Archives for October 2011

‘The bye week allowed the Bills’ front office to make headway on contract talks with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and a deal appears close. Fitzpatrick, in his second season as Buffalo’s starting signal-caller, has provided stability as well as production at the position after a long list of failed players. He’s already sixth on the club’s career touchdown list with 44. Fitzpatrick, whose base salary this year is $3.1 million, is due for a raise into the $10-million per-year range. His contract is up and the Bills do not want to lose him in free agency or have to apply a franchise tag on the Harvard product that would drive the cost up even more. Asked about his contract, Fitzpatrick said he’s trying not to think about it but he’s human. “I can’t just block all that away,” he said. “It’d be something that I’d like to get done and we’ll just see how it progresses here in the next few weeks.”‘

‘”I’ve never played in London, but I assume it’s probably similar to that type of crowd,” Wilson continued. “Where you’re gonna have your fans that’s gonna cheer for the home team, you’re gonna have fans that cheer for the opposing team. I’m not going to say it’s a competitive disadvantage, but it’s certainly not a competitive advantage.”‘

‘”It lets you know how important the game is, and how fast it can be taken away from you,” said the cornerback on Wednesday. “That let me know you must cherish every moment, every play, every game, every practice, because you never know when it might be your last.”‘

‘The team was without five players, all of whom were expected to miss this weekend’s game in Toronto. Kyle Williams, Demetrius Bell, Donald Jones, Chris Hairston and Aaron Williams all did not participate in the session.’

‘”It’s something you try not to think about. But certainly something exists that’s in the air. I’m human too so I can’t just block all that away,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’d be something that I’d like to get done and we’ll see how it progresses in the next few weeks.”‘

‘Jaworski acknowledged the negotiations are difficult with competing interests left on citizens who are taxpayers and fans. “That’s always very difficult to do,” Jaworski said. “Probably the three worst stadiums in the NFL are out on the West Coast, when you look at Oakland, San Francisco and San Diego. Three antiquated stadiums, and the reason is that they haven’t been able to strike a balance ownership, you know, public funding and private funding, so it’s a very difficult balance to strike.”‘

‘Marv Levy used to say that tough times don’t create character, they reveal it. What we see over the next 6 games will reveal a great deal about the football character of these Bills. The already porous defense comes into this stretch without their most dependable player, Kyle Williams. Listening to him talk this week makes you wonder when or if he will play this year. The Shawne Merriman experiment is now over, so its time to really see if one of these young guys (Moats or Sheppard) can really be an impact play. Plus the secondary might need to actually try to stop someone without having to get an interception.’

‘”Right now I’m just to the point where I’m starting to get my movement back and get a little conditioning in,” Williams told Buffalobills.com. “Right now we’re probably looking at another two weeks, but hopefully I’ll be (practicing) next week.”‘

‘”Before I got here (midway through 2010), I’d only seen the record and some stats,” said linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was added to the injured reserve Tuesday. “All I saw was what was on paper. When I got here, it was almost like, ‘Wow.’ For one, this was not a 0-7 team.”‘

‘The Auburn product latched on with the New York Giants where he had been serving on the team’s practice squad until Buffalo came calling with a spot on their active roster.’

‘”We’re all capable at this level,” he said. “I pretty much buy in to what my coach teaches me and learn formations and being more familiar with anything mentally that gives me the edge over someone. Injuries are a part of the game. I know Kyle (Williams) and I know my coaches don’t think they’re taking a step back with me in there. I just have to fill the void and keep going.”‘

‘Part of the problem is, there has never been a huge procession of Western New Yorkers streaming across the international bridges to fill the stands. Some Bills fans just can’t warm to the idea of a home game in Toronto.’

‘"That’s probably going to be the way it ends up for game time," coach Chan Gailey said, indicating the Bills aren’t counting on having Demetrius Bell available.’

‘Merriman has been paid $6.95 million by the Bills – $3.2 million last year after he was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Chargers, and another $3.75 million this year. For that, he finishes his season – and quite possibly his career in Buffalo – with just one sack and nine tackles in five games.’

‘There are still tickets available for Sunday although Silvio D’Addario, vice-president of events, said Tuesday demand that is up: “We’re definitely doing better than last year at this time.”‘