Archives for October 2011

‘Jackson’s base salary is $1.75 million this season, making him the Bills’ 24th highest-paid player and the 42nd highest-paid running back in the league. His contract doesn’t expire until after the 2012 season, but Jackson hasn’t hidden his desire for a new one. “It’s something I would like them to take care of this year,” Jackson, 30, said. “I’m out here trying to make plays to let them know I’m a guy they can count on, and hopefully something will get done about it.”‘

‘”We’ve got no egos here,” said Buffalo starting fullback Corey McIntyre. “It’s just guys tired of how things have been around here in Buffalo. They’re tired of being that team that’s talked about as an easy win when you play them.”‘

‘I learned that as I took heaps of verbal abuse throughout the game.’

‘”It was such a long season last year, starting 0-8 and losing some tough games and trying to find ourselves,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think that was sort of the beginning of trying to find our identity as an offense and trying to figure out what kind of team we actually were, what kind of team we could be. I think that was probably the beginning for us.”‘

‘Gailey’s spread-the-field approach took a while last season to sink in. The Bills opened 0-8 but righted themselves with a 4-4 second half. "Last year, everything was so new," Fitzpatrick said. "There’s a lot less thinking this year and a lot more of going out there and playing."’

‘Bills 30, Bengals 13.’

‘Around here, it is about more than the game. When the Bills are winning, it feels like a declaration of civic self-worth, a Yes We Can testimonial, an affirmation that this place is better than the rest of America thinks it is.’

‘The Buffalo Bills, so symbolic of the city they represent, have suffered through some hard times. But if the trials and tribulations of the past few decades have succeeded in anything, it has been to build a city of intractable character, with arguably some of the most diehard fans in the NFL. Despite all that we’ve been through together, there is no question: In Buffalo, we love our football team.’

‘"I was fortunate to be able to start as a freshman and get four years in," Dalton told Buffalo reporters on a conference call this week. "With all the experience I had in college, it prepared me for this next step. Obviously there’s a lot more that’s going to be thrown at me. But I feel I have a good understanding of what’s going on."’

‘The Cincinnati Bengals frequently use regular offensive personnel — two receivers, two running backs and a tight end. Their second most common personnel group is two receivers, two tight ends and one back.’

‘A few Bills message boards circulated the column nationally, and Gish started hearing from a lot of agitated fans who not only weren’t happy with her not respecting their team — particularly after they beat the Patriots — but seemed to be just as unhappy that a woman was daring to opine about football.’

‘”The night we brought it back, we took it to every bar on Niagara Street,” Kudela recalled. “Every bar we hit, we’d march in with this goal post and the place would go crazy. Needless to say, we had a long night.”‘

‘”We won’t play anyone as open as this team I believe the rest of the year,” said Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. “They spread you out. There’s going to be a lot of one-on-one matchups and the ball, you may have him covered and you might not think the ball is not coming and it is. Your guy is going to get the ball.”‘

‘”Blue collar. People really love their football,” said Clements, son of a retired firefighter and electrician. “I would have liked to have stayed in Buffalo. Now there are only a couple of guys still left from when I was there. Pretty much everyone is gone and there are no hard feelings anyway. I’m just looking forward to playing because it’s another game, it’s another week.”‘

Pass-happy Bills biggest test yet (Cincinnati Enquirer)

More running needed from Dalton? (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Bengals-Bills scouting report and pick (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Past due vs. Bills (Bengals.com)

Matchup of the Game (Bengals.com)

Bills-Bengals Preview (Bengals.com)

Friday update: All probable; Battle of ‘Bama; Sack search (Bengals.com)

Clements’ seasoning spices Sunday match (Bengals.com)