August 31, 2005

Notes: Bills Prep for Preseason Finale

Friday's preseason finale against the Lions (7:00 p.m. ET at Ralph Wilson Stadium) will be the last chance for several players "on the bubble" to convince the coaching staff that they deserve a spot on the team's 53-man roster.

McGee Wants Four Kickoff-Return TDs in '05

Terrence McGee went from a `Who?' to a `Wow!' in one short season. This year, the Buffalo Bills' Pro Bowl kickoff return specialist and starting cornerback vows you haven't seen anything yet.

It wasn’t Donahoe who was arrogant

As National Football League teams got down to the roster limit of 65 Tuesday afternoon, two cuts stood out ... neither of them by the Buffalo Bills. After all, the only “name” player they axed was Sunday, former Cowboy ReShard Lee. He was the odd man out in a four-way battle with incumbent Shaud Williams, Joe Burns, who can also play fullback and is a special teams’ ace, and impressive seventh-round draft choice Lionel Gates, as Willis McGahee’s backup.

Bills Host All Pro Dad Seminar

The Buffalo Bills and All Pro Dad will host the All Pro Dad Seminar – An Event for Fathers and Kids – on Tuesday, September 20 in the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse. All Pro Dad spokesman and Bills safety Troy Vincent and All Pro Dad President Mark Merrill will address the participating fathers for 30 minutes while the kids have a chance to participate in interactive games on the Bills indoor practice field.

Holcomb has Bills' back

Be prepared. That's the job of every backup football player because he is always just one play away from becoming a starter. Quarterback Kelly Holcomb knows that as well as anyone. He has been a career backup during his 10 years in the NFL. But he's been ready to step in and play when a starter has gone down. He had several outstanding performances as a spot starter in Cleveland, including a pair of 400-yard passing games.

Donahoe says no to going after Simon

Count the Buffalo Bills out of the Corey Simon sweepstakes. President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said Tuesday the Bills have no interest in Simon, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle who became an unrestricted free agent when the Philadelphia Eagles rescinded their franchise tag over the weekend. He refused to sign a one-year, $5.134 million qualifying offer.

Bills' Campbell says 'throw it my way'

If J.P. Losman thought Mark Campbell was just teasing him the other day before practice, he was wrong. "I was dead serious," Campbell said. "I told him if I don't catch 35 balls he's going to owe me some money for each ball under that."

Sports Illustrated's Bills preview

After finishing strong in '04, a team with savvy veterans puts its fate in the hands of a 24-year-old quarterback who has thrown five NFL passes

Dr Z says Bills will be 8-8

There are a number of proud veterans on the Bills, leaders and warriors who have proved themselves over and over. Now in his 10th year, wideout Eric Moulds has built a career out of making the tough catch. On almost every other team it would be a Hall of Fame career, but Buffalo has been the scene of an endless parade: four coaches, six offensive coordinators and seven starting quarterbacks during Moulds's time there.

NFL Notes: Falcons cut Price, Bears drop Hutchinson

--The Atlanta Falcons cut Peerless Price on Tuesday, giving up on their former top receiver.
--Chad Hutchinson, demoted on Sunday to fourth string after two shaky outings as the Chicago Bears' quarterback starter, was cut.

Falcons release Peerless Price

He was neither peerless nor priceless and on Tuesday, when the Atlanta Falcons finally closed the books on one of the most ill-conceived moves in a long history of dubious personnel decisions, Peerless Price became team-less.

Bills place 2 on PUP; cut CB Fontenot

Backup cornerback Kevin Thomas will miss at least the first six weeks of the season after the Buffalo Bills placed him on the physically unable-to-perform reserve list Tuesday. Thomas, a three-year NFL veteran, has missed all of training camp following offseason surgery to fix a broken bone in his right knee. He was ready to make his return, but aggravated the injury working out just days before the start of camp.

August 30, 2005

Bills Make Moves To Get To 65

The Bills cut free agent CB Therrian Fontenot to get down to the 65 player limit. They actually have 67 because QB Kevin Thompson and CB Lawrence Richardson are NFL Europe exemptions.

Notes: Bills Reduce Roster to 65

The Bills made three roster moves on Tuesday to reduce the active roster to 65 players before the NFL deadline of 4:00 p.m.

Bills Waive Therrian Fontenot

The Bills today announced that the team has waived DB Therrian Fontenot and has placed TE Kevin Everett and DB Kevin Thomas on Reserve/PUP.

McGahee runs up tote board

The statistic was so surprising it deserved a double take. Willis McGahee had 21 carries. In a preseason game. When asked about it Monday, McGahee still found it hard to believe. "Wow," the Buffalo Bills running back said following practice. "I just shake my head on that situation. For preseason, that's a lot."

Moulds worried for friends living in hurricane's path

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds was on the practice field Monday, but his mind was more than 1,000 miles away. Moulds has an offseason home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. He also has a lot of family and friends in areas that were in the path of the powerful storm.

Katrina's effects on sports: Moulds' thoughts in Mississippi

Buffalo Bills receiver Eric Moulds' home in Mississippi was in the direct path of Hurricane Katrina's eye Monday. "I have my text phone, so a lot of my friends back home are keeping in contact about what is going on," said Moulds, whose house is 25 minutes away from Gulfport. "I'm anxious to get back in the locker room to see if I got any calls."

Notes: Bills Monitor Hurricane with Close Eye

Hurricane Katrina, which slammed the Gulf Coast Monday morning, hit close to home for two Bills players. Friends of both Eric Moulds and J.P. Losman had to evacuate southeastern Mississippi and Louisiana, fleeing the Category 5 storm with projected 160 mph winds.

Bills stick with the run despite tough going

Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey knows there will be days like this. When running the football will be as easy as stuffing a round peg in a square hole. When sticking to a game plan revolving around running back Willis McGahee in order to relieve the pressure on young starting quarterback J.P. Losman will take the stubbornness of a 4-year-old giving up his pacifier

Bills keep an eye on hurricane as families deal with devastation

J.P. Losman was eager to get into the locker room so he could turn on CNN and make some phone calls. The Buffalo Bills quarterback, who played at Tulane University in New Orleans, practiced on Monday with his thoughts and prayers directed at friends dealing with Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast and inland.

Bills' offensive sputters raise concerns

Fumbles, botched snaps, a missed extra-point attempt and quarterback J.P. Losman's hesitancy has the Buffalo Bills offense in a funk. That's a lot to correct for a unit that's less than two weeks from opening the regular season.

Losman or Holcomb a Question Worth Asking

We’re almost ready for that September 11th opener against the Texans, and yet there is no quarterback controversy for the Bills, even though it would be easy to make an argument for one.

August 29, 2005

Observations on Preseason Game 3: Buffalo Bills vs Chicago Bears

As tough as I knew the Chicago Bears would be against the Buffalo Bills this week, they were certainly much tougher than I expected. However, that is good at this point as we need to see where the teams weaknesses are and what the Bills can improve. No doubt the pessimistic and bandwagon fans are ready to jump off ship and exclaim that the Bills are no good and that this season is another lost season. Others may return to exclaim that Drew Bledsoe should be back or that Kelly Holcomb should be in. And still others may believe that the Bears run game man-handled us because they had 1 or 2 good runs here and there. Hold on there, folks. This should have been what we expected – especially against a very formidable defense that the Bears now have with all their previous injuries no longer holding them back. Instead of concentrating on what we weren’t able to accomplish, we should focus on the positive aspects of the game and separate this from the negative.

So? What were the positive aspects to the game? Well for one, the 1st string defense gave up nothing but a field goal. The Bears offense had one good run and then they were stopped for a touchdown. It’s the score that counts! How many teams are going to be able to beat us if they can only have a few field goals? At the half, the score was 9-3, Buffalo leading, and when the 1st string defense left the field in the 3rd quarter, the score was 12-3.

I did notice an interesting tidbit in this game. When the Bills blitz, they look like the elite defensive team they want to be. That doesn’t sound very positive, does it? Does this mean that they need to blitz to look good? I think it says more about the type of defense they are than anything else. Their exotic blitz schemes are what set them apart from being average. The positive part of this is that we have excellent personnel to accomplish these schemes. Takeo Spikes and Lawyer Milloy appear to be major cogs in these exotic schemes. I find that whenever they blitz, even if they don’t get there in time, their presence is felt and the opposing quarterback is frequently rushed and ends up taking a much higher and riskier shot than he might of done otherwise. However, whenever you want to be reminded of what these exotic blitzes do for the team, take a look at the consecutive sacks that the Bills had at the end of the 2nd quarter where 1st and 10 quickly became 3rd and 29. The defense actually scored once on an interception from Nate Clements and almost scored twice on another interception, this time by Takeo that was then lateraled to Clements. If not for Clements accidentally stepping out at the 3 yard line, the defense would have brought in 2 touchdowns on their own. At this point, I should point out that had Chicago read my review last week about the Bills preseason game 2, and listened to me when I said that Clements was on a mission and that opposing teams should not throw his way…they might have save themselves a couple of turnovers had they listened.

Even when Chicago broke through with a 39 yard run, to bring Chicago close enough to score a touchdown, the Bills defense stiffened and only allowed a field goal. What a truly elite defense should do. In the 1st half, if not for that one long run that resulted from great blocking from Chicago and poor positioning of London Fletcher, the net results would have been 41 yards rushing in the 1st half running for Chicago. With Thomas Jones in their line up, I’d say that’s pretty good. A thumbs up to Troy Vincent who was able to keep up with Thomas Jones to knock him out of bounds. Who says Vincent is getting old?

From the 2nd half and onwards, backups began filtering in, and finally took over midway through the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, the Bills 2nd string defense weren’t as top notch on this game as they had been the last few games. Nevertheless, I’d say the 2nd string defense faced a better quarterback in Kyle Orton of Chicago than the 1st string defense did. Kyle Orton appears to be the better quarterback, and I expect his role as a backup will not remain that way for long.

One last thing I noticed on defense…while watching a zone blitz play by the Bills, on one camera angle that showed up field, I saw Constantin Ritzmann sitting where a linebacker might sit. And it occurred to me, that in their type of defense, where the Bills blitz a great deal and use exotic packages to confuse the opposing quarterback, the speed of Constantin Ritzmann is probably better suited for this type of defense than the strength of George Gause who is battling Ritzmann for a spot on the roster as a backup defensive end. Previously, I had preferred Gause because of his size and strength, but I have changed my mind feeling that Ritzmann’s speed allows him to be better suited for zone blitz attacks that we might throw and therefore better suited for our defense.

On special teams, what more can be said. They continue to be solid. Not only do they get a lot of yards in their returns, but you also have to look at the big picture – Chicago’s special teams had a penalty in almost every special teams play. Is that because they are really bad? No, Chicago special teams are actually considered pretty good. On the contrary, the Bills were so fast that the Bears were forced to commit penalties on almost every play to keep up with them.

I only have one thing negative about special teams and this may be directed more at Mike Mularkey than at the special teams themselves. At the end, knowing they are winning 12-10 and in jeopardy of losing the game, the Bills kick off using Steve Baker as our punter instead of Moorman??? Baker is horrible and absolutely had no chance of making the team. Was Mularkey trying to make it harder on his team on purpose to give them a bigger challenge? Baker’s atrocious kick allowed the Bears to already be at the halfway point of the field. Baker, as anyone might have predicted, was among the 1st cuts that needed to be done by this Tuesday. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before Chicago was able to come through against 2nd and 3rd stringers to score and win the game. I have to wonder if Mularkey was trying to make it hard for Buffalo to win on purpose…perhaps to see if the 3rd string defense could step up and make an important stop? Or was it perhaps so that they don’t get too overconfident in their play? I think Mularkey is smarter than we might be giving him credit for. He may be realizing that sometimes a loss, like our loss to Pittsburgh at the end of last year, can create a lot more wins in the future. Baker is a terrible kicker and in a *real* game, we’d have our fantastic Moorman to rely on, and indeed he would come through for us.

No doubt people are very down on Rian Lindell for missing an extra point and a 47 yard field goal…although he did make two field goals. The Bills appear to be experimenting and using Duke Preston, our rookie Center, to short and long snap. Using him would save a roster spot that currently Jon Dorenbos occupies. As a result, there seems to be some gelling that these guys will need to do. However, I do applaud the move. I have been asking for this to be done for years. It is too expensive, from a roster spot point of view, to lose a roster spot to a person that is going to perform one task and one task only. If Duke Preston can learn and succeed in the role, it will be a huge upgrade for the special teams. Having a big massive guy like Duke Preston in the middle to block will be much better than having a 250 lb linebacker sized guy in the middle attempting to block massive linemen penetrating up the middle. Those guys don’t seem to have the chemistry down yet, but that’s what preseason is for. If they can get that figured out come the season, it will be a huge improvement. It may also mean they can keep 6 wide receivers, 4 running backs or an extra defensive end which would definitely be a plus to the Bills on depth!

Last, but not least, the offense…the offense did struggle somewhat, but against a good defense, this should be expected. Most people are not predicting a perfect season, are they? Buffalo’s defense and special teams are top notch. If their offense was top notch and they had a Colts-like offense, we’d be going to the Super Bowl. Nobody should be expecting that. The offense may have struggled, but in the 2nd quarter and beginning of the 3rd quarter, mounted a decent drive and got field goals out of it. The biggest negative they had was not being able to score a touchdown from the 3 yard line after the defense handed them what should have been a touchdown waiting to happen. I’ll forgive Lindell for now on the misses until they gel a little more with the new snapper (Duke Preston). However, if he has another off year, he might as well say his goodbyes in the locker room before he leaves.

Josh Reed played better this game, but I was disappointed that Mularkey didn’t allot more time to test Drew Haddad or Eugene Wilson more thoroughly. Haddad had a catch robbed from him in the 1st quarter as the referees claimed he stepped out of bounds on a catch. Wilson made a nice catch also. Jonathan Smith had two nice catches but also missed a couple and showed that he is too small to play special teams. Special team personnel should be ones who love to hit, as it is one of the few times you can hit all out and not have flag thrown at you for personal foul. Smith continues to get smacked around and makes me wince every time he has the ball.

The running backs didn’t have a great day either – though my guess is that with tough defenses like that of the Bears…you just have to keep pounding them until you wear them down. I suspect that Willis McGahee is strong enough to do that, but will need more help from his offensive line. In the 1st quarter, Willis would have had longer runs in some instances if the blocks in front of him had gone as planned. There were several situations where the blockers missed their appointed block causing an immediate loss of yards for Willis. For the same reasons listed above, Lionel Gates didn’t particularly have a good night either and even dropped two passes, surprisingly, as he usually has pretty sure hands.

Lastly, the Bill’s offensive line played okay in terms of protecting JP Losman, allowing only 1 sack – caused by Greg Jerman being beat and out-hussled, but did not do so well in terms of opening holes for McGahee or Gates. However, I will reiterate that I still felt like they are forcing runs up the middle. I suspect they do not want to show that their main running might consist of once again going to the right. I also did not see much trapping which they seem to practice a lot in training camp except for the beginning of the 3rd quarter when the mounted a decent drive. Much to my surprise, Jason Peters was positioned at the tight end position and did fairly well, though no balls were thrown his way. My guess is a lot of what we are seeing might just be a dumbed down version of what we might be seeing when the season starts. With this in mind, my only disappointment is that Bennie Anderson has gotten at least one penalty in all 3 preseason games. I guess when Tom Donahoe brought him in and told him he wanted him to be the future Ruben Brown, Anderson must have took it literally. He also got in the way of a screen pass thrown to Lionel Gates. Considering that defenses are probably going to attack JP to rush him and shadow McGahee, Buffalo had better get good at handling screen passes fairly quickly.

