Archives for January 2012

‘Several of the NFL’s 32 teams have over 20 coaches, a couple with 22.’

‘"When we hand you a lineup card, it’s going to have two defensive tackles, two defensive ends and three linebackers, it’s going to start that way," Gailey said. "But how much we end up in even spacing [or] odd spacing, I can’t tell you that today. I think that’s determined by players and the offense we’re playing and what they give us."’

‘Lee has not met Fitzpatrick, he has only spoken with him on the phone, but just by watching film, he can already see he’s smart, tough, and he can make those breakdown plays. Now he needs to find out about the other factors he considers when evaluating quarterbacks – decision-making, escapability and whether he can perform under pressure.’

‘Dees becomes the team’s assistant offensive line coach, and Thatcher will serve as the new defensive quality control coach. They both will make their NFL coaching debut with Buffalo.’

‘Buffalo’s other restricted free agents are offensive linemen Kraig Urbik and Chad Rinehart.’

‘Sanborn, one of Buffalo’s three restricted free agents, has been the team’s primary long snapper since 2009.’

‘”We want to utilize our personnel to the best and we feel like this will allow us to do that, ‘A’, that’s one thing,” said Gailey. “‘B’, Dave [Wannstedt] is very comfortable, very knowledgeable in this defense and he’s the guy we wanted doing the job, so that was another reason we’re doing it.”‘

‘”On the defensive side of the ball we’re going to base more out of the 4-3 front,” he said. “That shouldn’t be the headline because if you look around the league today people are playing four-man front, three-man front, they’re playing a little bit of everything.”‘

‘The club announced the hiring of assistant offensive line coach Andrew Dees and defensive quality control coach Eric Thatcher.’

‘Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Buffalo could’ve tendered Sanborn with a qualifying offer with the long snapper being a restricted free agent, but chose to lock up the dependable specialist.’

‘Q.T. Pye and Kelly James — Bills fans should recognize the origin for this one — are the two quarterbacks. And what’s a book on football without a cheerleader named Angela "Yum Yum” Baklava?’

‘Since being picked up by the Bills three years ago following a undrafted free agent tryout at One Bills Drive, Sanborn signed a contract and beat out then long-snapper Ryan Neill in training camp. Since, Sanborn has played in all 48 games. The former Florida State Seminole has been perfect throughout his three years handling the long-snapping responsibilities.’

‘The other big difference was that San Francisco’s talent recruitment was far more stable than Buffalo’s. Despite all the losing, the Niners kept rounding up genuine talent and nurturing it. Three of their starting offensive linemen were first-round draftees, two of them pro sophomores. Two of their young players, linebacker Patrick Willis and tight end Vernon Davis, are already superstars. Willis is the best linebacker in football. They may be joined by wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who blossomed this season.’

‘”Well, there’s only what–21-receivers out of 267 guys, there’s only 21-receivers in the Hall of Fame,” Reed tells News 4 Sports. “I think we just get more scrutinized for some reason. And this is what I’m reading and what I’m hearing from other people–that wide receivers get more scrutinized at our position, than any other position."’

‘"We did speak to them following Buddy’s press conference, but we have had no contract talks," Laboy told WGR on Friday.’