson Back On Main Roster (Fredericksburg Free Lance Star)

Redskins on verge of yet another fateful slide (Toronto Globe and Mail)

Redskins’ Paul ready for shot (CSN Washington)

Atogwe’s home game (CSN Washington)

Fletcher, Hall, Atogwe Questionable vs. Bills (Redskins.com)

Redskins Promote Thompson, Waive Compas (Redskins.com)

Redskins-Bills: 4 Keys To the Game (Redskins.com)

Cooley Expects to Return Better Than Ever (Redskins.com)

Redskins’ ‘Super’ Win vs. Bills Was Special (Redskins.com)

‘”Ryan is a real student of the game,” Cortez told Sportsnet. “He’s very much into studying the other teams and seeing his vision of what we do. He’s really taken ownership of the offence with the players and offers suggestions about how to do better things, especially the receivers, getting them to see what he sees and everyone understanding of how it’s supposed to be happening. That’s probably the biggest thing — taking ownership of the offence.’

‘”It’s been a long road. There’s been a lot of hurdles and obstacles that I’ve had to overcome,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think we’ve got this thing headed in the right direction. So to be a part of that, and to be able to continue to be a part of that for years to come, I’m really excited about it.”‘

‘Bell was ruled out by coach Chan Gailey after practice on Friday. He’s not yet practiced since being hurt in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati on Oct. 2.’

‘Another common complaint among NFL fans has been the absence of tailgating in Toronto, something that’s very big in Western New York. On Sunday, event organizers will stage a tailgate party in the area surrounding Rogers Centre featuring a performance by Juno award-winning rock band Finger Eleven.’

‘A seventh-round draft pick out of Harvard in 2005, Fitzpatrick has a 16-25-1 career record, including a 12-15 mark as the Bills’ quarterback.’