October 31, 2007

Bengals / Bills Preview

Injuries, an unsettled quarterback situation and a slow start appeared to make this a lost season for the Bills. Although some of those problems remain, Buffalo has played itself back into contention.

For starters, Losman is back

It’s J.P. Losman’s turn. Again. The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback carousel took another spin Tuesday as coach Dick Jauron named Losman the starter for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills QB Edwards could be inactive Sunday

Trent Edwards’ sprained right wrist was still swollen today, and sore enough to where he could not grip a football, or even shake someone’s hand.

Quarterback J.P. Losman to play against Cincinnati Sunday

J.P. Losman is once again the Buffalo Bills' starting quarterback: At least for this week.

October 30, 2007

Jauron Names Losman Starter vs. Bengals

“J.P. Losman will start Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals," Dick Jauron announced in a released statement. "Trent Edwards’ wrist will prevent him from participating until late in the week, if at all.”

Dunlop Supports Moorman's Kicking For Kids Program

During the 2007 Buffalo Bills football season, Dunlop has partnered with Bills punter Brian Moorman and his PUNT Foundation to support the Kicking for Kids program. Dunlop has donated $5,000 to the cause.

QB situation unresolved

Trent Edwards’ balky right wrist was still sore Monday, leaving the Buffalo Bills to postpone their decision about the starting quarterback until later this week. J.P. Losman was left wondering if he played well enough in relief Sunday to take back the job he lost under similar circumstances.

Defense turning up the pressure

The aggressiveness of the Buffalo Bills’ defense continues to pay dividends. In shutting down the New York Jets, 13-3, the Bills’ penetrating defensive linemen and various blitzes made life miserable for quarterback Chad Pennington, who was relegated to short passes because he didn’t have time to throw downfield.

Jauron waits to make Bills' quarterback call

 Bills coach Dick Jauron did not reveal who the starting quarterback will be Sunday when the Bills play host to the struggling Cincinnati Bengals at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills replay: Did J.P. earn chance to start again?

Sal: So here we go again. Another week of wondering who's going to play quarterback for the Bills. Actually, this is a pretty easy one for Dick Jauron. Trent Edwards sprained his throwing wrist in the win over the Jets, so if he can't practice early in the week, then J.P. Losman is the starter.

Defensive unit settling in for Bills

Three weeks into the 2007 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills' beleaguered defense was on pace to set unthinkable franchise futility records.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

PASSING OFFENSE
B -- This was a tale of two quarterbacks. Rookie Trent Edwards started for the fourth game in a row, and he did what he has been doing over the past month -- he completed the majority of his passes but kept it safe.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--QB J.P. Losman promised he would be ready to go if called upon, and he was against the Jets. Losman, who lost his starting job to Trent Edwards after he suffered a knee injury on Sept. 23, saw his first action since that day when Edwards went down with a sprained throwing wrist.

Bills report: Inside slant

During the first three weeks of the season, the Bills' young, undersized and injury-riddled defense couldn't stop anybody. Denver, Pittsburgh and New England racked up 470, 420 and 485 yards, respectively, while scoring a combined 79 points. Since then, the defense, which is finally starting to jell, has given up 347, 385, 308 and 254 to the Jets, Cowboys, Ravens and Jets.

October 29, 2007

Second Down: Week 8

Each week we'll spend Monday dissecting the more interesting statistics and noteworthy items that came out of Sunday's game. Some stats may surprise, others might impress and some might tick you off, but we try to cover it all in Second Down.

Jauron To Make QB Call Public Wednesday

Dick Jauron was literally asked 10 different ways about who will start at quarterback for the Bills this Sunday against the Bengals, but the Bills head coach is again choosing to wait until Wednesday to make his decision known.

Edwards’ status up in air

Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards made his fourth consecutive start Sunday, but will he make it five in a row?

Defense in shutdown mode

Outside linebacker Angelo Crowell said the Buffalo Bills’ defense hadn’t played its best football yet. It was never better this year than it was Sunday.

Losman relieves Edwards, leads Bills past Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Lee Evans was running as fast as he could down the sideline when he turned and saw the pass from J.P. Losman heading his way.

QB Edwards out with a wrist injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards left in the third quarter of the Bills' 13-3 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday with a sprained right wrist.

Losman saga dictated by money

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. is under scrutiny from his players after rookie Trent Edwards was named the starting quarterback again this week, even though incumbent J.P. Losman is healthy, according to a source.

OpIv37's Post Game Review

This may be the best weekend for Buffalo sports in recent memory- 3-0 between the Sabres and the Bills. It was another ugly win over an inferior opponent, but a win's a win.

-The QB controversy just heated up (wow, two sports cliches in one sentence- I'm on a roll). Losman threw two bombs- one of which was a TD and the other one should have been a TD. Edwards was efficient, but did not handle the pressure well.

