Archives for March 9, 2012

‘"I think it says a lot about Buddy and what he’s doing. Buddy’s a man of his word," Fitzpatrick said. "Essentially what he’s shown with Kyle (Williams), with me, with Stevie is you perform then you’re going to get rewarded. They want to reward guys that they see performing for the Bills. They aren’t necessarily going to find a lot of guys that have different colored uniforms from the free-agent stuff. They want to reward guys that they draft. They want to reward the guys that have been on the team, played well and performed. That’s a big message to send in the locker room."’

‘Outside linebacker: Rushing the passer and stopping the run is an urgent need after the defense ranked 27th in sacks and yielded a team record 5,938 yards. New defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt is returning the Bills to a base 4-3 and would like a force on the outside to complement a defensive line led by Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus.’

‘Said Fitzpatrick: "I’m a man of my word. Stevie and I have been talking a lot especially the last few days about everything and that just happened to be in one of our conversations. I followed through on that. It’s probably not the look I’ll go into the season with or the look that you’ll see me with in a few weeks but it’s in good fun and I’m certainly happy to have him back."’

‘”Fans remember the past and talk about old games,” Wilson said when asked about being back in the state of Arkansas. “This is where I became the man I am today; I want to give back to the state that gave me so much.”‘

‘The Bills are $20.9 million under their projected salary cap for the 2012 season, according to News figures. They stand $32.8 million under their cap in terms of actual cash spending, the News estimates. Those totals do not count the new contract signed Thursday by tight end Scott Chandler.’

‘"I’m very appreciative of the opportunity I got here," Chandler said. "There’s no other place I thought was as good a fit. I really value the ability to be in one place after bouncing around so much. I love the coaching staff and the players and can’t say enough about the city of Buffalo."’

‘”It wasn’t a whole team thing. It was just some guys that took things too far,” Wire told The Associated Press by phone Thursday. “We rewarded each other for that, and that was wrong. That was crossing the line.”‘

‘The deal comes before Chandler was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next week, and was reached after the Bills re-signed leading receiver Stevie Johnson to a five-year contract on Monday.’

‘His six touchdown catches matched a single-season franchise-record among tight ends.’

‘Chandler, who turns 27 in July, set career highs in 2010 with 38 receptions for 389 yards and 6 touchdowns. The six touchdowns tied a franchise record for single season franchise record among tight ends. The 38 catches were the most by a Bills tight end since Jay Riemersma had 53 in 2001.’