All in all, the starting defense of the Bills was able to control and push the Bears starting offense around. The defense and special teams combined were able to give the offense good field position. That’s an excellent positive to take from this game. The offense, my guess, will not be as dumbed down in a real game and should be able to take advantage of that. That is probably the biggest positive that I will take from this game. Once again, nobody that I know of is predicting a perfect season by the Bills. Therefore, losses against top notch defenses will probably be our toughest games to swallow. Especially when we feel that the game was so close and a play or two here or there could have won it. In these type of defensive-minded games I expect that the Bills will keep the games close, as they did in this past games with the bears. They just need to make sure they impose their will on the game and come out on top.

Don’t become disheartened yet! It’s only 1 loss and they’re in the preseason where Buffalo is not showing everything they have to offer. I think the Bills still have a lot to offer and that they have some tricks planned on the offense. Lining up Jason Peters at tight end shows that Mularkey is not planning to sit around and play a traditional sort of play. He is a risk taker and a tricky planner. This is why the team brought him here. While he gets those plays in from time to time, defense-minded fans out there like me will absolutely love the other part of this team and will love this season!!!

Next game: Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions, Sept. 2nd, 7 PM

Discuss this article and other great Buffalo Bills topics in our < a href=http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/ target=”window”>fan forums

It's a grand time when Shelton leads

Daimon Shelton has been a running back's best friend for most of his seven-year NFL career. Everywhere he goes, a 1,000-yard rusher is sure to follow.

Watching J.P. will have its ups, downs

Now that we're down to the final preseason game, Bills fans should start bracing themselves for some frustrating moments with quarterback J.P. Losman. The kid is a great athlete, and you can't help but love his spirit, but it's going to be awhile before he's comfortable running Buffalo's offense.

Bills release RB Lee

Buffalo Bills running back ReShard Lee was among seven players waived on Sunday. A two-year NFL veteran, Lee was expected to compete for the backup spot behind starter Willis McGahee when the Bills signed him in May. Lee had a disappointing preseason with 16 carries for 44 yards and three catches for 18 yards.

August 28, 2005

The Bills Get The Jump On Cut Day

The Bills need to get down to 65 players by Tuesday, but the club cut seven today.  Lee is no surprise as he's not been impressive since being signed away from Dallas. The emergence of 7th round pick Lionel Gates and the steady play of Shaud Williams sealed Lee's fate. It was thought Woodbury could challenege Shane Matthews for the number three QB slot and become a "slash" type player, but Woodbury was too eratic in camp.

Bills Waive Seven Players

The Bills today announced that the team has waived P Steve Baker, WR Tony Brown, RB ReShard Lee, DB Rob Lee, DE Uyi Osunde, LB Daryl Towns, and QB Tory Woodbury.

Year of the QUARTERBACK

Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw called the Buffalo Bills a potential surprise playoff team this season during a recent nationally televised pregame show. He threw the idea over to fellow Fox network analyst Jimmy Johnson, the former Cowboys and Dolphins coach. "With a second-year quarterback?" Johnson said. "No chance."

Preston emerges in long snap judgment

The Buffalo Bills have some competition at an unexpected spot on the roster - long snapper. Rookie center Duke Preston handled the snapping duties for all of the first half and part of the third quarter in Friday's 16-12 loss to the Chicago Bears. He represents a challenge to Jon Dorenbos, who has served as the Bills' long snapper the past two seasons.

Super-sized Bills are worried, too

 Last weekend's death of 23-year-old San Francisco 49ers guard Thomas Herrion — who collapsed in the locker room after a preseason game in Denver — has left many big men in the NFL asking themselves all over again whether the health risks of their profession are worth it.

August 27, 2005

Bears edge Bills 16-12

-Game Center and Stats-

Kyle Orton provided the spark struggling Chad Hutchinson could not. Now the Chicago Bears could be looking at yet another quarterback change.

Playing with the first-team offense in the third quarter, Orton drove the Bears 81 yards for a touchdown against Buffalo's second-team team defense in Chicago's 16-12 victory against the Bills.

"We're pleased with how Kyle Orton stepped in and gave the offense a boost," Bears coach Lovie Smith said, adding that he would watch tape before making any final evaluations.

Despite 17 penalties, the Bears (3-1) won when Adrian Peterson ran 3 yards for a touchdown with 1:32 left against Bills' second and third-teamers. That capped a 50-yard drive with Jeff Blake, the fourth Chicago quarterback, running the offense.

But it was Orton's strong play and Hutchinson's poor outing in his second start since replacing injured Rex Grossman -- two interceptions, three sacks and 3-for-14 passing -- that was most noticeable.

"We need to a little work with the quarterback position and we'll do that," Smith said. "We will evaluate it throughout. All starting positions have to play well.

"It wasn't a good effort and it wasn't all Chad's fault. We had other breakdowns. He didn't throw the ball as well as he needs to. He missed some reads. It just wasn't a good night." Buffalo (2-1) led most of the game after Nate Clements returned a first-quarter interception 31 yards for a touchdown against the struggling Hutchinson.

"I think he was locked in. I read the receiver and got to the ball," Clements said. "I saw his eyes and played the route and made a play."

Hutchinson suffered two interceptions and fumbled while being sacked three times a week ago against the Colts in his first start since replacing Grossman. Grossman is out at least three months -- and maybe the entire season -- with a broken ankle.

Hutchinson's play went downhill this night and he was booed in Chicago's first home preseason game. He was not available for comment after the game.

Orton was cheered loudly when he came out to start the third quarter. He completed seven passes in the 81-yard scoring drive capped by a 2-yard TD toss to Desmond Clark that cut Buffalo's lead to 12-10.

He was 7-for-11 for 74 yards, but wasn't ready to pronounce himself the starter.

"You'll have to ask Coach Smith," said Orton, a fourth-round pick out of Purdue. "I think I played pretty well. I had one good drive out of two."

Bills quarterback J.P. Losman wasn't satisfied, either. He played the first half and the first series of the third quarter, completing 9 of 18 passes for 82 yards before he was replaced by former Bear Shane Matthews.

"It wasn't a good performance. I felt like everything was there," Losman said. "They called the right plays, the blocking was there. ... I was hesitating a little to pull the trigger."

Rian Lindell missed an extra point after Clements' touchdown but kicked a pair of field goals for the Bills.

After Hutchinson threw three incompletions in his first three attempts under heavy pressure, he tried to complete a sideline pass to Bernard Berrian. But Clements cut right in front and intercepted the ball, racing easily to the end zone from 31 yards out late in the opening quarter.

When Hutchinson returned to the huddle for the next series, he was booed loudly. Minutes later, Thomas Jones broke off a 40-yard run to the Buffalo 18.

But after Hutchinson completed a 9-yarder, he threw incomplete to the end zone on third down and the Bears settled for Doug Brien's 28-yard field goal.

Hutchinson's pass for Jones late in the half was deflected, then picked off by Takeo Spikes. He lateraled the ball to Clements, who was knocked out on the 3.

But Losman fumbled on second down and was tackled for a 20-yard loss by Hunter Hillenmeyer. The Bills ended up with a 38-yard field goal from Lindell.

He added a 44-yarder at the end of Buffalo's first series of the second half, right after a scrambling Losman missed a wide-open George Wilson in the end zone.

With rookie first-round draft pick Cedric Benson still a holdout, Jones gained 94 yards on 14 carries for the Bears, while Willis McGahee had 61 yards on 21 carries for the Bills.

Bills, Bears dominate defensively

The Buffalo Bills preseason game Friday night went exactly according to form. The defenses were relentless, intimidating and totally dominant. The offenses could barely get out of their own way.

Quick Vick will give Bills a challenge

Watching slick and quick Michael Vick run circles around the Jacksonville Jaguars in Atlanta's 23-7 exhibition road romp Thursday night adds to the anticipation of the Falcons at Buffalo's game Sept. 25 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Clements shows off worth to Bills

Nate Clements' price just went up. The Buffalo Bills' young veteran cornerback, who wants to become the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in a preseason game at Soldier Field on Friday night.

Orton steps in to lead Bears past Bills

Kyle Orton provided the spark struggling Chad Hutchinson could not. Now the Chicago Bears could be looking at yet another quarterback change.

Mularkey: "We didn't do a good job"

... Buffalo head coach Mike Mularkey was surprisingly unsettled by the defeat.

He was particularly disappointed with the offense's play, calling it undisciplined.

Bears slip past Bills

Adrian Peterson had a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left, and the Chicago Bears rallied after another rough outing by starting quarterback Chad Hutchinson to beat the Buffalo Bills 16-12 Friday night.

Bears comeback to beat Bills 16-12

The Bears' stifling No. 1 defense didn't allow a touchdown in Friday night's 16-12 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field, but quarterback Chad Hutchinson wasn't as fortunate.

Starting 'D' holds down Bills

The Bears' first-team defense dominated again, allowing the Bills 19 net yards in the first quarter Friday night. The pressure on Bills quarterback JP Losman garnered two sacks, but he was rushed into 8-for-16 passing for 71 yards and no touchdowns.

August 26, 2005

Notes: Top Picks Not Present

Top draft picks from both the Bills and the Bears were not present for Friday's preseason game at Solider Field. Buffalo receiver Roscoe Parrish, selected 55th overall in this year's draft, remains sidelined with a wrist injury and did not make the trip.

Bills Present Multiple Tests

Whether or not the Bears are ready to face one of the best defenses in the game, the offense will get a stiff challenge from the Buffalo Bills.

Bills At Bears - Hutchinson just aiming to improve

The Bills offense is led by mobile quarterback J.P. Losman, who's the team's preseason rushing leader with 53 yards. Willis McGahee has 48 rushing yards. Former Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans — a player whom Bears general manager Jerry Angelo coveted before Evans was drafted by the Bills in 2004 — has Buffalo's only preseason TD catch.

Bills and Bears figure to get physical

One first down. That was the total production that All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts offense managed last week in the first five drives of their preseason game against the Chicago Bears

Bears get set for Bills 'stout' D

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith knows the Buffalo Bills' defense well. "Stout. Very stout. They're an aggressive front. They like to blitz quite a bit," he said.

Gandy fired up for Bears game

Mike Gandy said returning to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears in an NFL preseason game tonight holds no extra motivation for him. The Buffalo Bills new starting left tackle, signed as a free agent after the Bears abruptly cut him in November, isn't into settling scores, he said.

August 25, 2005

Bears, Bills match stiff defenses in preseason

Buffalo led the NFL by generating 39 turnovers and finishing second in fewest yards allowed last season. The Bills return most of that defense intact.

As I see it: Bears Bills Preview

After The Buffalo Bills scrimmaged before a packed house in Lambeau Field, played in the dome at Indianapolis Colts, and faced the Green Bay Packers at a sold-out Ralph Wilson Stadium, this week's preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field should provide yet another good test for JP Losman and the Bills as they prepare for their season opener at the Ralph against Houston.

The third preseason game is generally the one in which the starters get the most playing time, often playing well into the third quarter. Buffalo’s JP Losman should be able to get plenty of reps in against a very good Bears defense led by Brian Urlacher. While no one is likely to mistake Chad Hutchinson for Jim McMahon, the Bill’s run defense will also get a decent test from the Bear’s running game that has scored 5 TDs and is averaging 128.3 yards per game in three preseason games. And, even the Bills' special teams, which have been superb once again thus far, should get a challenge, at least on the coverage teams, from the Bears who got a 54 yard punt return for a TD from Bobby Wade last week.

With roster spots up for grabs and fierce competition at several positions, there are a number of players to watch closely and things to look for in this game. The Bears' defense and special teams are probably the best that the Bills will face this preseason and, with the starters likely to play significant time, this game should give Bills fans their best take to-date on how JP Losman and the rest of the team are progressing in their preparations for the season opener.

The Bills Offense vs The Bears Defense: The Bears defense, with Adewale Ogunleye, Tommie Harris and Alex Brown up front, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs at linebacker, Jerry Azumah, Mike Green and Mike Brown in the defensive backfield, are a quality unit that suffered from injuries and being left out on the field too long by their pathetic offense last season. Even if they "play vanilla", they will pose a stern test for JP Losman and the Bills offense, especially the offensive line.

In three games thus far in the preseason, the Bears are giving up only an average of 50 yards per game on the ground, which could mean that JP Losman will be called on to show if he can lead the Bills to victory through the air. Mike Gandy has surprised a lot of people with his play thus far and he did a creditable job in matching up against. K. Gabaja-Biamila, one of the NFL's top sack-masters, last week and in the scrimmages in Green Bay. He will have to show that he can do it again this week against a less familiar opponent in A. Ogunleye, the former Dolphin DE. Bennie Anderson, who has had some rough moments in the preseason, will be facing a tough, young, up-and-coming star in T.Harris.

Depending on how well the Bills offensive line does, yards could be hard to come by for Willis McGahee and the other Bills Running Backs who are trying to make the roster and battling for the # 2 RB job. With S.Williams getting significant playing time against Indianapolis and RaShard Lee being first off the bench last week, it is possible that this week could it could be Lionel Gates' turn to show what he can do against stiffer competition.

The spotlight will also, once again, be on the battle for roster spots at Wide Receiver where Drew Haddad appears to have pushed past Jonathan Smith and is pushing Josh Reed for the # 3 spot in Roscoe Parrish's absence and George Wilson is making a serious run at a roster spot with Sam Aiken failing to show the kind of consistent hands that you would like to see from him at this stage. M.Brown, M.Green and nickel CB Nathan Vasher will present a good challenge to JP Losman and the wideouts who are looking to replace Parrish in the slot.

The Bills Defense vs The Bears Offense: This would be a much better test for the Bills' defense if Rex Grossman had not been injured because Grossman was beginning to develop a good rapport with free agent WR import Mushin Muhammad before the injury. Unfortunately, with Grossman out, the Bears passing game was as awful last week against the Colts, with Chad Hutchinson at the helm, as it was last season. Hutchinson went 5 of 8 for 40 yards with two interceptions and a fumble and he was sacked three times in six possessions. Ugh! Hutchinson vows to be more relaxed and ready to play this week, but it is hard to imagine him being that much better playing behind a Bears offensive line that simply can't pass block. While much has been made of Grossman's fragility because he has been hurt so often, the fact is that he's not the only QB to get hurt playing behind this offensive line: Jamie Martin and Craig Krenzel also suffered injuries playing QB for Chicago last year; and no QB is going to look good if he's laying on his back. With Hutchinson going down 3 times last week against an Indy defense that was missing 6 starters, this offensive line could get a QB killed out there! Even if Jerry Gray keeps the Bills blitzes "vanilla" this week, it could be a long, rough game for Hutchinson.

As bad as the Bears' offensive line is in pass protection, with John Tait, Olin Kreutz, Fred Miller and our old friend Reuben Brown up front, they are a very good running team, especially when their opponents don't stack 8 men "up in the box". Cedric Benson's holdout has given Thomas Jones and Adrian Peterson a chance to hold onto their jobs for the time being and they have played well in the preseason. With Hutchinson still trying to settle in as the starting QB, it is very likely that the Bears will try to run the ball at the Bills' defense and will use the kinds of draws and passes to the RBs that hurt the Bills' defense last week against Green Bay. This will be good for the Bills defense that is likely to see much the same thing from Houston and Domanick Davis in the season opener. Without Grossman to get the ball to Muhammad, it is unlikely that the Bears' passing game will pose enough of a serious deep threat to the Bills defense to "keep them honest" however and it would be very surprising and disappointing if the Bears were able to sustain many drives or put up many points in this game while the starters are in. Unfortunately, because of the Bears' ineptitude in the passing game, they are unlikely to pose much of a challenge to the Bills whose reserve defensive backs are still fighting for roster spots. If Hutchinson struggles, Kyle Orton, who has been very good playing against reserves, and Jeff Blake, who is experienced and was signed to replace Grossman, could see enough action to make things more interesting.

