Archives for February 2013

‘”We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next two and a half weeks. A lot of decisions have to be made over the next two and a half weeks,” he said at the NFL Combine Thursday. “I’m not going to rule out anything at this point. It’s too early to say, and I don’t want to say anything that I have to look back on and not be accurate.”‘

‘”We’ve got quite a few UFAs coming up and (Senior VP of Football Administration) Jim Overdorf and I will spend quite a bit of time together and we’ll set up meetings over the course of the next three days and meet with everybody that’s on our roster that’s up for free agency,” said Brandon. “Obviously we’ll spend time with representation from both of those parties, but we’ll spend time will all of the UFAs we have and we’ll see what kind of progress we can make. It’s like any negotiation and any deal. It’s always better when you’re looking across the table from one another. It’s certainly a good opportunity that presents itself.”‘

‘The Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors approved the general project plan for renovations at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park as well as the extension of the current lease with the Bills. The Erie County Stadium Corporation (ECSC), a subsidiary of ESD, met yesterday and recommended its approval to the Board.’

‘”If you don’t have a dominating defence, you need a winning quarterback in the NFL,” said Metzelaars, the Bills’ former tight ends coach, who was fired along with head coach Chan Gailey. “Fitz is an average to below-average kind of guy and, unfortunately, he made some bad decisions at the end of games and then didn’t make plays at the ends of other games we had chances to win.”‘

‘When deciding where they would move, Hansen said he didn’t want to stay in Buffalo because he didn’t want to live on the outside of the football organization, looking in.’

‘He was signed by the Bills off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad in December 2010. Brown was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 draft by Kansas City, but missed his rookie season because of a calf injury.’

‘Brown joined the Bills in December 2010, signed off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. He has appeared in 11 games, including two starts, since entering the league as a fifth-round draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009.’

‘Brown (6-7, 328) appeared in each of the first five games last season mostly on special teams. He made his second career start a right guard in Week 5 at San Francisco, but tore his hamstring and was placed on injured reserve two days later.’

‘The person says there have previously been no formal contract talks between the Bills and Byrd, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next month. The person adds, there has so far been no discussion as to whether the Bills intend to place a franchise tag on Byrd to retain the fourth-year player’s rights.’

‘And what Marrone saw was that there was no one out there — in free agency or in the draft — with the potential to help the Bills next season more than Ryan Fitzpatrick.’

‘”I’ll be totally honest, I gave them a quarterback just because it didn’t feel right to finish a whole first round and not have one,” McShay said. “Listen, I like Ryan Nassib a lot. I think he has a chance to develop into a great backup and there’s an outside chance he can become a solid starter. But to use the eighth overall pick on Ryan Nassib, I think, would be a big mistake.”‘

‘”Certainly, the most important thing that we’ve learned through Hunter’s life is the power and privilege that we have to pray and to ask God to bless us,” Jill Kelly told the crowd gathered in the Healthy Zone Field House for the 15th annual Hunter’s Day of Hope & Prayer for Children.’

‘Jim Kelly, whose son Hunter, died from a nervous system disease in 2005 said, “Spend every day, make it a quality day with your kids. Even bring everyone together; it doesn’t matter if they’re 30, 40-years-old, or 5 and 10-years-old. Appreicate your kids, tell them how much you love them an thank God everyday for them.”‘

‘”Coming from my situation last year and not playing at all,” Jackson said on a conference call, “getting a chance to compete is very important, it’s about all you can ask for."’