Archives for October 2013

‘Thad Lewis was unable to practice Wednesday due to sore ribs and a bout with the stomach flu. Head coach Doug Marrone said Lewis’ injured ribs were a result of the cumulative effects of several hard hits, the most notable being the one on the first play from scrimmage against New Orleans last Sunday that left him down on the field for several minutes. Lewis, to his credit, fininshed the game.’

‘Charles (6’5″ 323) was originally signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie in May. He was released by Tennessee during final cuts at the start of September.’

‘Challenging is a word we use. It’s challenging and I really, to be honest with you, obviously EJ was cleared to go on the field today so we’re working with him. He’s not going to play. The doctors haven’t cleared him. Thad is truly right now 50-50. Obviously we’ll know more. Then today was the first time that I saw Matt Flynn really out there a little bit, he took some reps. Then we have Jeff Tuel. I think that if you look at it anywhere or any way else you could talk yourself in to making excuses. I think it’s a great challenge. I think pick it up, we’ll do whatever we can if we have to go with either Jeff (Tuel) or Matt (Flynn) and do the best job for them in putting them in to position to win and for the team.’

‘I’ve been going through the process since training camp with going down and EJ’s little ding, and stuff like that so I have honestly been thrown into situations even if it wasn’t in a game since I’ve got here. I’m not going to change anything; I am going to prepare the same. Like I have been saying since day one, if I was the number four quarterback, I am going to prepare like I am number one. I have nothing to change, just going to continue to work hard.’

‘To me, I am in a competition with myself to learn the playbook and get myself as ready as I can. That’s the nature of the beast of the NFL, especially at the quarterback position. If you’re not that starting guy, you have to be ready no matter what. I have been in that situation plenty of times before in the past. It doesn’t matter if you are the first guy or the fourth guy, you have to prepare yourself like you are up there playing. You owe it to yourself, your teammates, just in case you get that call, whatever happens. You can’t control it what everyone else does, all I can control is how prepared I am.’

‘”That’s the No. 1 thing we can’t do. When we go out on offense, we have to get the first down,” running back Fred Jackson said. “If you go three and out in an up-tempo offense, you’re putting your defense right back out there. That’s all we did. You give Drew Brees that many opportunities, he’s going to make you pay for it and that was the case. We’ve got to be better than that on offense.”‘

‘There’s no getting past the Bills’ 3-5 record as the season reached its midpoint, but this team appears better than the one that started 4-0 five years ago. It’s based on little more than the eye test and examining a mediocre league. The Bills are going in the right direction. In 2008, they were going backward.’

‘Buffalo’s remaining schedule, frankly, is softer than cashmere.’

‘This is the second time the Bills have cut Ross this season. He was released on Sept. 10 before being re-signed a week later and has appeared in the past five games.’

‘The introduction was not a mirage. The reason this game was an 18-point loss and not closer is because the incredibly poor play of their quarterback in comparison to the elite level passing helping their opposition.’

‘Brees is debate one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Nickell Robey could tell you this after his first run-in with the likely Hall of Famer. Robey was beaten for a pair of touchdowns, on plays where he had to think he was in good position. This isn’t the Leodis McKelvin “Hey you’re there, just turn around” coverage. It was more of a “You really can’t be much better, but that’s Drew Brees so tip your cap to him” coverage.’

‘Roberson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Cleveland, was released prior to the regular season and spent a portion of the year on the Practice Squad of Carolina before joining the Bills. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound product finished his career at Stephen F. Austin University (2009-12) as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (221), receiving yards (3,191) and touchdown catches (39).’

‘Sunday’s game will mark the 42nd regular season meeting between Buffalo and Kansas City, with the Bills holding a 5-1 mark in their last six games against the Chiefs.’

‘Now, the Bills need to figure out how to close out games, especially on the road. There is something to be said for fighting and hanging tough but the Bills still need to start winning games.’