The Bills Special Teams vs The Bears Special Teams: What more can be said about the Bills special teams? They were the best in the NFL last season and, so far, it looks like they are trying to be even better this year. It almost seems like whomever the Bills put back to return a punt or kickoff can get a big return. And, Rian Lindell hitting a 54 yard field goal? Whoddathunkit?!?! Still, the Bears will pose a pretty good challenge this week for the Bills' special teams, especially the kick coverage teams. Wade's punt return for a TD last week was the team's third in three years and Jerry Azumah's 25.5 yard average per kick off return the past two season ranks fourth in the NFL over that period. While no one will confuse Doug Brien with Adam Vinitieri, Bear punter Brad Maynard is very similar to the Bills' Brian Moorman: a great bad weather kicker who leads the NFL in punts inside the 20 since he entered the league in 1997. With the competition for roster spots so tight at so many positions on the Bills, special teams play is likely to be the determining factor in a number of instances. Jobs will be on the line for players like D.Haddad, J.Smith, G.Wilson, S.Aiken, T.Woodbury, R.Lee, L.Gates, J.Burns, J.Goldsbury, C.Ritzmann, G.Gause, C.Wire, J.Leonard, E.Oglesby, R.Lee, T.Fontenot and others on special teams this week and next.

Things To Look For:
1. Once again, all eyes will be on JP Losman, as they will be throughout this coming season. Thus far, JP has improved his performance every week since the beginning of training camp. The Bears defense will be the best he has faced thus far and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to show improvement against them. JP showed much better composure and footwork against Green Bay last week than he did against Indy: will he be better still in these areas this week? How well will he read the blitz? The Bears are likely to test him with Urlacher and Briggs. Will he improve on picking out his receivers? Green, Azumah and Brown, in particular, are ball-hawks who will make him pay if he makes mistakes. And, of course, will JP get down to avoid getting hit when he runs with the ball? He can't afford to be foolish with Urlacher and Brown lurking.

2. Can Mike Gandy neutralize Ogunleye? This is another big test for Gandy.

3. Will Bennie Anderson be able to handle Tommie Harris without holding him? Harris is a DT with the quickness of a DE. Anderson must keep him from getting too close to JP Losman and Willis McGahee without committing penalties (more on that later).

4. Which of the Bills' reserve receivers will be able to get open and make the plays when JP goes to him? Will Josh Reed be able to hold onto the ball and his job, or will Drew Haddad continue to get the job done? Can Sam Aiken make the grab? Will George Wilson continue to catch everything thrown his way? Will Fast Freddy Smith be able to do something to impress the coaches and make the team?

5. How long will Willis McGahee play and will the Bills offensive line be able to get him some running room? Which RB will be first off of the bench to him up? Will it be Lionel Gates and will he continue to impress against better opposition? Will Shaud Williams get in the game at RB this week? How much playing time will ReShard Lee get and how will he perform? Will Joe Burns get any carries at RB and will he show anything?

6. Will the Bills defensive front be able to stop the Bears' running game? They must be much better than they were against the Packers in the first series last week if they are going to contain the likes of L.Tomlinson, P.Holmes, C.Martin, C.Dillon and D.Davis this season. T.Jones and A.Peterson aren't in the same class as those RBs.

7. Can the Bills defense dominate the Bears offense the way that a top flight defense should be able to dominate an offense whose passing game is as pathetic as the Bears' passing game has been with Hutchinson at the helm?

8. Will the Bills' special teams continue their dominance and be able to contain the Bears' return teams? In particular, who will stand out on special teams?

9. While the Bills improved significantly in cutting down the number of penalties that they got from 19 against Indianapolis to 8 against Green Bay, eight penalties is still too many. To be a playoff caliber team, especially with an inexperienced QB, the Bills cannot afford to commit that many penalties. They must be more disciplined. With the starters playing a significant portion of this game, it will be interesting to see if they can continue to improve in this area and further limit the number of penalties that they commit.

10. Will Rian Lindell get another chance to kick a FG from more than 40 yards out? And, will he make it?

It should be an interesting game. The best test of the preseason for JP Losman. There are a lot of things to look for in this one. I hope you enjoy it.

Bills: Parrish expected to miss a month

Roscoe Parrish, who had surgery to repair an injured right wrist on August 12, is expected to miss the first month of the regular season, according to the Associated Press. Parrish is out of the sling he's been wearing for 10 days, but is still wearing a cast on his right arm.

Players say Bills camp got tougher

Missing the playoffs last season was like a small paper cut for the Buffalo Bills. It hurt the team more than it looked. Evidently, coach Mike Mularkey didn't like the feeling. Long believed to be the strong, silent type, Mularkey was more demanding in his second training camp, which finished Tuesday afternoon at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford.

Gates earns long look as McGahee's backup

Buffalo Bills rookie running back Lionel Gates is playing with a giant chip on his shoulder. Gates, who starred at Louisville, was Buffalo's final draft pick in April, the 236th player taken in a draft heavy with ball carriers. That late-round timing means Gates' chip is about the size of the Rock of Gibraltar, but it doesn't weigh down the powerfully built 6-foot, 223-pounder. It motivates him.

Bills' brotherly love belies T.O.'s disruptions in Philly

In Philadelphia, Terrell Owens' every move on the field —and in his driveway — is photographed and chronicled from coast to coast. At St. John Fisher College, Eric Moulds systematically went about refining routes and perfecting timing with new Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman.

Bills LT Gandy showing Bears were wrong to cut him

Left tackle Mike Gandy has made the most out of the second chance the Buffalo Bills have provided him. Released by Chicago midway through last season after he was injured, Gandy signed with Buffalo and emerged as the team's starting left tackle, taking over for departed free agent Jonas Jennings.

August 24, 2005

Roster Battles: Bills Tangle with Bears

Friday night's preseason game in Chicago (8 p.m. ET) may be the last chance for several Bills players to showcase their talents in front of the Buffalo coaching staff in hopes of securing a spot on the opening day roster.

Bills Open Memorabilia Display

The Buffalo Bills have kicked off a new exhibit on the history of the team at the Toy Town Museum in East Aurora, NY, which will be open to the public until early 2006.

Rating the O-lines in the NFL

24. Buffalo Bills: Left tackle is a big question mark here, as Gandy is a guy probably better suited for guard. It's possible that Teague, the teams' best lineman, could be moved back out there, where he has played in the past.

Hutchinson on spot vs. Bills

Not only is Chad Hutchinson's starting job with the Bears on the line, his future in the league might be, too. If he doesn't show improvement Friday against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field (7 p.m., Ch. 5, 780-AM), the Bears will consider going to their third quarterback before the regular season begins.

Training camp is a learning experience for Preston

Training camp was a learning experience for Buffalo Bills rookie offensive lineman Duke Preston. And all of the learning didn’t take place on the field. Preston, Buffalo’s fourth-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, admitted he’ll do some things differently when the 2006 training camp rolls around next summer at St. John Fisher College.

Bills’ camp is still good for the soul

Each year the numbers change a bit more. And, come next summer, the pendulum will have swung for good. There was a time when every National Football League team dutifully took its players to some out-of-the-way site to sweat them into shape after an off-season of relative inactivity. Training camps lasted over a month and were a spartan tribute to male bonding galvanized by endless two-a-day practices

Roster battles rage as Bills break camp

As Mike Mularkey's second training camp ended with players quickly making a beeline from St. John Fisher back home to Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills roster is shaping up with several surprises who will force the coaching staff to make some difficult decisions come cut time.

Glory of the jersey enchants NFL fans

For the sake of the fans and the folks in charge of merchandising for the Buffalo Bills, J.P. Losman had better be good. Otherwise, a lot of money will have been wasted, and not just on the quarterback's salary.

Summer holiday ends for Bills fans, not players

.P. Losman likes his initialized first name, but there's only so much a guy can take. During Buffalo Bills training camp, the only words heard more often than shouts of "J.P., J.P." were "cash or credit?" at the register where his No. 7 jerseys were sold.

Notes: Bills Break Training Camp

The Bills officially broke training camp on Tuesday, although there remains plenty of work ahead as head coach Mike Mularkey continues to prepare his team for the start of the regular season.

As Bills break camp, most pleased with Losman

The familiar chants of "Hey, J.P.!" echoed across the St. John Fisher College field for one last time Tuesday as the Buffalo Bills packed up and broke training camp. Eager to get home to Buffalo, quarterback J.P. Losman avoided his normal post-practice routine of spending 30 minutes signing autographs. He instead left through a side door of the locker room and made his way to the parking lot, pleased with what he's accomplished so far.

August 23, 2005

Bears quarterback vows not to press against Bills

Chad Hutchinson won't drag a chaise lounge or massage table onto the field for Friday night's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

Bills Break Camp

Following three plus weeks in Rochester the Buffalo Bills broke camp Tuesday afternoon. "I thought it went well. I thought I saw Coach Mularkey put his arms around his football team. I saw a little bit more of his personality being imposed which is a good thing, Troy Vincent said."

Bills' domination of Dolphins sparked research

In the early 1990s, I was about as big a Miami Dolphins fan as possible. Every Sunday my dad, younger brother and I would live and die over the outcome of the Dolphins game. Of course, during this time we did more dying at the hands of the Buffalo Bills than any other team, and it irritated me so much I decided to figure out what other teams did to beat Buffalo that the Dolphins didn't do.

Bears-Bills pregame report

The Chicago Bears will end their three-game preseason road odyssey on Friday, August 26 when the Buffalo Bills travel to Chicago for the first time since 1998. In addition to pitting a pair of two-win teams against one another in the Bears and Bills, the contest also features second-year head coaches Lovie Smith of Chicago and Mike Mularkey of Buffalo meeting on the field for the first time.

Buffalo releases UAlbany lineman

The Buffalo Bills released former University at Albany offensive lineman Geir Gudmundsen on Monday. Gudmundsen wasn't drafted but signed with the Bills less than an hour after the draft ended following a phone call from Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally.

Woodbury seeks September surprise

Tory Woodbury has been in this position so much in his career that he can see the hurdles from miles away. He saw them when he walked on at tiny Winston-Salem State in North Carolina, and after he finished his college career as the school's most prolific passer, he saw them again after he went untouched on draft day. There were more hurdles when he was with the New York Jets, the Denver Broncos and even in the Arena Football League. So guess what's ahead of Woodbury as he tries to find a roster spot on the Buffalo Bills?

Strange journey to being Bills fan

I have never been to Buffalo, N.Y.
Yet, I am a fanatical Buffalo Bills fan.
Many people are flabbergasted by this, and cannot understand why I choose to root for the Bills.

Haddad turns heads in tight WR scramble

Five years have passed since receiver Drew Haddad attempted to beat the odds and make the roster of the Buffalo Bills. A lot has changed in that time. The Bills have installed new management and coaches, and brought in new players. Haddad, 27, has married and become father to an infant son.

Haddad Impresses the Bills

Wide receiver Drew Haddad is not a lock to make the final roster, however the former University of Buffalo star has the chance to move up on the depth chart.

Bills TE Euhus out with strained pectoral muscle

Bills' backup tight end Tim Euhus is expected to miss Buffalo's final two preseason games because of a chest injury. Euhus strained his pectoral muscle and will definitely not play in Buffalo's preseason game at Chicago on Friday, Coach Mike Mularkey said Monday.

Euhus Sidelined with Strained Peck

The Bills held their fourth and final night practice of the 2005 training camp on Monday. The team will conduct one last practice session Tuesday afternoon before breaking camp and returning to the training facility in Orchard Park, NY.

Herrion's death hits home for Bills lineman

The Buffalo Bills' final night practice of training camp was spirited, if not a tad sloppy, under the lights at St. John Fisher College Monday night. For defensive tackle Lauvale Sape, it was particularly difficult to concentrate.

August 22, 2005

Bills Waive Six Players

The Bills today announced that the team has waived DT LaWaylon Brown, OL Geir Gudmundsen, DB Daniel Leger, WR Will Peoples, OL David Pruce, and DB Marvin Ward.

A Closer Look: Justin Geisinger

Buffalo's sixth round draft pick, Justin Geisinger from Vanderbilt, feels at home in Buffalo and says he is living a childhood dream of playing in the NFL. Take a Closer Look at the 6-3, 322 lb. lineman and see what he likes and how he stays focused.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

BATTLE OF THE WEEK
George Gause vs. Constantin Ritzmann for the No. 4 defensive end spot -- Both players are making plays in practice and in the preseason games. Ritzmann took a big step forward with two more sacks against Green Bay's second teamers, giving him four in two games.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

The Bills announced they were averaging 3,659 fans per day at camp through Aug. 15. It's the first time since 2001 the team has given out a camp attendance figure.

Bills report: Inside slant

The Bills, who have opened talks with star cornerback Nate Clements about a contract extension, are in for some sticker shock. "I'm the best," Clements said. "I don't settle for anything less than being the best, and that's in everything."

No more tickets for Bills' final evening practice tonight

If you don't already have a ticket, you're out of luck if you were hoping to attend the Buffalo Bills' final evening practice session today at their St. John Fisher training camp. All 6,000 tickets for the 7-9:15 p.m. practice were distributed earlier this month through Buffalobills.com and Ticketmaster.com. The Bills will have one more practice Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. before breaking camp at Fisher. That session is also free; a ticket is not required.

AFC East preview

Buffalo Bills Overview: This is a good Bills team, especially on defense. And we know that Willis McGahee can run the ball. But if Losman struggles, all that will matter little. Losman is athletic and has the arrogance you like from the position, but until we see him do it in the regular season this team is a big question mark.

Some notes the Bills

WHERE did training camp go?
The Bills’ end their sixth season of camp at Pittsford’s St. John Fisher College tomorrow. This year’s camp lasted only 26 days and the team wasn’t even there (games, scrimmages and off-days) for 10 of them.

Bills' defense needs to pass a major test

It was only a preseason game. The Packers weren't about to expose the legend to any unnecessary abuse. But after watching Brett Favre carve up the Bills' defense in his only possession Saturday night, I was begging for more. Exhibition or not, it's nice to be reminded what a great NFL quarterback looks like.

Edwards weighs in at tackle

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ron Edwards is listed at 320 pounds, three pounds heavier than the man he's replacing in the starting lineup, Pat Williams. Of course, the listed weights for defensive tackles in the NFL are best described as ballpark figures. "Three-twenty - yeah," Edwards says with a smile.

Fewer penalties pleases Mularkey

The Buffalo Bills made progress in the penalty department in Saturday night's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. After making 19 penalties in their exhibition opener at Indianapolis, the Bills were flagged eight times for 64 yards in their victory over Green Bay.

Bills show their fans plenty of positives in the preseason

It would be premature to go overboard on the playoff hopes for the Buffalo Bills, but there isn't much not to like about their preseason performance and 2-0 record.

Favre did Bills defense a favor

The Packers QB shows Buffalo's top unit that it still has some work to do

Bills defense aims to rise to the occasion

Buffalo fans fret about how their Bills can overcome the inexperience of quarterback J.P. Losman, who threw five passes last season as a rookie, and reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Members of the Bills' veteran defense feel certain the answer is in their hands.

Losman leads Bills over Packers

A fleet-footed quarterback who wears No. 7 brought some exciting playground-style football to Ralph Wilson Stadium last night. No, ex-Argo Doug Flutie has not returned to the Buffalo Bills. The current No. 7 in town is J.P. Losman and he doesn't resemble his predecessor -- the snail-like Drew Bledsoe, who was released by the Bills in the off-season and then signed with the Dallas.

The Winning Combination: 80, 83

The Bills starting wide receivers, Eric Moulds and Lee Evans, are all but set in stone. However, the spots below the first two wide outs are wide open.

August 21, 2005

Bills: Five things to know

Observations from Bills camp: 1. The club is not concerned about left tackle Mike Gandy, released by Chicago last year. Gandy, signed to replace former starter Jonas Jennings, was recruited to compete for the starting job, and he has won it.

Bills' first-year starting QB Losman won't go it alone

J.P. Losman has exactly five passes on his NFL resume, which means no one is sure what to expect from him now that he's Buffalo's starting quarterback. And that is good.

