Archives for July 2012

‘”Even if he wasn’t on my team and just checking out film on him you can tell he’s going to be something special,” said Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson. “He has that fight and that hunger and you can see it in him. I think he’s going to be one of those dominant cornerbacks in the league.”‘

‘If the Bills break through to the postseason, it will be an accomplishment in itself. Now, consider the fact that first-year players could be seeing every snap at two crucial positions for success. Early returns have been positive for Gilmore and Glenn. Assuming each wins his respective starting job, opposing coordinators will be looking to put the rookies on their heels. How Gilmore and Glenn respond and perform will help decide the Bills’ fate.’

‘”The Bills might not go along with the changes. Because if they do, they could have to share more money with the visiting team than they do now,” Sabuta noted.’

‘”What really hurt me coming back from the leg break was the leg was still weak where I remember I twisted an ankle and it kept me out two weeks of camp,” said Wood of his last long-term rehab. “Then I practiced a week before the opener and played pretty well against Miami, but I put so much into it to get to that point that I could only practice two days the following week. We go to Green Bay in Week 2 and I play terrible. So I want to get it to where I’m practicing consistently.”‘

‘”I’m the starting middle linebacker so my job is to know all of my assignments as well as those of my teammates,” said Sheppard. “So I’m kind of the general on the field. I’ve worked and played in this defense pretty much my whole career so I’m really familiar with the schemes.”‘

‘Though defensive coordinators might still label it as such, the nickel corner position is no longer a subpackage role in the NFL. With the proliferation of spread formations and wide open passing offenses, a team’s third cornerback often finds himself on the field for 60 to 65 percent of the defensive snaps in a game. Having a capable slot defender or two is critical to a team’s pass defense. Fortunately the Bills have more than their share of candidates to fill the position. The question is which cornerback will win the job coming out of training camp?’

‘With roughly 73,000 seats at Ralph Wilson Stadium, that could mean as many as 10,000 unsold tickets for the Bills, said Sabuda, who is also president of Buffalo Fan Alliance, a community initiative designed to protect the future of pro sports in Buffalo.’

‘”I’m excited,” Edwards said. “You can definitely feel the excitement, even around the city of Buffalo and the fans. It’s probably like nothing they’ve felt in Buffalo for a while. We finally feel like we’ve got some of the pieces that we need to go out and have a great season and make a playoff run. That’s definitely what’s exciting.”‘

‘Used sparingly in his first season with Buffalo, Smith has enjoyed his time with the Bills and is under contract with the club for three more years. “[Playing time] will come as we get to know each other better,” Smith said. “Anytime I’m playing football I enjoy it. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play this game.”‘

‘”It should be good, not only the guys we have but just more continuity going on with the guys we already have,” he said. “Just time to practice and actually have OTAs and minicamps and work together, as opposed to last season with the lockout.”‘

‘Meanwhile, Easley, who turns 25 next November, patiently waits for his. At the time of the diagnosis, he was unsure if the heart condition would end his football career. It took three months for him to get clearance from doctors. Rather than sulk or look for sympathy, he took part in team meetings. “A lot of guys, when they get hurt, they want to go home and do their own thing,” says Bills receiver David Nelson. “Marcus was around, always trying to learn, always asking questions, trying to get better.”‘