Archives for September 2013

‘Projected record: 6-10.’

‘The Bills aren’t good or deep enough to make that kind of run. They’re rebuilding; they don’t fit the profile of an NFL team on the verge of a breakthrough. They’ve cut loose veterans and are allowing unproven kids to learn on the fly.’

‘The statistics say the Buffalo Bills have the seventh-easiest schedule in the NFL, based on last year’s records. Don’t be fooled.’

‘”His parents did a heckuva job with him,” Moore said. “Big-time athletes sometimes get lost, get carried away, and their heads get swollen. Throughout it all, his parents were not going to let that happen.”‘

‘”He feels as though he can’t be touched,” Clemson teammate and Oakland Raiders receiver Jacoby Ford said. “He’s just a man on a mission to make people look silly.”‘

‘”Spiller is simply the most elusive running back in the NFL,” according to ESPN’s projection. “A track star with Bugs Bunny quicks, Spiller also averaged 2.1 yards after contact per carry in ’12, which was third among rushers with at least 200 totes.”‘

‘Sadly for Marrone and GM Doug Whaley, they were preparing to scour the NFL cut list late Saturday, looking for help up and down their roster after Marrone acknowledged a concern about overall depth. A team finding a better fifth cornerback or sixth receiver is as sexy as reading the electrical schematic for your washing machine. But on game day, everybody matters.’

‘That leaves talented 2012 first-round draft choice Stephon Gilmore, out 6-to-8 weeks with a broken wrist, Leodis McKelvin, a disappointment in coverage after being a first-rounder in ’08, young veterans Justin Rogers and Ron Brooks and rookie Nickell Robey, he of the two lost fumbles on punt returns.’

‘Ross, a new father, worked mostly with the first-team defense throughout organized team activities and training camp. He saw time during the preseason, mostly as a second stringer to defensive tackles Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus. Ross currently sits second on the depth chart behind Dareus.’

‘That leaves Buffalo with rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel and undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel at quarterback. Manuel is recovering from a left knee injury, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for the opener against New England next weekend.’

‘Currently, the Bills have 50 players on their roster and three open spots.’

‘The Buffalo Bills on Saturday announced that they released five players, including defensive end Jamie Blatnick.’

‘The team also elected to sever ties with former second-round pick Torell Troup. Despite having a promising training camp two years ago, a devastating long-term back injury derailed Troup’s hopes for a breakout season. Through this year’s camp and the preseason he was mostly on the third-team defensive line.’