Losman runs the show

J.P. Losman did more running in the first half of Saturday’s preseason game against Green Bay than Drew Bledsoe did in his entire three seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

Haddad makes his case to stick around

Drew Haddad likes the chances the Buffalo Bills are giving him to prove he should make the team. He just hopes he can keep turning those opportunities into the kind of success he had in the Bills' 27-7 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills tickets say thanks for life-saving gift

How do you repay a person who saved your life - not once but twice? Buy him Buffalo Bills season tickets.

Bills get the party jumping

Too bad J.P. Losman won't get to see the Green Bay Packers' defense any more this season.

Gandy shows he can match up with the league's best

Matched up with one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, left tackle Mike Gandy more than held his own against Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the Bills' 27-7 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Losman's fun to watch, but Willis makes it great

Still, it's safe to assume that everyone in the Bills organization, from the owner on down, would rather Losman not get into the habit of leading the team in rushing. That distinction belongs to Willis McGahee, the franchise running back, the man being counted on to carry the bulk of the offensive load this season.

Losman in a Hurry

JP Losman showed the Buffalo Bills that he can provide at least one thing his predecessor could not.

Kid Losman has plenty of moves

Saturday night's 27-7 victory underscored that the contrast in speed between Losman and the man he supplanted is as stark as the difference between an avalanche and a glacier.

Losman in a groove as Bills rip Green Bay

Happy with leading the Buffalo Bills to a preseason victory, quarterback J.P. Losman acknowledged there's still a few things he needs to learn.

Losman showing he can fit the Bills

Running around the field like it was a game of sandlot football, the Buffalo Bills' 24-year-old new starting quarterback gave a taste of things to come, leading the Bills to a 27-7 win over the Green Bay Packers last night.

Bills Roll Packers 27-7

It was another step in the right direction for JP Losman and the Buffalo Bills, handling the Packers for most of the night and finishing on the winning end of a 27-7 game.

Preseason Sellout Becoming the Norm

For the second straight year, the popular Kids Day game was a sellout, with an announced attendance of 71,323, just shy of last year's full house of 71,549 and the all-time mark of 80,020 set during the first game played in the stadium in 1973.

Special Teams "Return" to Form

It's usually a pretty good night when the owner steps out of his way to congratulate you. Such was the case for Bills special teams coordinator Bobby April, who received a special congratulations from owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. after Saturday's preseason contest against the Packers.

Losman shows promise in Bills' win

Quarterback J.P. Losman, who has replaced Drew Bledsoe as the Bills' starter, engineered scoring drives on each of his first three possessions to lead Buffalo to a 27-7 win over Green Bay on Saturday.

August 20, 2005

Bills WR Moulds hurts ribs

Buffalo receiver Eric Moulds bruised his ribs in the second quarter of the Bills' preseason game against Green Bay. Moulds did not return after being tended to on the sideline, and watched the final eight minutes of the first half from the bench. The Bills said he did not return in part because he was only scheduled to play in Buffalo's first three series.

Bills down Packers 27-7

Happy with leading the Buffalo Bills to a preseason victory, quarterback J.P. Losman acknowledged there's still a few things he needs to learn.

One's sliding to the turf to avoid getting hit. Another is how to celebrate a touchdown. He stated "'Should I celebrate, should I not, should I wait for the regular season?'"

The first-year starter appeared a little lost, not knowing what to do after his 1-yard scamper into the end zone opened Buffalo's scoring in a 27-7 win over Green Bay Aug. 20.

Team Stats Play by Play Drive Chart Game Stats

"I was like, 'Should I celebrate, should I not, should I wait for the regular season?'" said Losman, who simply stood in the end zone holding the ball before his teammates arrived to celebrate. "But it was a great feeling to get that first one out of the way."

It happened on the Bills' first series in front of a sellout house and in Losman's home debut since the 2004 first-round draft pick replaced Drew Bledsoe in February.

Losman followed the touchdown by engineering scoring drives on Buffalo's next two possessions, finishing 7-of-14 for 59 yards passing with five carries for 36 yards.

It was a much better performance after Losman managed one first down in his first four series in Buffalo's 17-10 win at Indianapolis last weekend.

"It was exciting to come out strong tonight, especially after the slow start last week," Losman said. "I think definitely we got better this week."

Special teams contributed with ReShard Lee 's 69-yard kickoff return and Drew Haddad 's 37-yard punt return setting up both of Buffalo's two first-half touchdowns.

Willis McGahee scored on a 6-yard run and Lionel Gates added a 14-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Rian Lindell kicked two field goals, including a 54-yarder.

The Packers played with more cohesion than in their sloppy 10-7 win against San Diego last week. But they had difficulty generating offense after Brett Favre needed only one series to show he's ready for the regular season.

Favre went 4-of-6 for 41 yards, capping a 75-yard, 13-play opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ahman Green.

"It was better than last week, so it's good to show some improvement," Favre said. "But we still have a long way to go."

In two games, Favre is 13-of-16 for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Green finished with 22 yards rushing and two catches for 14 yards. Just as important, he held on to the ball after fumbling twice against San Diego.

Rookie first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers struggled taking over for Favre. He finished 4-of-9 for 21 yards and an interception in four series.

Without Favre, the Packers managed a mere 108 yards of offense the rest of the game.

"Concerned isn't the word. Aggravated probably is," Packers coach Mike Sherman said. "I'm disappointed that our second offense was not more productive."

Down 7-0, the Bills responded with 27 consecutive points. They improved to 2-0, marking only the second time the team has opened a preseason with two straight wins -- and first since 1966.

Losman's performance was not error-free.

He was sacked for a safety early in the second quarter, but the play was negated by an illegal contact penalty against the Packers. There were also a few times when Losman took unnecessary hits, like when he was bowled over into the sideline by Green Bay's Aaron Kampman, 2 yards after Losman had already picked up a first down.

"I'd still like to see him get down," coach Mike Mularkey said. "But that's something that'll go until he figures it out or takes a good solid hit. Hopefully, he'll pay attention to that before it happens."

It's a particular fear with Losman, who missed the first half of last season with a broken leg after he was hit and fell awkwardly after a scramble during training camp.

Losman said he's trying.

"Sometimes you get so caught up, it's just a game and you don't think it's preseason," Losman said.

Notes: Bills WR Eric Moulds did not return after bruising his ribs in the second quarter. Moulds said he felt OK after getting the wind knocked out of him...Bills backup TE Tim Euhus (strained pectoral) will have tests Aug. 21, coach Mularkey said...Packers TE Ben Steele did not return after he hurt his back and neck in the second quarter. Other Packers injured were: S Todd Franz (shoulder) and DL Kenny Peterson (neck).

Favre not-so-eager for another look at Bills

The Buffalo Bills' defense made a strong impression on Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre during the scrimmage between the teams two weeks ago.

Bills take second looks at RBs

Coach Mike Mularkey is intrigued by the No. 2 running back race, which is too close to call going into tonight's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Adams to provide Whitticker with giant test

Rookie Will Whitticker could solidify the starting right guard spot with a solid performance in tonight’s preseason game at Buffalo.

Notebook: Packers prep for Bills’ blitzes

Coach Mike Sherman took the team inside the Don Hutson Center on Thursday afternoon for a half-hour session that was closed to the public and the media. The offense spent most of that time working against blitzes.

QB Holcomb eases into familiar role

During his three seasons as Peyton Manning's backup, Kelly Holcomb didn't take a single snap in a regular-season game. Now, at age 32 and entering his ninth pro season, Holcomb finds himself backing up yet another young quarterback.

Packers will be bombarded by the blitz

NFL preseason games normally don't have a grudge quality to them, but this evening's clash between the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers at Ralph Wilson Stadium is an exception.

NFL Preseason Preview - Green Bay (1-0) At Buffalo (1-0)

The Buffalo Bills will be seeking to continue their preseason momentum within friendly confines on Saturday night, when Mike Mularkey's team will take the Ralph Wilson Stadium field to host the Green Bay Packers in the second summer outing for each club. The Bills, who narrowly missed the playoffs in 2004, went to Indianapolis last Saturday and emerged with a 17-10 victory over the defending AFC South champion Colts.

Packers Brace For The Blitz Of The Bills

Crowd noise pumped through the speakers at the Don Hutson Center during Friday's walk-through practice to simulate the Buffalo Bills' raucous Ralph Wilson Stadium, while the Green Bay Packers' work during this week's practice prepared them for facing the Bills defense on Saturday.

Scenery Change: Bills Host Packers

The Bills will take on the Green Bay Packers for the second time in two weeks on Saturday when they open their home preseason slate at 6 p.m. The two teams had a scrimmage in Green Bay on Aug. 5. And in what promises to be a season of firsts for J.P. Losman, this weekend's game will be Losman's first opportunity to step onto Ralph Wilson Stadium as Buffalo's starting quarterback and play in front of a soldout crowd.

August 19, 2005

Bills' defense has Packers concerned

It was before practice three weeks into camp and safety Troy Vincent was trying to get a handle on how good the Buffalo Bills defense could be. ``I just can't tell,'' Vincent said. But Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, who got a firsthand glimpse during a scrimmage against the Bills earlier this month, has no problem assessing Buffalo's defenders. ``I was hoping that we wouldn't play them again,'' said Favre

A Closer Look: George Wilson

Lately free agent wide receiver George Wilson has been turning heads at Training Camp with his consistent play and ability to make tough catches. Wilson recently took the time after practice to sit down with buffalobills.com to give the fans some insight on where he's from and what he does in his spare time. Wilson comes to the Bills for his second shot at the NFL.

Bills may find it hard to keep Clements

For months, the Buffalo Bills have been wondering if the team will find a way to keep Nate Clements. Soon after he turns 26 near season’s end, his five-year contract will expire. And the 6-0, 209-pound cornerback, whom the Bills picked in the opening round of the 2001 draft, figures to draw a lot of interest as a free agent. Hence the optimism when Clements’ agent, Todd France, showed up the last two days at the Bills’ St. John Fisher training camp. Ostensibly, France was there to talk with Buffalo president/general manager Tom Donahoe about a new contract for his client.

Prep work for Packers

This time around the Green Bay Packers will be prepared for what the Buffalo Bills deliver. Two weeks ago when the teams took part in a scrimmage at Lambeau Field, the Bills surprised the Packers with the amount and variety of blitzes they ran and the Packers reacted poorly, surrendering eight sacks and generally struggling to run their offense. On Saturday, the teams meet again in Buffalo for an exhibition game and the Packers hope to give a better accounting of themselves.

Green Bay plans to be ready for Bills this time

The Green Bay Packers spent part of Thursday afternoon clandestinely preparing for the Buffalo Bills' blitzing scheme, which is more than they did before the Bills embarrassed them two weeks ago. During the Family Night scrimmage at Lambeau Field Aug. 5, the Buffalo defense was credited with eight sacks, although quarterbacks weren't to be touched. The difference in Saturday evening's preseason game at Ralph Wilson Stadium: It's a game, meaning the quarterbacks are fair game.

Losman must be ready to answer the call

Buffalo fans will finally get their first good look at J.P. Losman when the Bills host the Green Bay Packers at a sold-out Ralph Wilson Stadium on Saturday night. Losman, on the other hand, will get his first taste of what it’s like to start for a team that plays in front of some of the most passionate fans in the NFL.

Hard work is what fuels Kelsay

Watch him practice and you'd swear Chris Kelsay's starting job is secure in everyone's mind except his own. "You look at him, and he approaches training camp like he's competing for a job," Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said. "Chris Kelsay, I like his demeanor. He goes out, he practices hard every day."

Gause, Ritzmann vie for Bills roster spot

George Gause is where Constantin Ritzmann was a year ago. An undrafted rookie defensive end fighting for recognition and battling long odds to earn a spot with the NFL's No. 2-ranked defense. Ritzmann beat those odds, becoming one of a league-high four rookie free agents to make the Buffalo Bills' opening day roster in 2004. Can Gause, a talented pass rusher from the University of South Carolina, catch some of that karma?

Hall of Fame coach Levy gives pep talk at Bills practice

Visitors to Buffalo Bills training camp on Thursday got a blast of nostalgia: Marv Levy addressing the players at midfield. The club's all-time victory leader and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame was in Rochester for a book signing and stopped by training camp to observe his old team. Coach Mike Mularkey asked Levy if he would say a few words to the players.

Injured Everett Benefits from “Participation”

It's been a week since rookie tight end Kevin Everett reported to training camp. But Everett has yet to throw a block, hit a sled, or catch a pass with a linebacker on his hip.

Losman has strong supporting cast

Like all inexperienced quarterbacks, J.P. Losman is going to make mistakes. He's also going to make a lot of plays for the Bills. From Drew Bledsoe to Losman. Talk about opposite ends of the mobility spectrum. Losman is going to be a weapon for Mike Mularkey, especially on third downs. Defensive ends and outside linebackers, worrying about Willis McGahee, are going to forget to stay at home on the back side and honor the bootleg action, and Losman is going to make them pay.

Notes: Much Ado About Nothing

While some members of the media have criticized Mike Mularkey's policy regarding the disclosure of injuries, the Bills head coach started his press conference Thursday with a comical approach to the matter

Home Debut

They're ready for the preseason home opener. The Buffalo Bills host Green Bay on Saturday where quarterback JP Losman makes his debut before the hometown fans. And he is looking for a better start than last week at Indianapolis. "The goal is to start off fast. I got the first game, I don't know what you want to call it, jitters or just executing, but start off fast and don't let up." Losman said.

August 18, 2005

Bills place emphasis on starting season strong

"Last year we had a great defense and an offense that was just trying to catch up," Moulds said. "This time we're not just going to depend on the defense."

Bills' Losman ready to make home start

Last week, it was first-game jitters. This weekend, J.P. Losman will deal with a different set of emotions when he makes his first start at home for Buffalo against Green Bay.

Reed has to live up to expectations in a hurry

Josh Reed certainly won’t be confused with Andre Reed when it comes to being a Buffalo Bills wide receiver. And unless Josh Reed proves something over the next few weeks, he shouldn’t even be a wide receiver on the Bills.

Wrist watch continues in Bills' camp

Believe me, we're trying. In fact, the reporters who cover Bills camp on a regular basis have made a pact. Every single day, they're going to badger Mike Mularkey for details on Roscoe Parrish's mysterious wrist injury, whether the coach likes it or not.

Clements looks to lock down top dollar

Nate Clements says he is the best cornerback in the NFL, and he wants to be paid like it.

Keeping Clements carries high price tag for Bills

The Buffalo Bills will very likely need to pay unprecedented money for a cornerback if they intend to still have Nate Clements on their roster after the 2005 season. If the Bills and Clements' agent, Todd France, don't reach agreement on a contract extension before the regular season begins, Clements will be headed toward free agency. He expects to score big on the open market. "I'm the best and I don't settle for anything less," Clements said Wednesday afternoon following the final two-a-day practice sessions of training camp at St. John Fisher College.

BillsZone Training Camp Report 8/17/2005

Bills Training Camp Gallery Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Today was another fast paced hard hitting day and it was the last of the double sessions. I was at the afternoon session where the players practiced on the nearest grass field and the Growney Stadium. The Buffalo Bills worked on a bunch of different drills and were in full pads today. There was definitely some nice hits as the players had a hard workout. The Bills worked on some individual drills, field goals, 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and some 11-on-11 drills this afternoon.

After the players got their stretching done, they split into their individual units. The offensive players went over to Growney Stadium, while the defensive players stayed at the grass practice fields. I watched the defensive backs work on some drills since they were right in front of me. They started out with pass deflection drills and would try to knock the ball down or catch it. A bunch of players just knocked it away, but a couple of them came down with it. Next, Jerry Gray intentionally threw the ball right to them and was trying to get them to intercept the ball. Eric King dropped one, and a couple of the undrafted rookies did too, but everyone else did a nice job getting it. Finally before their drills ended, the defensive backs works on their hitting skills. One of the assistants would hold a pad and the players would run full force into it, with their shoulders and try to tackle it like they would with a player. On the other side of the field, the defensive lineman worked on tackling the sled with Coach Tim Krumrie, while the Linebackers worked on intercepting passes. Takeo Spikes had a nice leaping grab to haul one in.