-Lynch is a beast (cliche #3). The guy always fights for every extra yard, and the offense definitely lost its punch when he was out of the game for a series or two. The guy basically is the Bills' offense this year (he has scored 4 of the Bills' 6 offensive touchdowns).

-the offense is getting incrementally better, yet never quite gets it right. The last few weeks, they've been much better sustaining drives and controlling the ball, but it never translates to points.

-Credit some of Edwards' success to Josh Reed. He had a great game.

-Over the last few games, Gaines had a few key catches, but also had two drops and a penalty. That makes him the prototypical Bills tight end.

-That 3rd and 11 after the penalty at the end of the half, and the screen pass at the end of the first drive were two of the most gutless calls I've ever seen. The coaches basically said, "we know we can't convert, so why even try?" They might as well just punt or kick FG's on third down.

-To the coaches' credit, they did use the run to set up the pass, and eventually started throwing screens at the Revis blitz (although not until after Edwards took a pounding)

-Schobel and Kelsay both came to play- it was good to finally see some production from our expensive DE's.

-Why the hell was Ryan Neill playing DE on the Jets' final drive? After the way this team blew two games in the final seconds, one would think the coaches had more sense than that. Apparently not.

-Crowell is playing extremely well, although I bet he's taking a lot of crap from his teammates for missing that sack at the end of the game.

-McGee had an excellent game.

-DiGiorgio did a great London Fletcher impersonation- tons of tackles, most of which were 5-7 yards past the LOS (although in his defense he did get Jones for a loss at least twice).

-The DL is playing better against the pass, but still struggling against the run

-Tripplett has been making about 2 plays a game over the last 2-3 weeks; the rest of the time, he's completely neutralized. The sad part is, this is an improvement for him.

-ST continues to excel, particularly Parrish and the punt/kick coverage units.

-The short kick after halftime didn't work, but I still like the call- April's the only coach on our team with courage.

And finally, some thoughts on the Patriots/Redskins:

-I owe the local sports fans an apology- I was rooting for the Skins and VT this weekend. What happens? Both teams act like the Bills: VT blew a double-digit lead in the final minutes and the Skins got embarrassed by the Patriots.

-Mike Vrabel fits in well with the Patriots: he's a dirty, aggressive, overly competitive piece of garbage. With under 2 minutes left and the score 52-7, he recovered the onsides kick and started pushing, shoving and kicking a Skins player AFTER the whistle- he even pulled the guy back down after the guy was trying to get up and get away from him. Remember, Vrabel got fined for a cheap shot against Cleveland as well.

-Bellicheck ran up the score yet again, and shows he has no class, yet again. I despise that friggin team.

Losman's feel-good play won't change big picture

 Give J.P. Losman credit. He said he would continue to prepare as if he were the starter, despite having his job taken away and despite his suspicions that the decision had been dictated from up high in the Bills' organization. As a captain and a leader, Losman felt he owed it to his teammates to be ready if the call came.

Two friends reconnect as Bills win

 Losman. Evans. Touchdown.

Buffalo Bills fans can only wonder how many more times they will hear those words strung together.

Bills Beat the Jets, 13-3

Bills quarterback J.P. Losman fires a pass during the fourth quarter.

Losman came on in relief of Trent Edwards.

Bills Defense Shines Again

It's quickly becoming the biggest lost story of the Bills season. Buried beneath all the twists and turns at the quarterback position is a Buffalo defense that is becoming more and more difficult for NFL offenses to solve.

Bills defense gives opponents no rest

If you asked anyone who does not follow the Buffalo Bills closely to name two starters on the team's defense, they probably wouldn't be able to do it. As a matter of fact, there are some Bills fans who might not be able to do it. But this no-name unit is really coming together and it has put together back-to-back winning performances.

Bills performance is evaluated

B Quarterbacks: The eternal hope is that the Bills' coaching staff doesn't turn Trent Edwards into Chad Pennington, because Edwards looked an awfully lot like Pennington with all that dinking and dunking. J.P. Losman came in and stretched the Jets' defense to the limit, and it paid off with his TD pass to Lee Evans that broke the game open.

Two-minute read

Play of the game

J.P. Losman's 85-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans with 3:38 remaining. Supposedly, there were a few downfield passes called when Trent Edwards was in the game, but the rookie was never able to pull the trigger for one reason or another. Losman played a total of four offensive series and heaved two balls deep down field, and one was caught by his favorite battery mate, Evans, for the game's only touchdown.

Losman throws late TD pass to Evans

 Just when you thought the fire created by Buffalo's most recent quarterback controversy had been doused, Lee Evans squirted some gasoline into the embers Sunday afternoon and reignited the inferno.

October 28, 2007

Bills QB Edwards out with hand injury

Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards left in the third quarter of the Bills' game against the New York Jets on Sunday with what appeared to be an injury to his right hand.

