Archives for July 2013

‘”He’s a great player and we want him back as soon as possible,” said Williams. “Hopefully things work out, but that’s on the legal end of the team, something we can’t control amongst players.”‘

”’It’s just as realistic as us standing here right now,” Williams said. ”At the end of the day, we’ve just got to go out and we’ve got to do it. No ifs, ands or buts about it. No excuses.”’

‘”He’ll be missed a lot. He’s a good player,” said Buffalo’s top cornerback Stephon Gilmore. “I learned a lot from him when he was here. He’s a playmaker. You don’t come across too many guys like him because he’s a great player.”‘

‘Which players in 2013 might have a chance to make a name for themselves at camp and potentially stick on the 53-man roster?’

‘Williams is also a big fan of his new coordinator, “It trickles down from the top to the bottom and he harps on everything, not just one position or another. It’s from the front to the back, technique, mentality, especially when we get matches with running backs, bring it. We’re definitely going for it and trying to bring it.”‘

‘”We have a tremendous amount of respect for Jairus as a person and as a player,” Whaley said. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to get a long term deal done with him before the July 15th deadline. So unfortunately right now all we can do now is play under the one-year franchise tag. Whenever he decides to come in, hopefully it’s soon, we’ll welcome him with open arms. But right now our focus is on the guys that are here now and we’re just going to get ready to go.”‘

‘It’s not only important in terms of personnel, but it’s also important for us to run the scheme. It’s going to demand a lot of us mentally and physically, especially going against an offense that has their tempo and style of play. It’s a good thing to face some things that we won’t normally face during the season. It’s good to get away from everything and just be with the team.’

‘I can’t really say yet. I think I’ll have more emotions on Sunday when you’re ready to go out. Right now, just excited. This is my first time going away for training camp. I didn’t do that in college, so it’s going to be awesome. It is a beautiful campus out here in Rochester, nice city. I know the weather is not going to be crazy, like 100, 105. That’s going to be a good part about it. So, I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Against their division opponents over the last 13 seasons the Bills have compiled a combined record of 25-57. That’s a winning percentage of just over 30 percent (.304). That win percentage is almost 15 percent lower than their success rate against their non-division opponents over that span (.452).’

‘A key issue preventing Byrd from signing could be his desire for a no-franchise clause, which would prohibit the Bills from franchising him again next year. The Bills gave cornerback Nate Clements a no-franchise guarantee in 2006, clearing the way for him to sign with the San Francisco 49ers the next year.’

‘Is Marrone the right man for the job?’

‘Mike Leach was his coach with the Cougars. As far as taking what he learned from Leach to the NFL Tuel said, “I think some, you can use some of the getting the ball out quick, but as far as concepts and the structure of the offense, it’s not very similar, no.” Washington State plays a spread offense which isn’t what Nathaniel Hackett is doing here in Buffalo.’

‘The safety can elect to stay away until after Week 10 of the season if he so chooses, then must sign the franchise tag to avoid losing an accrued season in the National Football League. The Bills can only negotiate a one-year deal with Byrd, and Byrd’s camp could push to put a restriction on the deal to disallow Buffalo from giving him the franchise or transition tag again in 2014.’

‘How will all the pieces fit in to Pettine’s puzzle? Here’s a position-by-position look at the Bills on defense…’.

‘But many will have a shot at making a roster undergoing a major makeover.’