Following the individual drills, JP Losman and some other quarterbacks came over with the running backs and tight ends to practice. The quarterbacks threw the ball to the backs and tight ends, while the linebackers would try to cover them. Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus both had some nice grabs, so did Rod Trafford. But, Willis McGahee had the best catch. He made a beautiful fingertip grab right in front of Josh Stamer and would have gone into the secondary.

Next up, the field goal unit worked on kicking field goals. Rian Lindell looked solid as he was hitting all of them threw the uprights. He was making them, so they kept moving the chains back and he even made a few that were about 45 yards. Steve Baker then had his chance to get the crowd's attention, but he was off-target and missed the longer ones. He even drew some boos and jeers from the crowd. Rian Lindell got another shot to impress with a 47-yard field goal, under "pressure." The Bills players all stood near him and were screaming into his ears and trying to get the crowd to cheer too, to distract him. It didn't work, Lindell nailed the 47-yarder with a kick that would have been good, even if it was a 55 yarder. He definitely had the leg. It appears that his offseason training has worked so far. I know it's only camp, but Lindell has never really impressed me in camp before.

Next up was the 9-on-7 drills. They worked exclusively on the running game. Every back got a chance to show their stuff, except for Shaud Williams, who was out again. Willis McGahee was back full force and had some nice runs up the middle. He also did good around the right tackle, as Mike Williams made a small hole for him. Lionel Gates also had some nice runs. He was stuffed a couple times, but shoved his way through for whatever yardage he could get. He also had a huge hit put on him by Liam Ezekiel, who tackled him behind the line. ReShard Lee struggled a bit, but then found a hole and pounded his way through. Joe Burns was the one that didn't impress me. He was stuffed for a short gain a few times and tackled in the backfield once.

The 7-on-7 drills were next. JP Losman did the best out of all the quarterbacks. He is starting to find Eric Moulds more often and hit him twice in this drill. Losman also found Reed twice and threw nice long balls to Mark Campbell. He did have two misses though. On one play, Losman threw a nice sideline pass to Lee Evans, but Evans turned around too late. And on another, Losman underthrew George Wilson. Kelly Holcomb struggled a bit when he overthrew Drew Haddad, but he made up for it later by connecting with Haddad with a 18-yarder. Shane Matthews just focused on dumpoff passes and screens.

The team then worked on the 11-on-11 drills. JP Losman spread the ball around with everyone, except Lee Evans, who was blanketed by the defense. Losman started out by hitting Mark Campbell for a short gain, then threw a nice 10 yarder to Josh Reed. The offense was then called for a false start. Next, Losman found Eric Moulds for 12 yards in the middle of the field. Mark Campbell took a nice hit, but held onto the ball after getting about 8 yards. Losman then found Eric Moulds one more time for 7 yards. Lionel Gates followed that with a nice run around the left tackle for 6 yards. Kelly Holcomb worked on his short passing game and found Ryan Neufeld twice for about 4 yards each. He also found Sam Aiken for 3 yards near the sideline. But he overthrew Gates who was open near the sideline for a screen pass. Gates also had another nice run around the left tackle for 5 yards. The starting offense came back and Willis McGahee had a nice 8-yard run around the right side, thanks to a big block by Mike Williams. McGahee also tried to pound his way thru the middle of the line and gained a few yards. JP Losman underthrew Eric Moulds. Then Kelly Holcomb came in and didn't do any better when he overthrew Sam Aiken. Aiken almost had a beautiful fingertip grab, but he couldn't hang on. ReShard Lee finished the series with a couple runs up the middle for a few yards.

The teams then lined up for a few red zone drills. Lionel Gates started it out with a bruising run up the middle for 8 or 9 yards. JP Losman followed that with a nice 10-yard pass to Eric Moulds. Losman then ran the QB keeper out of bounds for about 6 yards. Losman finished it with a 7-yard pass to Jonathan Smith.

Here's a couple tidbits that I noticed today:

1. JP Losman is finally starting to find Eric Moulds. They had trouble connecting early in camp and now since Parrish has gone down, Losman looks for him a lot more. He still finds Lee Evans out there too, but it's nice to see the Losman to Moulds connection working out.

2. Willis McGahee was back on the field! He was out there in full force and looked pretty good. They even let him participate in all the main 11-on-11 drills and he did have a couple hard hits on him. I didn't notice a difference out on the field, but he did have a slight limp when he came over to the fence to sign autographs.

3. Mike Gandy also impressed me today. He had a few nice blocks for the running backs and also held his own in the passing game. I have definitely noticed an improvement in camp and can't wait to see him on the field on Saturday.

4. Rian Lindell has had a good camp. He has looked great on the kickoffs and is now starting to show his new power on his field goals. Let's hope that he can practice a few 40+ yarders in the Ralph this weekend.

5. Shaud Williams was held out of practice today and Lionel Gates got most of his reps with the starters and backups. Gates has been very impressive and if Williams is injured, this could open the gate for Gates to get the backup Runningback job.

6. Roscoe Parrish went to the huddle and listened in on the plays almost everytime that Losman and the starters were out there.

7. Tim Euhus got into a couple tussles today, including one where he shoves Lawyer Milloy and then it died down.

8. Justin Bannan had the hit of the day. Joe Burns was getting ready to run up the middle and all of a sudden, Bannan came out of nowhere and leveled him. The hit left Burns dazed and confused and he stumbled towards the sideline right after it.

9. Props to all the runningbacks, fullbacks, JP Losman, Tim Euhus, Brad Cieslak, Jon Dorenbos, Duke Preston for coming over the fence to sign autographs. Extra props go to Willis McGahee, JP Losman, and Duke Preston for staying longer to make sure they signed autographs for as many fans as they could.

Overall, it was a perfect day for camp. The weather was beatiful outside and there was even a cool breeze. It was a nice, faced paced practice with some hard hitting and tackling. It will probably slow down for the final 3 practices, so it was nice to see that today. I'll be back next week with my final thoughts from St. John Fisher College.

Parrish's absence gives Brown, Smith chance to shine

The football folks at Sports Illustrated believe Roscoe Parrish could be a diamond in the rough for the Buffalo Bills. But since his right wrist slammed into the turf in practice eight days ago, Parrish has simply been a receiver in a cast. Now he's the symbol of opportunity — for someone else.

Reed has to live up to expectations in a hurry

Josh Reed certainly won’t be confused with Andre Reed when it comes to being a Buffalo Bills wide receiver. And unless Josh  Reed proves something over the next few weeks, he shouldn’t even be a wide receiver on the Bills.

Bills Open With "Kids Day" SellOut

The Bills will open up their 2005 home preseason schedule this Saturday, August 20th at 6:00 PM with a “Kids’ Day” sellout against the Green Bay Packers.

Clements' Agent Speaks With WGR

WGR 550's Paul Hamilton caught up with Todd France, the agent for Bills CB Nate Clements, at training camp on Wednesday.

Notes: Clements Awaits New Contract

Fresh off of his first Pro Bowl season, Nate Clements is preparing for a big year in 2005. And after that? Well, that was the million-dollar question - literally - at St. John Fisher Wednesday afternoon.

Bills pre-season game to be televised

Buffalo Bills fans have done it again. It's a sellout for Saturday's pre-season game with the Green Bay Packers. It happened again, for the second straight year. The Bills have sold out a home preseason game for just the third time in history. Saturday's Bills-Packers game at Ralph Wilson Stadium is a sellout, with the announcement coming today at training camp.

August 17, 2005

Bills' Clements wants to be top-paid cornerback

Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl cornerback Nate Clements informally opened negotiations for his next contract Wednesday with a very high asking price.

McGahee Back In Action

After two days of watching from the sidelines, Willis McGahee got back out on the practice field this morning.

Notes: Offense Inconsistent at Night Session

Monday proved to be an up-and-down night for the Bills offense while practicing under the lights of Growney Stadium for the third time this training camp. "This was the toughest practice we've had so far, especially offensively," said quarterback J.P. Losman. "We had to overcome so many things, like penalties. But we finished up pretty strong."

Bills Kids Day a Sell Out - Again

The Buffalo Bills announced Wednesday that Turkey Hill Dairy has purchased the remaining seats for the Bills Kids’ Day preseason game against the Packers at Ralph Wilson Stadium making the event sold out for the second consecutive year. The game will air live Saturday, August 20 at 6:00 pm on WKBW-TV in Buffalo, WHAM-TV in Rochester, and WTVH-TV in Syracuse.

2005 preview: Lots of talent, little experience

Buffalo is like a sleek sports car -- it has plenty of power and speed. Just one problem: It's driver is a neophyte. The Bills have enough talent on both sides of the ball to reach the playoffs for the first time in six years, but they're counting on a kid quarterback -- J.P. Losman -- and that usually spells trouble.

AFC East: It's a little closer at the top

The Buffalo Bills, a team on the rise in 2004, stood pat, but they will have a different look and personality at quarterback. Old and immobile Bledsoe is out, and young and cocky J.P. Losman is in, leading Buffalo into a new era. Expect some growing pains.

A moving target

Drew Haddad streaked across the middle of the field and grabbed the ball out of the air between two defenders. On another play, he snatched a short pass away from a defensive back who had his sights on an interception.

Drew Haddad through the years

1996-1999: University at Buffalo, all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, all-purpose yards, punt return average, punt return yards, 100-yard receiving games.
2000: Drafted by Bills in the seventh round. Bills practice squad through Week 12, waived in November, signed to Colts practice squad.

Clements' agent arrives for talks

The Buffalo Bills and cornerback Nate Clements are ready to start talking contract. Clements' agent, Todd France, attended training camp at St. John Fisher College on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with the Bills brass today to discuss a possible contract extension for Clements.

Versatile Woodbury hungers to join Bills

The Buffalo Bills had a pretty good idea of their quarterback depth chart when they signed intriguing free agent Tory Woodbury in late January. Although it wouldn't happen for another month, the Bills knew they were going to release veteran Drew Bledsoe and hand the starting job to 2004 first-round draft choice J.P. Losman. The Bills knew they were going to sign a solid veteran to back up Losman; that happened in March when they brought in free agent Kelly Holcomb.

Bills keep McGahee out of practice

Willis McGahee ran with the football Tuesday afternoon, but no one was chasing him. The Buffalo Bills' rising-star running back was held out of drills at St. John Fisher College for the second day in a row and did some light running on his own with a wrapped right knee and/or hamstring.

Versatile Woodbury Intrigues Bills

He wears blue and red and is part quarterback, part receiver and part special teams player. But the player in reference isn't Superman; it's the athletically gifted Tory Woodbury.

Notes: McGahee Sidelined; Expected Back

Willis McGahee spoke to the media for the first time since Saturday's preseason contest after practice Tuesday but didn't have much to say about not participating in practice yet this week

Bills Kids Day a Sell Out - Again

The Buffalo Bills announced Wednesday that Turkey Hill Dairy has purchased the remaining seats for the Bills Kids’ Day preseason game against the Packers at Ralph Wilson Stadium making the event sold out for the second consecutive year. The game will air live Saturday, August 20 at 6:00 pm on WKBW-TV in Buffalo, WHAM-TV in Rochester, and WTVH-TV in Syracuse.

August 16, 2005

Bills RB Willis McGahee Misses Practice

Bills running back Willis McGahee missed his second straight practice Tuesday with a sore right leg, but is expected to play in Buffalo's preseason game Saturday against Green Bay.

Verizon Wireless Renews Sponsorship Deal With the Buffalo Bills

For the fifth consecutive year, Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless provider, is the official wireless provider of the Buffalo Bills.

March of Dimes Golf Tournament

Buffalo Bills hall of fame quarterback Jim Kelly was among those out on the golf course Monday morning -- at the Steve Tasker March of Dimes Golf Tournament. The March of Dimes raises money to help prevent, and treat, premature birth. The tournament is hosted by CBS sports analyst Steve Tasker.

Colts-Bills Preseason Game Low on Excitement

The Indianapolis Colts could try to be a bit more entertaining in upcoming preseason games. But coach Tony Dungy would rather be entertaining when it counts. The Buffalo Bills 17-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts Saturday night at the RCA Dome barely registered on the excitement meter.

Tuesdays with Moorman

To say that Brian Moorman isn’t keenly aware of his effect on the children he visits on a weekly basis during the football season would be naive. Moorman, the Bills’ punter for the past four NFL seasons and the winner of this year’s Pro Football Weekly Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award, fully realizes that he has been given a wonderful opportunity as a professional athlete to reach out to people less fortunate than he and make a difference in their lives.

QB could be special team guy

If Tory Woodbury were playing baseball, he would be listed as a utility player. Instead, Woodbury is listed as a quarterback on the Buffalo Bills roster — even though his only NFL experience has been on special teams and as a wide receiver. But Woodbury doesn’t mind what position he plays in the NFL, as long as he can hook on with an NFL team again.

Bills corner the market with depth

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray looks at the depth chart and likes what he sees. In this pass-happy era of the NFL you can never have enough good cornerbacks, and the Bills have plenty of them.

Willis sits

Perhaps running back Willis McGahee is not as healthy as the Buffalo Bills said he was. McGahee was in full pads, but didn't participate during the Monday night practice at St. John Fisher College. Coach Mike Mularkey said the move was only precautionary, but McGahee's right leg was wrapped from his lower thigh to his knee.

Evans builds on stellar start

Lee Evans has an unusual way of describing his outlook concerning his second season with the Buffalo Bills after a stellar rookie year. "It's the same," the wide receiver says, "but it's different."

Bills taking their share of hits in the preseason

The Buffalo Bills have passed the halfway point of training camp at St. John Fisher College and, unfortunately for the boys in blue, they can't say that they're totally healthy and happy.

McGahee sits out to rest his leg

Willis McGahee's best run during Monday night's sold-out practice at St. John Fisher College was bolting from the field before reporters could ask him any questions. The Buffalo Bills star running back was dressed in his equipment but did what everyone in the crowd of 6,000 did — watch. McGahee, who limped off the field favoring his right leg during the first quarter of Saturday's preseason victory at Indianapolis, had his thigh heavily wrapped to his knee.

Notes: Offense Inconsistent at Night Session

Monday proved to be an up-and-down night for the Bills offense while practicing under the lights of Growney Stadium for the third time this training camp.

Gause, Ritzmann Battle for DE Spot

Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney will be the Bills' top three defensive ends this season. That much we know. After that? It's anybody's guess.

Bills hold McGahee out of practice

Bills' top running back Willis McGahee was held out of practice Monday night because of a sore right leg.

McGahee Misses Workout

It was back to work for the Buffalo Bills Monday night in their first practice since Saturday's 17-10 win at Indianapolis in the preseason opener.

August 15, 2005

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Josh Reed, Sam Aiken, Jonathan Smith for the No. 3 receiver job - With rookie sensation Roscoe Parrish out indefinitely, the job is suddenly wide open again.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

-Ron Edwards and Tim Anderson are doing a strong job plugging the middle of Buffalo's defense after the loss of free agent Pat Williams (Vikings), but four-year veteran Justin Bannan is showing this isn't a two-man job. Bannan is one of the Bills' top grunts, even playing offensive guard in short-yardage situations last year. "Well, you know, Pat's gone and I feel like I can hang in there with the best of them," he said. "The bottom line is that we do have a really good defense. Ron Edwards is very capable and Tim Anderson is coming on doing his thing, but I feel like I can do my thing, too. I don't feel like I'm out of the picture. I'm here to play."

