Archives for February 2012

‘”I was already planning on making a change as far as the type of mentality I have on and off the field,” Johnson said. “I have put in time with my quarterback. I know my quarterback will be there for the long run. If I sing a long-term deal, I¿can do all I can to build up the organization. I am going to change and become a better player and person around the (team) facility.”‘

‘”Buddy (Nix) called me right after the 2011 draft and I felt like I was going to have a good offseason and he called me and I had to put my book together with my thoughts and what I had pulled from Kansas City in my 11 years as a director there. And then I went to Miami. So I had to integrate all that experience into being a director again. I dove right in.”‘

‘"The way I see things, fans are most interested in players and winning," Whaley said during a rare interview, at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I just want to give the fans what they want. I never heard a person say, ‘I’m buying a ticket because I love the GM.’ No. I love what I do. My job is to help put a consistent winning team on the field for the fans. I don’t need anything else."’

‘”I’ve been helping him realize the game is bigger than him,” Barnett told Buffalobills.com. “You can’t let your emotions get in the way of the greater goal.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills could be in the market for a rookie wideout in the second to fifth rounds, even if they can close a deal to re-sign impending free agent Stevie Johnson.’

‘Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry is one of the pass rushers the Buffalo Bills could target if they seek to fill that need in the second round of the NFL Draft.’

‘”I think there’re more offensive tackles throughout the draft than normal,” Bills GM Buddy Nix tells News 4 Sports. “Normally there are a lot of guards and maybe some centers, but I think there’s more tackles. I think there are more corners and I think the corners are good, the linebackers are good.”‘

‘Rep. Brian Higgins is playing offense. “Bills fans made an economic investment in the team by supporting stadium improvements in the 1990s, and will be asked to again,” Higgins told me. “This is a great opportunity for the NFL to give back to the fans.”‘

‘”It is my preference to stay in Buffalo. It’s just about where I began in the NFL. I want to end there. It’s a tough road; we haven’t been to the playoffs in a long time and I want to be a part of it when it happens.”‘

‘USC’s Matt Kalil is expected to long gone by the time the Bills are on the clock at 10, with the Trojans’ left tackle projected to go as early as second to the Rams. But Stanford’s Jonathan Martin and Iowa’s Riley Reiff could very well be on the board when it’s Buffalo’s turn.’

‘”I think it is deep,” said Nix. “I saw where somebody said it wasn’t, but I think it is. I think maybe it’s deep in the middle rounds or from the second round on more so than maybe in the top 10.”‘

‘"We had a very productive meeting," said Johnson’s representative, C.J. LaBoy, after a session with Jim Overdorf, Bills senior vice president for football administration. "I’m very optimistic. I’m looking forward to continue talking."’

‘"I think if we can fill a couple of spots in free agency and then have another good draft, get our injured guys back," Nix said, ticking off challenges to improving the team. "now that’s a lot of ifs, but really those things should happen. All of our (injured) guys are on schedule or even ahead of schedule as far as rehab goes."’

‘”Our offence last year jumped from 26th to 14th,” Gailey said. “But our defence the past two years has been 24th and 26th (out of 32 teams). If we can get our defence to come to where our offence is, and our offence improves a little bit more as well, then we start to give ourselves a chance to be where we need to be to compete for a championship.”‘

‘In confirming he met with Johnson’s representatives at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Nix told TSN-Radio Friday that the two sides are “still talking.” He then added that as long as there continues to be communication, there’s always a chance of a deal being reached.’