Archives for March 2012

‘”I feel OK. I feel better today than I did yesterday, I’ll tell you,” Wilson said with his characteristic big laugh.’

‘The deal is a milestone in the 52-year history of the Bills. In the 20 years the NFL has used an unrestricted free-agent system, the biggest Buffalo signing was a $7 million-a-year deal given to guard Derrick Dockery in 2007. That move flamed out, as Dockery lasted only two seasons in Buffalo. Williams comes to the Bills with a far superior pedigree and track record.’

‘”You don’t get many chances and opportunities to come in here and be the guy to help the team get across the hump,” Williams said. “That’s definitely what I’m here for. It’s a great opportunity for myself and the team to get better. This city is looking for the Bills to be where we need to be at. I’m ecstatic. I can’t wait to get out there and make things happen.”‘

‘”I know everywhere else, I’ve been everywhere else. I played here I think it was three years ago and pretty much all I saw was (the stadium). So I’ve seen a little bit of it, but I’ve been to other cities that were interested so like I said football is 50 percent of it, but you’ve got to be comfortable with the other 50 if you don’t know anything about a city. I had to come here first.”‘

‘Before Thursday, the main asset of the Bills was the 1-2 running back punch of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. Now the top asset is the defensive line. It might be the NFL’s best this season. The front four will take some pressure off the linebackers and the secondary. The offensive line is improving. Special teams are way above average.’

‘The arrival of Williams could mean more to the Bills off the field than on the field in terms of credibility and relevancy in this region and throughout the NFL nation, proving that owner Ralph Wilson still is serious about providing a competitive product, encouraging fans to buy season tickets, and suggesting that that Buffalo is not necessarily the Siberia of the NFL.’

‘”I think it really shows that they are trying to make the team better and not just signing big name free agents who are over the hill,” Anderson added. “This is a sign of positive change.”‘

‘They did it.’

‘”I talked to him about hunting, and he was all excited about it. It’s kind of interesting, because I had about nine deer in my backyard yesterday. Me and my wife were sitting there, talking, looking at deer in my backyard. I said, ‘They’ve got to get over here quick, because I know he’s a hunter. Boy, wouldn’t this be great?”

‘Mario Williams has always looked better than he played. He’s long and lean, yet muscularly defined, and at 6-6, 290 pounds is faster than men his size are supposed to be.’

‘”You hear so much about living here, until you actually get here and see what’s here and see the fans and everything this great city has to offer, even seeing my name on pizzas – it definitely got the message across,” Williams said when he was introduced at a news conference Thursday afternoon. “You don’t get many chances like this to be the guy who can help the team get across the hump. And that’s definitely what I’m here for.”‘

‘That doesn’t mean Buffalo is on New England’s heels. I’m not saying that. Last time I checked, Brady was still standing, which means everyone else in the AFC East plays for second. But Williams’ addition strengthens a porous defense that Brady typically shreds, boosts the Bills’ chances of advancing within the division and could, just could, act as a recruiting tool to attract more top-shelf talent to western New York.’

‘To borrow a song title form one of Buffalo’s famous residents, Rick James, Williams said, “Give it to me, baby.” The Bills did.’

‘Wilson is still heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the Bills franchise — obviously not as much as he once was, but still very much a factor. It’s impossible to say if Wilson put out the kind of directive that Adams did, but it’s not impossible to think he did. The Bills went far and above what other franchises would have. No team was willing to give Williams $50 million in guaranteed cash — just as it’s likely no other team is willing to give Manning a “contract for life” the way Adams is.’