Bills report: Inside slant

Bills coach Mike Mularkey wasn't at all pleased with the 19 penalties for 146 yards his team committed in Saturday's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. But tempering his disappointment was the fact he didn't have to tell his players that that many penalties is unacceptable. They knew it before he addressed it.

Williams May Have Upper Hand in RB Battle

Yes, it was sloppy - 26 combined penalties sloppy. But like any other NFL preseason game, it wasn't necessarily the final score that mattered the most. It was how each team's depth looked throughout the contest, all the way from the first to the third team. The contest was the first real live opportunity for several running backs to show why they should be the primary backup to starter Willis McGahee.

Losman's debut good enough for win

If you believe the ultimate success or failure of the Buffalo Bills' 2006 season hinges on J.P. Losman, then Saturday night's exhibition outing in Indianapolis had to leave you more than a bit concerned. In his first start in a National Football League game of any sort, Losman lost a fumble due to carelessness near his own goal line, misfired on a number of passes and got lucky that a couple of others thrown into traffic weren't intercepted.

Bills' preseason debut provides optimism

There are more pluses than minuses for the Buffalo Bills during their 17-10 preseason-opening win at Indianapolis on Saturday. On the plus side, the Bills' defense showed there won't be a drop-off in its performance from the past two years. The Bills were in attack mode all night, blitzing early and often. The constant pressure resulted in six sacks, two interceptions and nearly a dozen hurried throws.

It's going to take time for Losman

Believe me, I'm pulling for J.P. Losman. I didn't have much use for Drew Bledsoe, but that doesn't mean I root against quarterbacks. We're an NFL town. The quarterback is a major focus of our culture, and life is a lot more fun when the guy throwing passes for the Bills is on top of his game.

McGahee healthy, no time frame for Parrish's return

You can relax, Buffalo Bills fans. Running back Willis McGahee is in good health. That's the word from coach Mike Mularkey, who saw McGahee limp off the field in the first quarter of Saturday's preseason opener at Indianapolis. McGahee was assisted to the bench by a team trainer and was seen later walking the sideline flexing his right knee (he injured the left knee two years ago). But the Bills' medical staff checked him out and allowed him to return to the game for one more series.

Losman outplayed Bledsoe on Saturday

Buffalo Bills first-year starting quarterback J.P. Losman didn't shine Saturday night in Indianapolis, but he fared better than predecessor Drew Bledsoe in his debut with the Dallas Cowboys.

Bills' preseason opener a bumblin', stumblin' affair

Lauvale Sape's 3-yard return of a blocked punt was first ruled a safety, but the Indianapolis coach thought the Buffalo defender had fumbled the ball before he crossed the goal line.

August 14, 2005

Jim Kelly Speaks Publicly for First Time Since Hunter's Death

Former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly is speaking publicly for the first time, since the death of his son Hunter from Krabbe disease.

Defense, special teams start well

It’s hard to judge on just one half of preseason football, but at first glance the special teams and defensive units of the Buffalo Bills appear to not have lost anything during the offseason.

Levy feels team is on right track

"I really like where they are, and I'm not saying that because I have an affinity for the Buffalo Bills," said the team's Hall of Fame former coach, Marv Levy, prior to Saturday's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

Mularkey takes the right approach to training camp

Actually, the manner in which training camp is conducted by the Bills is the way it should have been conducted by all pro football teams many years ago.

Mixed results for Bills

The defense was dominant. Special teams were good as always. As for quarterback J.P. Losman and the Buffalo Bills' starting offense, well, let's just say both are still a work in progress.

Bills Special Teams, Defense at it Again

Since the Bills named J.P. Losman the starting quarterback this past February, head coach Mike Mularkey has insisted that the first-year starter wouldn't be asked to do everything and that the supporting cast around him would help his transition as the team's top signal caller.

Bills' defense, special teams trample Colts

Leave it to the Buffalo Bills defense and special teams to steal some of quarterback J.P. Losman's thunder.

Confusion reigns on TD

It must be preseason when a touchdown is incorrectly called a safety and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy is thinking touchback.

Bills 17, Colts 10

Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman never felt right in his first NFL start.

Colts Hang Tough Against Bills

With roughly 20 players sidelined with injuries and stars like Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison on the sidelines, the Colts battled to keep pace with the Bills, but came up on the short end of a 17-10 score.

Losman Improves As Game Goes On In Opener

J.P. Losman got off to a rough start, but he engineered a good drive at the end of the first half to lead the Bills to a 17-10 victory over Indianapolis in preseason game number one.

Bills Win Preseason Opener

Quarterback JP Losman completed 11-19 for 88 yards and 1 touchdown in leading the Bills to a 17-10 win over Indianapolis at the RCA Dome. Making his first start for Buffalo, Losman came out slow to start the game, but led the team on two scoring drives in the second quarter.

Losman leads Bills over Colts

J.P. Losman got his preseason off on the right foot. Losman completed 11-of-19 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, leading the Buffalo Bills to a 17-10 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Bills Top Colts, 17-10

Without Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts' high-powered offense provided little pop.

August 13, 2005

Buffalo Bills 17 Indianapolis Colts 10

The Bills' starting unit looked very polished early on, taking a 17-3 lead over the Colts into halftime. After a shaky first possession, J.P. Losman lit up the Indianapolis secondary. He ended up completing 11 of 19 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. The Buffalo Bills also had a big special teams play early on. Second year DT Lauvale Sapes blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

Jim Kelly speaks out at Watkins Glen

Jim Kelly spoke out Saturday for the first time since his son Hunter died last week. The former Buffalo Bills quarterback held a news conference at Watkins Glen International to promote universal screening of newborns for rare diseases. Hunter died of Krabbes disease at the age of 8.

Parrish undergoes successful surgery

Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Roscoe Parrish had successful surgery Friday on his injured right wrist, the team announced. The Bills did not disclose the nature of Parrish's surgery or how long he would be out, but they said the injury is not season ending.

Bills ready to saddle up, start preseason

Their wait is over as the Bills open the preseason tonight against the Indianapolis Colts in the RCA Dome.

Bills' Greer out to win nickel back role

With the team's important nickel back role up for grabs — that's the player who is first off the bench when the defense goes to five defensive backs, which is often — Greer is committed to giving the kind of effort that provides peace of mind if not the desired end result.

Losman Experience Starts with Top QB's

First Brett Favre, then Peyton Manning. Not a bad start for Bills QB J.P. Losman, who will see two of the game's best quarterbacks in his first appearances as Buffalo's starting quarterback.

August 12, 2005

BillsZone Training Camp Report 8/11/2005

The Bills practice was kind of vanilla yesterday. The offense worked mostly on passing. They started with some short routes. Later, they seem to switch to audibles and JP audibled while they tested everyone being on the same page and understanding his audible.

They did fairly well. Afterward, most of the WRs did drills on their own and believe it or not, the worst WR in these drills was Josh Reed. Even the undrafted guys were making the catches, but Josh Reed consistently dropped the pass thrown at him 3 consecutive times in 3 different drills. Each time he dropped it, he had to go back to end of the line and wait ‘til the rest finished the drill and then he would have to repeat it. The 2nd time, he tended to catch it...but still, in all 3 drills he dropped the ball? Aiken looked really good. He only missed one pass that led him a little too much.

I couldn't see much of the Defenses drills as they went to the farther field away from me.

On the O-line front…I've been questioned about Preston, as my last report on him was less than favorable and against what the media seem to be reporting of him. But once again, I saw him getting pushed around by everyone. Sam Adams once again put on a clinic - and for those that have mentioned that we should get Corey Simon and dump Adams next year, Adams is FAR from done! He consistently got through the defenders and reached the QB just about *EVERY* time! In fact, there was once when he was by Preston and tapping the backup QB (Woodbury) before he had finished his 3-step drop. Someone next to me asked what happened, Woodbury had stopped and didn't throw his pass. And someone answered him - Sam already tapped him. And sure enough, Sam was in the backfield just standing there.

In fact, there were several times Sam reached the backfield and just stood there (tired of tapping the QB and letting them get some passes done) until the QB made his pass. Let me reiterate...Sam Adams is FAR FROM DONE! Later, on more individual O-line/D-line drills, Preston was pushed back several times by others as well. Peters occasionally did well and occasionally faltered. Virtually none of the O-line did well except one that seem to improve consistently over the drills. I did not recognize the number (#74) so I had to look it up…David Pruce? As time passed, he seemed to do better - let's hope the backup step it up a bit soon.

Toward the end of training camp, the entire defense and offense got together and played. JP took the team about halfway down and then Holcombe was put in. They seem to allow a certain amount of plays for each QB and see how far they could take it. JP and his team were quick and fast paced, but as they went to backups you could see the play and even the decision making slowing down.

Coy Wire had a nice interception play on a tipped ball that was thrown over the middle a little too high for Moulds. Mould tried to tip it and then come down with it, but it tipped slightly behind him and Coy dove quickly and got it. Good heads up play for Coy.

The RBs were not featured as much today as they focused on passing. My friend had intended to see Gates but he was one of the least featured backs. For the few things they did do with RBs, Shaud was the main guy today. And he looked as fast and speedy/elusive as ever. Lee had a few catches and runs here and there but clearly, Shaud was the main guy they were looking at yesterday. And he did well. On one run play, Shaud got behind a lineman, and you couldn't even see him. He ran for a good 15 yards before they whistled the play down with a touch tackle.

Lindell did practice some kicks and made 3 out of 4 field goals staring from 40 yards away and moving back to 50. He did okay, but I still don’t get a feeling of confidence with him.

That's about all there was to report. As I said, a pretty uneventful practice day and some people even commented about being bored.

Perhaps the Bills feel that are ready for their up and coming Colts test this Saturday and are just taking it easy until then...

Parrish Has Surgery

Bills second round pick Roscoe Parrish has had sucessful wrist surgery today in Buffalo.

Colts, Bills take on new identities in preseason game

Peyton Manning and receiver Marvin Harrison aren't expected to play as much tomorrow night as they did last week in Tokyo. And running back Edgerrin James may not play at all when the Colts take on Buffalo tomorrow night.

Weakened Colts to Play Bills in Exhibition

Colts coach Tony Dungy would rather win preseason games than worry about injuries. He might not have a choice Saturday.

Colts stagger into game against Bills

 A sellout crowd in the RCA Dome on Saturday evening will be entertained by an Indianapolis Colts bunch that will be at much less than full strength.

Prosper without Parrish

The Buffalo Bills' depth at wide receiver may have taken a big hit in the aftermath of Roscoe Parrish's injury. Parrish hurt his right wrist when he landed awkwardly on the ground after trying to make a leaping catch over cornerback Jabari Greer during a one-on-one passing drill at practice Wednesday night.

Bills' Cieslak goes full tilt to honor his late friend

With three Green Bay Packers surrounding him, he cut to his left, jumped and made a dazzling finger tip catch of a pass from quarterback Tory Woodbury as he tumbled to the ground.

Parrish suffers right wrist injury

Buffalo Bills top draft pick Roscoe Parrish has a right wrist injury, the team confirmed Thursday, but the extent of the injury was still being determined.

Moorman Garners Humanitarian Award

Pro Football Weekly announces in this week's paper that Buffalo Bills P Brian Moorman is the recipient of the seventh annual Pro Football Weekly Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award, presented to a NFL player whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding.

NFL Preseason Preview - Buffalo (0-0) at Indianapolis (0-1)

A pair of former AFC East rivals will renew their acquaintance at the RCA Dome on Saturday evening, when the Indianapolis Colts play host to the Buffalo Bills in a preseason contest.

Bills put rookie TE Everett on PUP list

Bills rookie tight end Kevin Everett is expected to miss the start of the season after the team placed him on the physically unable-to-perform list.

Notes: Status of Roscoe's Wrist Unknown

Despite a productive afternoon workout at St. John Fisher College, the post-practice talk was dominated by the fact that rookie wide receiver Roscoe Parrish was not present.

August 11, 2005

Greer Working to Secure Nickel Spot

Jabari Greer can run with the best of them - and he proved it Wednesday night.

Bills top draft pick Parrish has a right wrist injury

Bills top draft pick Roscoe Parrish has a right wrist injury, the team confirmed today, but the extent of the injury has still yet to be determined.

Kelly will be grand marshal for Busch race

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly will serve as the grand marshal for the Inaugural Zippo 200 NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday at Watkins Glen International.

Remembering Hunter Kelly

I think we have all grown up hearing stories about Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bills' legendary quarterback who led the team to four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s. Most of us who were very young back then have few, if any actual memories of those incredible games. But what we have grown up watching and remembering is the brave, amazing struggle of his beloved son, Hunter Kelly.

Practice changeup makes for festive evening

After a morning film session, the Buffalo Bills were back to work at training camp Wednesday evening, running full offensive and goal-line sets on Growney Stadium’s turf at St. John Fisher College. The film session in the morning wasn’t as much about X’s and O’s as it was about thumbs up and thumbs down.

Update today on Parrish's injury

Roscoe Parrish, the Buffalo Bills' top draft pick, suffered a right hand injury early in Wednesday night's practice at St. John Fisher College.

Parrish adds elusiveness and more to Bills offense

At some point this fall, trick-play-loving Mike Mularkey may take advantage of Roscoe Parrish's ability to throw a football.

Clements isn't elite in play, pay

The league has gone pass-crazy, and the market for a top corner has risen accordingly. But if I were Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe, I'd think long and hard before opening the vault for Nate Clements.

Moorman honored to help

Bills punter Brian Moorman, having met Carly and having worked with the organization she started, Carly's Club for Kids and Cancer Research, helped Matthew through his tough time, just as he has with many other patients and their families in Western New York.

Bills rookie WR Parrish hurts right hand

Rookie receiver Roscoe Parrish grimaced in pain as he was led off the field after he hurt his right hand during a Buffalo Bills practice Wednesday night. Coach Mike Mularkey said after practice that Parrish, the Bills' second-round draft pick, was having X-rays on his hand. Mularkey had no further update. ``I know it's something with his hand,'' Mularkey said. ``Any time somebody doesn't finish practice you always worry.''

Bills Rookie Receiver Hurts Right Hand

Rookie receiver Roscoe Parrish grimaced in pain as he was led off the field after he hurt his right hand during a Buffalo Bills practice Wednesday night.

Moulds Energized for 10th NFL Season

He keeps going, and going, and going. Much like that lovable Energizer Bunny from years past, Eric Moulds keeps marching on.

Notes: Team Surprise, Parrish Injured

Wednesday wasn't your average day at Bills training camp, thanks to a morning surprise from the coaching staff and a practice session under the lights at Growney Stadium.

Bills Training Camp: Wednesday’s report

At Bills Training Camp the Bills go back under the lights. It's a nighttime practice for the team, with only premium seat holders invited and it's the Bills first time on the practice field today. Originally the schedule called for a closed morning workout and Head Coach Mike Mularkey assembled his team on the field at 8:45 this morning. Then he sent them to the locker room, had them board buses and took the whole team to the movies.

Parrish is catching on with the Bills

The most impressive Bills’ first-year player in camp, by far, has been Buffalo’s top draft choice. With its first-round pick gone to Dallas, for the selection of quarterback J.P. Losman in the opening round of the 2004 draft, the Bills had no selection until the second round, No. 55 overall. And instead of choosing a defensive lineman, as expected, Buffalo sprung a surprise and took University of Miami wide receiver Roscoe Parrish.

Line Looking Good

One Buffalo Bill who has been in the spotlight since being drafted fourth overall in 2002 is offensive tackle Mike Williams. Coming off his best season in 2004 where he started a career high 15 games, the Texas product helped plow the way for Willis McGahee to rush for 1,100 yards. After three years could this be the season Williams becomes the dominant player he was projected to be.

August 10, 2005

Bills Place Smith on Injured Reserve

Backup offensive lineman Lawrence Smith is out for the season after the Buffalo Bills placed him on injured reserve Wednesday.

