Archives for February 2013

‘All of this presented a clear message to the Bills’ passionate fan base that mediocrity will not be tolerated moving forward.’

‘Bills General Manager Buddy Nix said, “We have made the decision not to re-sign Donald. We’re going in a different direction and this move today gives Donald the opportunity to catch on with another team early on in the process. We thank him for his years with our organization and wish him the best in the future.”‘

”’I’m excited about the opportunity,” Smith said. ”I’m excited about meeting new people. It’s kind of an adrenalin rush. It’s not in your comfort zone. You don’t know anybody, which makes it exciting.”’

‘”I think people felt more sorry for me than I actually felt for myself,” Troup said. “They expected me to go out and give a great effort so that’s what I did every day. I didn’t think about the pain. When I got out there my body limited me on doing certain things, but when I was out there I was trying to give 100 percent as much as I could. I just took it one day at a time and decided I would give my best effort whatever that was.”‘

‘Close to a dozen local community leaders were asked to weigh in on the project, and skepticism emerged as the overwhelming consensus.’

‘Carter’s selection last Saturday, while disappointing for Reed, is actually good news because it finally clears the way for voters to elect the Bills’ career receiving leader in 2014. Reed, a Top 15 finalist seven consecutive years, has made the cut to 10 four consecutive years while Brown hasn’t. In the eyes of the Hall’s 44 voters, Reed has to be the next best receiver up.’

‘I had the honor of spending a little time with his parents, Joyce and Calvin Reed, at their Allentown home in 1991. (Calvin died in 1996.) That was in connection with some work the family was doing with charities to help disadvantaged children. (These are classy people and the Lehigh Valley should be honored to claim them, hall of fame or no hall of fame.)’

‘Fleury drove to New Jersey the next day to meet with Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator from 2009-12. After the interview, Fleury was offered the job on the spot and he accepted. That Monday he was in Buffalo, evaluating players by reviewing film from the Bills’ previous season.’

‘”The greatest thing about our scouting staff is we’ve had some continuity and they’ve been in their areas so they have a rapport with the coaches,” said Cook. “So they’ll often get the necessary feedback on the juniors. Really the only thing that gets in the way of getting the information prior to these meetings is the timing with the college coaches out recruiting on the road.”‘

‘While there is considerable bitterness that Carter leapfrogged Reed in the process after the former Kutztown University and Buffalo Bills standout made it to the final 10 two years ago and Carter did not, getting him out of the way is a good thing for 2014.’

‘Then it takes another level of commitment and work ethic to not only stay in the NFL and succeed but to elevate your game once you are a proven commodity. Johnson’s comment gives the perception that he may have been satisfied with where he was at over his last three seasons with the Bills.’

‘"The game started and I can’t remember most of the plays. I remember seeing the kick going wide. People ask me if I ever go back and look at that game. I haven’t. I’ll always remember that first Super Bowl, the rest of them kind of blur together."’

‘It was the fourth straight year Reed made the cutdown to 10 but was eliminated on the last round of voting.’

‘”When you’re getting beat 52-17 in the Super Bowl or any game, you’re not in a very good mood,” he said. “When I ran down and made that play, the last thing I thought about was good things that might come from the play. I just thought that was what I was supposed to do.”‘

‘”I don’t know how he can go in, and Andre can’t. … That’s a surprise to me,” said Dion Reed, another of Andre’s brothers. “It’s very disappointing.”‘