Archives for April 3, 2013

‘”I fit every single spot on the defensive front,” Branch said at One Bills Drive after signing a contract worth $3 million. “I have experience playing every single spot they have on this team. I’ve played defensive end, nose and the 3-technique. So wherever they want me to be, basically I’ll be there.”‘

‘The team has four banners hanging at one end of the field house recognizing each of the four Super Bowl appearances. There are two big banners at the other end recognizing the two AFL championships. There also are a couple of 20-foot-tall banners of the Vince Lombardi Trophy hanging behind each of the goal posts.’

‘”Obviously we’ve made some changes,” the former Syracuse University coach said. “We’re willing to build that messaging as we work together with the players. Build the trust in them, build the organization together, build a team together is what I’m talking about. Once I get to know the players more and they get to know me better, then I think messaging and the behavior changes. I’m excited. I told them that today. I said I hope you’re just as excited as I am.”‘

‘Branch has never posted great numbers — he has only eight career sacks and 132 tackles — but he has been durable, missing only one game the past four seasons.’

”’Everybody else is saying, ‘Ah, it’s the same old Bills,”’ Williams said. ”We’ve all been down the road. This is definitely not a rebuilding season.”’

‘Listed at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Branch enters his seventh NFL season after spending the past two as a starter with the Seattle Seahawks. He played his first four seasons in Arizona after being selected early in the second round by the Cardinals in the 2007 draft out of Michigan.’

‘Dickerson was used as a pass-catching halfback in former coach Chan Gailey’s system last year. The second-year player had nine catches for 117 yards in 2012 after signing with the Bills in May.’

‘Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but multiple sources reported the pact to be a one-year deal worth $3 million, with an additional $350,000 available in incentives.’

‘The 28-year-old Georgia Tech product was chosen by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2008 draft and remained with the Cowboys into the 2011 season. He played 54 games with the Cowboys, including six in 2011 before being waived in October. Washington claimed him and he played one game for the Redskins before being waived again.’

‘The Bills allowed 145.8 rushing yards per game last season, 31st in the NFL, but aren’t without talent on the defensive line. Defensive tackles Kyle Williams, a Pro Bowl pick in 2011, and Marcell Dareus, the third overall pick in 2011, should benefit from having a third productive interior lineman in new coordinator Mike Pettine’s hybrid defensive scheme.’

‘Since entering the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick by Dallas in 2008, Choice has run for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns on 326 carries and caught 76 passes for 559 yards.’

‘”It was a good meeting. It kind of reminds me of that first day at Kindergarten a little bit,” Marrone told reporters. “You go in to that room, you’re not really sure what it’s going to be like and people sitting down. Just trying to learn the teacher, you try to learn the other kids you’re going to school with really for the first time.”‘

‘Branch, 28, will join a defensive front that includes Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Mark Anderson. The six-year pro is certainly happy about those prospects. “It intrigued me a lot just because they’re such good players,” Branch said Tuesday. “Bringing me in to that aspect with my aggressive style — and it’s similar to theirs as well — I think we all just will mesh together really well.”‘

‘The Bills announced Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel, Richmond safety Cooper Taylor and McNeese State safety Malcolm Bronson all made their official visits on the same day that the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning program started.’

‘Marrone said of the first meetings, “I think the first thing you need to do is you want to create a personalized type of effect. A lot of [the players] can go online and figure out about me and I can go online and figure out about them.”‘