Bills Sign Third-Round Pick Kevin Everett

Tight end Kevin Everett, the Buffalo Bills' third-round draft pick, signed Wednesday, although it's not clear when the injured player will be cleared for practice.

RB Gates a Pleasant Surprise to Many

It took Lionel Gates about a millisecond to think of his answer after practice Tuesday. Would he take just about any position on the Buffalo Bills roster in order to make the team?

Notes: Preston and Tucker Get Extra Reps

The Bills held a single practice on Tuesday and the hot topic was the offensive line. As is usually the case during training camp, some minor bumps and bruises allowed for backup linemen to get additional work.

The Bills Have All Their Picks Signed

The Bills have come to terms with third round pick Kevin Everett.

Venice's Losman Is An NFL Starter Now

Watching J.P. Losman play quarterback at Venice High six years ago, it became quickly apparent that he had such exceptional skills it seemed likely -- even certain -- that he would develop into a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Youngster inspires Moorman's charitable works

Taylor Speth watches the Buffalo Bills practice from inside a VIP tent along the sideline, trying to get punter Brian Moorman's attention.

Bills LG Smith has torn quadriceps tendon

Guard Lawrence Smith, who started eight games for Buffalo last season, has a torn right quadriceps and will need up to three months to recover.

Bills stay plugged into Citadel Broadcasting

The Buffalo Bills and Citadel Broadcasting Corp. have agreed to a new five-year deal that will keep the National Football League franchise's radio rights on WGRF-FM (97 Rock) and WEDG-FM (The Edge) through the 2009 season.

Bills Skip Out On AM Practice

WGR's Paul Hamilton checking in from St. John Fisher this morning, reports that the Bills aren't having a morning practice. The players trotted out onto the field to warm up, and then a bus pulled up to take the players on a "field trip". Stay tuned to find out where the Bills were headed. There had been a double session scheduled today, but both practices are closed to the public.

They’re football players

Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach Steve Szabo, safety Troy Vincent, and wide receiver Lee Evans recently declared rookie free agent Jim Leonhard "a football player." The 22-year-old Leonhard played four years at Wisconsin and four years in high school, but evidently only now has it been discovered that the game he actually played was football.

Bills' Tucker back on the field after injury

Ross Tucker came off the practice field at St. John Fisher College on Tuesday, sweaty, exhausted and aching head to toe. In other words, he felt great.

Bills' talented linebacker backups wait for their shot

"It can be a luxury for us, and we can be jealous," Haggan said of himself and fellow talented backups Josh Stamer and Angelo Crowell, who are stuck behind one of the NFL's best linebacking corps of Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher and Jeff Posey.

High-voltage summer for Wire

Most NFL players took five weeks off from serious football drills between the end of spring practices in mid-June and the start of training camp in late July. Not Coy Wire.

Bills' defense hungers for higher ground

Linebacker Takeo Spikes says he made one thing very clear to J.P. Losman at the outset of this summer's training camp.

Reed in a Battle to Make Team

With loads of talent at receiver, Josh Reed is in a fight for a roster spot.

August 09, 2005

Bills to place LG Smith on injured reserve

The Bills plan to place left guard Lawrence Smith on injured reserve, effectively ending his season.

McNally's presence helping Bills offensive line

Right tackle Williams says the presence of offensive line coach Jim McNally helps the line through an adjustment that includes the loss of left tackle Jonas Jennings and other free-agent moves.

Kelsay Among Elite in Draft Class

"I've got high hopes for myself and for this team and I think the coaching staff does as well," Kelsay said after Monday morning's practice at St. John Fisher.

BillsZone Training Camp Report 8/9/2005

Bills Training Camp Gallery Tuesday, August 9, 2005

The Bills practiced on the grass field today with the hot sun beating down on them. They worked in full pads today and there was some nice hard hitting. The coaches had the team work on some special teams, 7-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills.

To start the day off, the Bills players did their normal routine of individual unit drills and then stretching. After that, the team worked on punt returns and punt coverage. Brian Moorman was solid with his punts, like always and was hitting them "high and far." He was averaging about 45-60 yards in his punts. His best one had to be from the 50 yard-line and he nailed it, almost making a field goal. The purpose of this drill was to work on punt return coverage. They did a good job, but had some trouble stopping some of the returners. Jonathan Smith, Roscoe Parrish, Nate Clements, Drew Haddad, and Josh Reed all practiced returning. Roscoe Parrish was the toughest to bring down. He showed his speed and eluded the cover guys when they tried to tackle him. Nate Clements and Jonathan Smith also did a great job returning.

Next up was the 11-on-11 drills. Willis McGahee had a couple nice runs to start the series, including one really cool one. He had no holes to run through, so he took it to the outside around a nice block by Mike Gandy and then gained about 8 yards. JP Losman then threw a beautiful pass to Lee Evans for 16 yards. He then threw a nice screen to Willis McGahee, but Willis dropped it. Lionel Gates worked with the first team for a bit and did pretty well. He showed his speed around the Right Tackle for a gain of 5 yards. He also burst through the middle of the defense for another 6 yards on the next play. Kelly Holcomb hit Josh Reed for a gain of 7, and he was immediately hit out of bounds by Eric King. Mario Haggan then made a couple nice defensive plays by stopping Lionel Gates behind the line of scrimmage and then jumping in front of the receiver to knock down the ball. ReShard Lee struggled running up the middle. But he did make a nice play to get around the left tackle for a gain of 5 yards. Joe Burns struggled getting any yardage when he got his chance. He was stuffed at the line once and was stopped for a loss by Lauvale Sape.

The players then worked on some 7-on-7 drills for a bit. JP Losman did a great job in the drill and was throwing nice passes to all the receivers. He started out by hitting Eric Moulds near the sideline for 6 yards. Then he found Moulds again in the middle of the field for 8 yards. Moulds made a nice play in the middle of the field to gain some extra yards. Losman then threw a beautiful 45-yard bomb to Roscoe Parrish who was at the 3-yard line. Parrish caught the pass and walked into the end zone for the touchdown. It was a perfect throw by JP Losman, because Milloy and Greer were covering Parrish and Losman threw the ball where only Parrish could get it. Roscoe Parrish also hauled in a couple long passes from both Kelly Holcomb and Tory Woodbury.

The team then went back to work on some 11-on-11 scrimmage drills. It looked like they were working on different defensive packages. JP Losman struggled a bit in this drill. He started it out by overthrowing Lee Evans and then threw a pass where there was no receivers. Willis McGahee had a nice run up the middle for about 10 yards. Lionel Gates had a run around the right tackle for 6 yards and then caught a pass from Kelly Holcomb for 8 yards. Holcomb also hit Josh Reed for 5 yards. Shane Matthews threw a nice pass to Tim Euhus in the middle of the field, who ran about 7 yards after the 6 yard catch. Shaud Williams finished this part of the drill by pounding thru the middle for 7 yards.

The team then moved to the other side of the field and switched sides. The offense was rather streaky in this drill. Willis McGahee ran up the middle for a short gain, but then gained 6 yards on his next try. JP Losman overthrew Lee Evans on one play, but then threw a nice pass near the sideline to him for 6 yards. Shaud Williams had a couple nice runs up the middle, yet when he tried to get to the outside, London Fletcher tackled him for a short loss. Kelly Holcomb threw a nice screen to Daimon Shelton for about 5 yards, but then he overthrew Roscoe Parrish with the long ball two plays later. ReShard Lee had some nice gains up the middle, but also was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. You could tell that near the end, the heat was getting to the players. They started to wear out and the offensive line was missing some blocks.

Here's a couple tidbits that I noticed today:

1. JP Losman and the offense was clicking today, especially at the beginning of practice. He was hitting everyone in the individual drills, and also did a great job in the 7-on-7 drills. His play of the day had to be that 45-yard bomb to Parrish. Losman threw it where only Parrish could get it. It was a perfect throw. Losman also had a nice quarterback keeper when he noticed no one was open during practice.

2. Roscoe Parrish is going to be the #3 receiver and will probably be the PR too. He has to get on that field as much as possible. With our conservative offense, we won't see many 3-wide sets, but I think they need to find any way possible to get Parrish out on the field. He's really an explosive receiver and returner.

3. Trey Teague and Chris Villarrial sat out today. Duke Preston and Ross Tucker held down their spots today. Both did a pretty good job and Ross Tucker looked fired up out there. He was definitely glad to be back.

4. Lionel Gates may be taking over the backup runningback job. I have noticed that Shaud Williams is not getting the bulk of the carries anymore. Gates was even working with the starters to give McGahee a breather.

5. Mario Haggan was very impressive today. He was all over the field making plays. He knocked down a couple balls, and made some nice tackles. Haggan also intercepted Shane Matthews.

6. The players definitely showed signs of fatigue from the heat. They were slowing down towards the end and were making mistakes that they usually don't.

7. Props to all the defensive lineman (except for Sam Adams, Ryan Denney, and Aaron Schobel) for signing autographs at the fence. Also, props definitely go to Troy Vincent who stopped by and signed for everyone who was out there, even when he didn't have to.

Overall, it was another good day at camp. I feel that the team got a lot done today. The offense clicked much better today than yesterday, especially JP Losman. The team in general looks like it is getting better each day. I'll be at the Night Practice tomorrow night and will have a brief report from St. John Fisher following the practice.

Hall of Famer Jim Kelly's son laid to rest

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife buried their 8-year-old son Tuesday with a promise to continue their fight against the disease that claimed his life.

Release: Colts vs. Bills

The Indianapolis Colts, 0-1, open the home portion of 2005 preseason play by hosting the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 13. Kickoff for the contest is 7:00 p.m. (EST)/8:00 p.m. (EDT).

More than 1,000 mourn Hunter Kelly, 'our greatest treasure'

More than 1,000 people filled the pews of a Hamburg church today to celebrate the brief life of Hunter James Kelly, son of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.

This Mr. Wilson menaces defenders

Any reader of the comic strip Dennis The Menace knows George Wilson as the cantankerous next-door-neighbor to Dennis. At St. John Fisher College, George Wilson is a wide receiver trying to earn a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills.

O-line takes hits without flinching

The bad news for the Buffalo Bills on Monday was they lost two players for the season due to injury. Softening the blow was the fact the losses came at a position where they look like they have adequate depth.

Hunter Kelly Memorial This Afternoon

The public will have a chance Tuesday to say goodbye to Hunter Kelly, the son of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.

NFL nothing new for rookie center Preston

It says right there on the Buffalo Bills' training camp roster, under the column for NFL experience: Duke Preston is an "R," as in rookie.

Bannan making plays on defense

After losing star defensive tackle Pat Williams to the Minnesota Vikings during free agency, the Buffalo Bills elected to find his replacement from within their organization.

August 08, 2005

Bills Lose Smith, Sobieski to Injuries

The Buffalo Bills' offensive line lost some depth on Monday when coach Mike Mularkey announced that reserves Lawrence Smith and Ben Sobieski will likely miss the season with injuries.

Eagles News

In an update to the Simon-to-Buffalo story, a source close to the situation says the Bills are looking into how Simon would fit under the salary cap.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--Durability was never an issue for RB Shaud Williams in college, where he amassed 4,659 all-purpose yards at Texas Tech and Alabama.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

BATTLE OF THE WEEK
Joe Burns, Shaud Williams, ReShard Lee, Lionel Gates for the No. 2 running back job -

Bills report: Inside slant

The Bills are counting on dynamic new starting quarterback J.P. Losman to re-energize their 25th-ranked offense. However, they aren't expecting him to carry them on his back.

Bills' Vincent grudgingly accepting switch to safety

Every once in a while, Troy Vincent sneaks over to where the Buffalo Bills cornerbacks are practicing and jumps into the one-on-one drills before an assistant coach chases him away.

The Bills Are Back in Town

The Buffalo Bills returned to training camp Monday morning at St. John Fisher College.

Marino takes time to honor Kelly's son

Jim Kelly wasn't at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday.  But he was on the mind of Dan Marino.

August 07, 2005

Kelly's biggest loss

Today, three years after his own induction, on the day Kelly's good friend Dan Marino will be inducted in Canton, Kelly is in mourning. Hunter Kelly died Friday at the age of 8 and a half of respiratory failure.

Simon's demands keep him an Eagle

The league source said that both the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals reached agreement with the Eagles over compensation for Simon, but that the deals fell apart during contract negotiations with Barnes. The source said that an unidentified team also contacted the Eagles in the off-season, but that it backed off when told of Simon's contract demands. A report in the Trenton Times said the Buffalo Bills are among the teams interested in Simon, but Eagles president Joe Banner said Friday that the Eagles had not heard from them.

Rodgers or Losman: Who’ll be better?

J.P. Losman has a big-time arm and a belief that there’s not a throw he can’t make. In other words, he’s a lot like Brett Favre.

Peters adds massive benefit

A year ago he was the long-shot curiosity of Buffalo Bills training camp. Today he is the Bills' secret weapon.

What if the Bills had a first-round pick in 1988?

What might have happened: In his book Where Would You Rather Be, published in late 2004, Levy revealed the machinations that were in play on that draft day, and all the different ways Oklahoma State running back Thurman Thomas would not have become a Bill.

Bills' Losman showed he can be a leader

Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman impressed his teammates with his quick reads and quick release during Friday night's scrimmage against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Kelly's loss makes for heavy hearts at Hall

Kelly isn't able to be present for this year's Hall ceremonies. Because of that, something will be missing from this otherwise magnificent event.

August 06, 2005

Donahoe Extension Raises More Questions than it Answers!

It has recently been announced, or rather leaked as it were, into the media that Bills’ GM Commander Tom Donahoe received an extension from team owner Ralph Wilson last season. The signing however raises more questions than providing any comfort to Bills fans hungering for a return to greatness.

Notebook: Bills extend invite for next season

After Friday morning’s practice, Buffalo Bills General Manager Tom Donahoe extended an invitation to the Green Bay Packers to visit their training camp next season.

Special Start for QB J.P. Losman

The ear-to-ear smile on J.P. Losman's face following Friday night's scrimmage against the Green Bay Packers told the whole story.

Bills Show Well In Green Bay Scrimmage

J.P. Losman got off to a fast start and the Bills defense dominated in their scrimmage against Green Bay. Losman completed his first pass to Eric Moulds on a third down. Losman had another nice third down conversion to Roscoe Parrish. He was sacked once, but received good protection overall. Near the end of his time, Losman mixed in a few poor throws too.

Losman looks comfortable in start

GREEN BAY - His first three passes were complete. He did not throw an interception. He looked downright comfortable in the pocket.

Knee injury to Lawrence Smith weakens guard spot

The Buffalo Bills' depth at guard became precariously thin Friday after second-stringer Lawrence Smith went down with a knee injury in the morning practice with the Green Bay Packers.

Gandy holds his own against old rival

It was only a warmup, a chance for Mike Gandy to get reacquainted with Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

Packers pride inspires Hall of Fame plans for Bills

After experiencing full-blown Packermania the past two days and taking lots of notes, Bills owner Ralph Wilson and president and general manager Tom Donahoe said on Friday that they plan to proceed with long-discussed plans to build a Bills Hall of Fame on their stadium campus in Orchard Park.

Losman debut solid

The good news for the Buffalo Bills is that Losman, their new starting quarterback for better or worse, passed this first test with flying colors as he held his own against Packers 15-year All-Pro Brett Favre, a player he has idolized.

Bills spoil Family Night

The sellout crowd at the scrimmage between the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills had to wait until after the game to see any fireworks last night.

Bills, Packers scrimmage at sold-out Lambeau Field

The only other score while the first-teamers were on the field came on a 12-yard jaunt by Bills running back Willis McGahee, who was stymied much of the night before bursting free into the end zone. He ran 12 times for 32 yards.

August 05, 2005

Statement Regarding Passing of Hunter Kelly

The entire Buffalo Bills organization is deeply saddened today to hear of the passing of Hunter Kelly. This courageous young man served as an inspiration to us all during his brief life and he will forever remain a symbol of hope.

