Archives for May 2013

‘If Marrone, Manuel, and the “new Bills” are successful, he can take part of the credit as he was involved in the process to bring them in. If they fail, well, that’s Buddy’s fault, right?’

‘Asked what made him so tough and successful as a linebacker, Darryl had a simple reply: “I’ve got a couple things. No. 1, it was my desire to win. No. 2, it was my upbringing that you have to work for everything you get (because) nobody gives you anything.”‘

‘The Bills are in need of tight end depth with returning starter Scott Chandler recuperating from surgery to repair a torn left knee ligament. To make room for Shuler’s addition on Tuesday, the Bills placed undrafted rookie receiver Kevin Norrell on waived/injured.’

‘In a lawsuit filed in Harris County, Texas, district court on May 3, Williams alleges Erin Marzouki broke off the engagement in January. He accuses Marzouki of absconding with the ring, and of using the relationship as a means to get at his money.’

‘He played for the Vikings and the Miami Dolphins in his rookie season, returned the Vikings in 2011 after he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals and then spent the final 11 weeks of the 2012 season on the Raiders’ practice squad.’

‘Byrd has not signed his franchise tender to this point in time, giving he and the Bills until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal. If no deal is reached by that date, the two sides may only negotiate a one-year deal or Byrd can simply just sign the tender.’

‘”We’ve done a good job because we’re watching the reps of the quarterbacks and we’re trying to make it to a point where it’s equal,” the coach said. “Well obviously Kevin and Tarvaris have been here a while so it’s not to that point yet but we are getting a lot of reps out of EJ right now. Probably a little bit less than the other two are, but our goal is to somewhere along this line during these OTAs as he progresses, to have those equal amount of reps.”‘

‘Having been cut by the Oakland Raiders earlier this week, the Bills put in the highest waiver claim for Shuler and promptly added him to the roster. In partnership with the move, the team also announced they have waived undrafted free agent wide receiver Kevin Norell.’

‘A two-year starter at Stony Brook, Norrell posted a monster senior season for the Sea Wolves with 63 catches for 1,388 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Norrell signed on as undrafted free agent on April 29.’

‘I think it starts as soon as people are acquired you start the competition. We have done a good job just watching the reps of the quarterbacks and we are trying to make it to a point where it is equal while obviously Kevin (Kolb) and Tarvaris (Jackson) have been here for a while so it is not to that point yet. We are getting a lot of reps out of EJ (Manuel) right now. Probably a little bit less than the other two are, but our goal is to somewhere along this line during these OTAs as he progresses to have those equal amount of reps.’

‘Everybody’s hungry. And everybody’s ready to prove something, including the older guys that are here because some of us are new and there’s a new coaching staff. They’re new eyes and the coaching staff is trying to prove stuff to us as well: prove their systems work, prove their methods work, so that makes for a competitive camp and competitive OTAs. And that’s good for everybody. And I think that if you guys can’t see it we’re really progressing every day. And I feel that we’ve gotten a lot better today than we were yesterday and so on.’

‘I think for me, I watch those guys all the time. Whether it’s in the film room or warming up out here on the field, seeing what they do throughout the practices, seeing how they talk to the teammates, direct guys out there on the field. They obviously help when I ask questions. But probably the biggest thing is leading by example.’

‘Pettine’s scheme offers a wide array of pressures with linebackers and defensive backs all potential blitzers from a number of different alignments. It was clear that it was an adjustment for the Bills offensive front and the quarterbacks as the Buffalo QBs tucked the ball and ran more often than they had in previous practices.’

‘”We have a plan and we are going to execute that plan,” said Brandon. “When I am ready to address the situation at some point, we will all be sitting here again together and we’ll go through that process. I won’t go through that (now) or at any time in the near future. We have a plan in everything we do.”‘

‘The long-anticipated move by Nix, 73, paves the way for the promotion of 40-year-old Assistant General Manager Doug Whaley. He is expected to be named general manager within the next week or two. Whaley was hand-picked by Nix and former scouting chief Tom Modrak in February 2010, when they hired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. He has been grooming under Nix ever since. He got a promotion in 2011, and his contract with the Bills was extended in February.’