Packers, Bills in mood for a change-up

Brett Favre smiled mischievously when asked about the Buffalo Bills' visit to Green Bay this week as the Packers hosted an NFL team for practice for the first time in his career. "I'm going to start a fight," Favre said. "I thought it'd be nice when they eat over at the dining hall just to start a fight or something, make some news. I'd better figure out who their kicker is before I do that."

Former Badgers enjoying time with Bills

Troy Vincent fulfilled a dream Thursday night when the Buffalo Bills practiced with the Green Bay Packers before their Family Night scrimmage. "Today I got my first bike ride and I was so happy," the Buffalo Bills cornerback and former University of Wisconsin safety said. "I talked about it on the way over. I was just hoping that there would be some bikes over there for us Bills."

Jim Kelly’s Son Dies

Hunter Kelly, the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, has died. He was eight years old. A spokesman for the charity organization his parents founded says Hunter died at home in Orchard Park this morning. Jim Kelly’s brother Dan also confirmed the boy’s death. He says the former Buffalo Bills star plans to issue a press release later in the day.

Buffalo Bills 2005 Season Preview

The Buffalo Bills hope the fact that J.P. Losman wears a jersey emblazoned with a large number seven proves to be symbolic. The Bills need that seven to turn up lucky in 2005, as they prepare to take one of the biggest gambles the NFL will see this season.

Simon says go to Buffalo?

A report in the Trenton Times, quoting "a very reliable league source," has indicated the Bills are interested in trading for holdout defensive tackle Corey Simon. According to the paper, Eagles president Joe Banner has not heard from the Bills, but he'd listen if they called.

Hall Of Fame QB Jim Kelly's Son, Hunter, Dies At Age 8

Hunter Kelly, whose battle with a fatal nervous system disease inspired his Hall of Fame quarterback father Jim Kelly's charitable works, died Friday morning. He was 8. "Our prayers go to the family and kids," Jim Kelly's brother, Dan, told The Associated Press.

TKO inspired

Takeo Spikes found a way to get fired up for Bills training camp. The day before he reported, he made his first trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. "It was unbelievable," Spikes said. "I went there for inspiration. It was incredible, just to see all the great players who have played the game. It's a place I always wanted to go as a kid with my father but I never got to."

Parrish becoming deep threat

Buffalo Bills rookie receiver Roscoe Parrish went deep on his first two plays in one-on-one drills against the Green Bay Packers. The result: two long, pretty completions. The Bills and Packers conducted a sprawling, two-hour workout before about 5,000 fans Thursday night, and it wasn't easy to draw definitive conclusions, given the no-tackling nature of the practice.

Titletown tour awesome

The Buffalo Bills' training camp at St. John Fisher College has evolved into one of the top experiences for fans and players in the NFL over the past six summers, but let's be honest. Comparing Rochester to Titletown is comparing Seabreeze to Disneyland.

Dr. Z says Bills need fast start

Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman, who visited the Buffalo Bills training camp this week, says the team's hopes for a playoff spot in the rugged AFC probably hinge on getting a quick jump out of the gate.

Bills Notebook:Packers had their eye on Losman

Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman left no doubt that he would've drafted Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft.

Corey Simon to Buffalo Trade Rumors?

According to a very reliable league source, the Buffalo Bills have been looking into the possibility of acquiring franchise-tagged defensive tackle Corey Simon from the Eagles.

Packers host Bills for practice

Brett Favre says he just might start a fight when the Buffalo Bills visit Green Bay for tonight's N-F-L scrimmage.

Scrimmage at Lambeau a homecoming for Wisconsin trio

Troy Vincent fulfilled a dream Thursday night when the Buffalo Bills practiced with the Green Bay Packers before their Family Night scrimmage.

Training Camp Report: Bills Stampede Into Green Bay

As the Bills participated in a joint scrimmage on Thursday night, they experienced a unique atmosphere, including thousands of passionate fans and a biking tradition.

Evans fits the Bills

Playing across from former all-pro Eric Moulds, Evans opened his rookie season in the starting lineup.

Thurman Thomas to help great causes today in Ottumwa

Today, Thomas will be giving plenty to the City of Bridges. He will start as a guest at Don Thompson's youth football clinic, and will continue helping a very noble cause, raising money for the new cancer center at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

Bills' Leonhard believes he can beat the odds - again

Jim Leonhard has done it before. The competition level is a little greater this time, the odds a little longer, but he says the difference between walk-on and undrafted rookie isn't that big.

Mularkey Pleased with First Joint Practice

"I think we got a lot of good work," head coach Mike Mularkey said at the conclusion of the joint workout.

Losman Led Bills Set to Face Packers

When J.P. Losman looks across the field this Friday night, he will see both one of his idols and the position he was oh-so-close to being in.

Bills in Packerland

St. John Fisher College is quiet for the first time this week. The Buffalo Bills left town for Green Bay.

August 04, 2005

Bills' high hopes hinge on Losman

The Bills are about to repeat what the Cincinnati Bengals did last year when they turned over the reins to Carson Palmer and never looked back.

Losman taking hints from Favre on, off the field

“He’s one of my all-time favorites. I’m so happy I’m able to play against him somewhat,” Losman said.

Bills eager to hit someone else

The Bills travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers in a scrimmage Friday and it’s a welcome change of scenery and opponents.

Skeptics lack what Losman has aplenty: confidence

Ask almost anyone in Western New York who doesn’t think of soccer when you say football and they’ll tell you there is only one reason the Buffalo Bills won’t kick butt and take names this season.

The billboard

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans doesn't like reality shows. But he became his very own "Real World: Madison" after returning to the campus this spring.

Bills to get close-up look at Favre

It's going to be awesome to play against a guy like that." Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman will never forget his first meeting with his boyhood idol, Brett Favre.

Bills sweat in the heat, try to stay cool

Nowadays, water tubs, Gatorade and Pedialite are everywhere on the practice field. Hydration is just as important to an NFL coach as the 3-4 defense.

Running back battle heats up

As a member of the Dallas Cowboys for two seasons, ReShard Lee got used to practicing in the Texas heat. Good thing, too. Because the competition for the backup running back job with the Buffalo Bills is about to heat up.

Losman thrilled he will oppose Favre at Lambeau

Facing another NFL team for the first time as the Buffalo Bills' starting quarterback would be reason enough for J.P. Losman to get emotional.

Scrimmage with Bills adds twist to training camp

The Green Bay Packers coach was at the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last February when Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey approached him with a proposition. Buffalo's usual training-camp practice partner, the Cleveland Browns, had ended their arrangement of practicing against the Bills for a few days each year, and Mularkey thought the Packers would be an ideal fill-in.

Trafford Just Happy to Be Here

When he was 13 years old, the Bills’ tight end was involved in an automobile accident that probably saved his life.

Losman is now in the driver's seat for Bills

The kid has the keys. That's always a scary thought, even if the reference is only metaphoric. In this case, the young, first-time "driver" is J.P. Losman and the "car" is the Buffalo Bills ' offense.

Notes: Bills Focus on Red Zone

The Bills spent a good portion of their Wednesday morning practice working in the red zone and eventually concluded the evening session with a live goal line drill.

August 03, 2005

Bills Tight Ends Healthy in Camp

For Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus, the Buffalo Bills' tight ends who finished last season as "crutch ends," it became a competition to see who would rehab faster from their respective knee injuries.

Big Mike Ready for Big Year

The smile on Mike Williams' face said it all Wednesday morning. Taking part in the first of two scheduled practices on the day, Williams was working at a positional drill with reserve offense tackle Dylan McFarland.

Bills report: Inside slant

The Buffalo Bills plan to test drive new quarterback J.P. Losman hard this summer. They just hope they don't have to use their expensive collision insurance when it's all over.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--TE Mark Campbell reached a personal milestone by taking part in the very first camp practice, just eight months after undergoing ACL surgery. Credit modern science, team doctors and trainers, and of course, the player who put in the rehab work.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

EXPECTED BATTLE OF THE WEEK
WR Josh Reed vs. WR Roscoe Parrish for number three receiver -

Bills: Losman not afraid to run

J.P. Losman has already displayed his speed and running ability in training camp. During drills on Tuesday, Losman took advantage of an overpursuing defense and sprinted the opposite way for an 80-yard touchdown jaunt.

It's Losman's show now, but Bills won't be patient

The Buffalo Bills' new starting quarterback hasn't lost a game, hasn't thrown a costly interception and definitely hasn't been sacked, thanks to that nifty red jersey he wears in practice every day at training camp.

Gudmundsen, Bills together by chance

Sometimes dreams — as well as bold proclamations — really do come true, and Buffalo Bills offensive line prospect Geir Gudmundsen will be the first to nod his head in agreement on both counts.

Bills camp evolves into 'one and done'

For the second time in four days of training camp Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills held just one practice. Somewhere, Vince Lombardi must be rolling in his grave.

"Sleeper" Role Perfect for Aiken

The tattoo on his chest reads "sleeper" - and for Sam Aiken, the nickname is very fitting.

August 02, 2005

BillsZone Training Camp Report 8/2/2005

Bills Training Camp Gallery Tuesday, August 2, 2005

After having 5 practices in the last 3 days, the Bills toned it down a bit with a single practice today. They worked in the shade today on the grass practice field and had the shorts and shoulder pads on. There was some hitting, but it wasn't that intense. It seemed like a day for them to work on a few different drills and try to take it easy in the hot, August weather.

Willis McGahee didn't get many holes to run through, so he made his own. When he noticed that there weren't any, McGahee took the ball to the outside gained some good yardage. On one play, McGahee looked like he was going to be stuffed, then he bounced off the tackle and turned to the outside around a nice block by Mike Williams for a gain of 7 yards. When he didn't do that, McGahee just pounded through the defense to gain the yards. He also had a nice run later on in the day around the left tackle that he took for about 11 yards, thanks to a sweet block by Daimon Shelton.

JP Losman had a pretty good day. He hit Josh Reed for 11 yards, and then zipped a pass to Fast Freddie Smith for 7 yards. Losman also threw a beautiful screen to Shaud Williams who gained about 10 yards, one play after pounding through the middle for 8 yards. JP Losman did have a few bad plays though. There was one play where Losman threw the ball and Terrence McGee almost got it, but couldn't hold on. But then again, there was a sign that Losman is starting to learn more. At the end of the drill, Losman was getting chased out of bounds and wisely threw it away.

Following the 11-on-11 drill, the Bills worked on some 7-on-7 and then did a 2 minute drill to finish the day. In the 7-on-7, JP Losman was on target with most of his throws and hit both Lee Evans and Eric Moulds a few times. Losman also did some scrambling when there was no one open and gained yardage that way. Kelly Holcomb had some nice throws and found Sam Aiken and Fast Freddie Smith quite a few times. Shane Matthews also did a nice job out there. He has been solid so far and will probably be here to stay. I've noticed that he's been talking with Losman many times. So he's probably like a mentor to him.

In the 2 minute drill, the Bills offense struggled. Both the starters and the backups failed to get the touchdown. They did have some nice pass completions though, including a sweet catch and run by Lee Evans.

Here's a couple tidbits that I noticed today:

1. JP Losman is progressing rather quickly. He is going through all his reads and getting the ball out very fast. He is also starting to get more comfortable in the pocket and shows some nice agility when he scrambles around to get away from the defenders.

2. Lionel Gates impressed me today. He had a few solid runs, including one that he slid by the defenders for a big gain.

3. Trey Teague still can't snap in the shotgun formation. He threw the first one to the ground and then a couple other ones near Losman's feet.

4. Duke Preston and Jason Peters both had some solid blocks today. Both are expected to make the team and push for a starting job. Duke Preston will probably be groomed to replace Trey Teague by the end of the season and I like what I see so far. Jason Peters could possibly win the LT job if Mike Gandy doesn't get any better.

5. Sam Aiken is starting to develop a case of the dropsies. He dropped one yesterday and then dropped 2 today that were right in his hands. He could get beat out by Josh Reed and Jonathan Smith for a roster spot if he keeps this up.

6. Chris Kelsay has been doing a great job as the starting LDE. He has been putting a lot of pressure on the quarterbacks and would have registered a few sacks by now, including one on Holcomb today.

Overall, it was a slow day at camp. I figured it would be like this because the players needed a little rest from the 5 practices that they started with. Tomorrow should be back to work and back to the hard hitting, fast paced practice. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with the latest from St. John Fisher College.

Leonhard Making the Most of His Opportunity

He's heard it all before. Too short, too slow, too light - but it hasn't stopped Jim Leonhard just yet.

Training Camp Postcard: Bills

For the third consecutive summer, I've made the trek to St. John Fisher College in pretty-as-a-picture Pittsford, N.Y. -- a suburb of Rochester -- where the Bills go through their preseason practice paces.

Ten Questions with Willis McGahee

For the first time in his three-year NFL career, Bills running back Willis McGahee enters the season with no question marks regarding his health or his status on the depth chart.

Packers-Bills Aug. 5 scrimmage to be aired live

The Aug. 5 "Family Night" scrimmage in Green Bay between the Packers and the Buffalo Bills at Lambeau Field will be televised live nationally on NFL Network.

Gudmundsen is latest example of football artistry

Buffalo Bills rookie offensive lineman Geir Gudmundsen is no stranger to NFL training camps. But this time the view is a lot different.

J.P. shows he's a run threat

The third-string defenders overpursued and left the right side of the field wide open on one play during the Buffalo Bills' Monday afternoon practice. Quarterback J.P. Losman didn't hesitate and sprinted down the length of the right sideline to the end zone.

Bills TEs feel hale and hearty

One could not blame Buffalo Bills tight ends coach Mike Miller if the walls of his office were lined with rabbits' feet and garlic cloves. "I think some of the players were offering to sacrifice a chicken in our room," Miller said after practice on Monday.

Notes: Offense Engages in Competitive Battle

Day three of Bills training camp included a pair of workouts in the upper 80 degree temperature range at St. John Fisher College.

Williams puts on some weight for strength

Buffalo Bills running back Shaud Williams amassed 4,659 all-purpose yards in his college career at Texas Tech and Alabama. His durability has never been a question.

Free-agent Leonhard always in the thick of it

Jim Leonhard has heard it before. Boy has he. "You're too small, kid. Just too small."

Vikings' defense dips into Bill fold

Buffalo's NFL-best defense of 1999 hasn't exactly resurfaced in Minnesota. But key components of that group, led by former Bills defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, are now with the Vikings, bent on building something special in the NFC North.

August 01, 2005

Football From the Mines

When you scan the Buffalo Bills training camp roster, many of the big football schools are represented; Miami, Nebraska and Michigan among them. Then there's Colorado School of Mines.

Training camp heats up

The Bills practiced in full pads on a hot and humid day at St. John Fisher College. The weather usually leads to tempers flaring, which is what happened as a few scuffles broke out during contact drills.

Clements ready to turn the corner

Denver's Champ Bailey, Baltimore's Chris McAlister and Kansas City's Patrick Surtain are among the best cornerbacks in the NFL in the eyes of most pro football scouts. Nate Clements acknowledges their talent, but said there is one that stands above them all.

Mularkey wants Losman to stay under control

Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey loves J.P. Losman's competitive nature. He just wants his young quarterback to channel his emotions better.

Reed focused on making big plays again

There were times over the past two seasons when everybody watching the Buffalo Bills play was wondering where wide receiver Josh Reed had disappeared to. Josh Reed was among them.

Bills OT Mike Williams Day To Day

Bills' starting right tackle Mike Williams has been listed as day to day with a hamstring injury.

Tight Ends Return

It was their first day working in full pads. The Buffalo Bills hit for the first time Sunday afternoon a big test for their top two tight ends coming off knee surgery.

Notes: Intensity Up a Notch

For the first time in nearly seven months the Bills practiced with full pads on, a clear indication that the start of the 2005 season will be here in no time.