Bills Sweep Jets

The Buffalo Bills completed a season sweep of the New York Jets for the first time in 10 years with a 13-3 win Sunday at Giants Stadium. J.P. Losman replaced an injured Trent Edwards and connected with Lee Evans on an 85-yard touchdown pass with 3:38 remaining to give the Bills to a 10 point lead.

Losman comes off bench to spark Bills win over Jets

J.P. Losman came on in relief of Bills starting quarterback Trent Edwards to complete three passes for 113 yards and lead Buffalo on a pair of scoring drives in a 13-3 win over the lifeless New York Jets at Giants Stadium.

Specter of injury haunts QBs

Today the Trent Edwards era as Buffalo’s quarterback begins officially when the Bills visit the Jets, but how long it will last no one knows. These days, unless the quarterback’s name is Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, the moniker with which he is labeled is “Uncertain Future.”

Five-star scouting report

Offense should have room to roam against lackluster Jets defense.

Mixed market

Two quarterbacks whose careers are going in opposite directions square off today at the Meadowlands. Trent Edwards, Buffalo’s new quarterback of the present and future, will try to beat the odds by winning his first road start when the Bills meet the New York Jets.

Patience a virtue with QBs

Last Wednesday, Bills coach Dick Jauron was asked if he felt J.P. Losman had received a fair shot at being the starting quarterback.

Surging Bills hit the road to play sagging Jets

In a testament to just how fast perceptions can change in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills — given up for dead by many after their horrific loss to Dallas — are playing in a game this afternoon at the Meadowlands that actually could mean something.

Jets-Dolphins Gameday

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

QB Chad Pennington held onto his job by hitting 20-of-31 passes for 272 yards, three TDs and an interception (returned 42 yards for a TD with 37 seconds left to play) against the Bengals. In the first Bills game in Week 4, Pennington completed 32-of-39, but 23 completions were for 10 yards or less.

Doug Flutie Doubts Toronto Could Support its Own NFL Franchise

Former Buffalo Bills and Toronto Argonauts (CFL) Quarterback Doug Flutie has doubts about whether Toronto could support its own NFL team.

October 27, 2007

Game Day Tipsheet: Week 8

Once again we'll be featuring our Game Day Tipsheet, which will include everything you'll want to know, some things you may not have known and probably a few things you didn't care to know, but find interesting anyway.

Ready to turn the corner

Marshawn Lynch gets himself into “Beast Mode” when he steps onto the football field. What’s that?

Legislators, with a vested interest, want more data on Bills/Toronto

The Erie County Legislature will ask Buffalo Bills officials to provide more information about the team’s plan to play two games in Toronto — one preseason and one regular season — each year, merely as a courtesy to the lawmakers who will be expected to approve any future stadium lease with the team.

Lawmakers Ask to Meet with Bills' Brass

The Erie County Legislature is seeking information on the Buffalo Bills' short-term and long-term plans in the wake of their announced plans to play some pre-season and regular-season games in Toronto starting next year.

Bills to Host Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick

The Buffalo Bills Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick Sectional Championship will be held on Saturday, October 27, in the Bills Fieldhouse from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Hargrove finding his game for Bills

Anthony Hargrove made plenty of news before he ever lined up at defensive end for the Buffalo Bills this season.

MVP Gannon an Edwards fan

Dick Jauron is obviously impressed by quarterback Trent Edwards, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen the rookie third-round pick to be the Bills quarterback for at least the foreseeable future.

October 26, 2007

Whitner singles out moms who need a break

Like many single mothers, Deborah Whitner didn’t have it easy. She worked multiple jobs to provide for her two sons and for the three nephews she took in.

Jets’ Vilma won’t play

The New York Jets will play Sunday’s game against Buffalo without star linebacker and defensive leader Jonathan Vilma, who reportedly is facing season-ending knee surgery. The fourth-year veteran was hurt during last Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati.

:60 with Angelo Crowell

Most people know you have a brother (Germane, right) who played wide receiver in the NFL, but he’s just one of several siblings who played sports. What was it like growing up in an athletic family?

Bills mixing it up on defense

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is no mad scientist, but he has devised a formula that could drive opposing offenses mad.

Slumping Jets looking to get things back on track against suddenly surging Bills

 When the New York Jets were preparing for their first game against Buffalo last month, coach Eric Mangini and his players spoke glowingly about a team ravaged by injuries and inconsistent play.

Bills' Edwards receives high marks as a rookie quarterback

 Every now and then a special player becomes an exception to the rule that all young NFL quarterbacks are destined to become bewildered, befuddled and beaten until they aren't so young anymore.

Bills players warm up to Toronto

Sure, it figures. Willis McGahee leaves and the Buffalo Bills decide they should play a game each season in Toronto.

October 25, 2007

Breaking Down the New York Jets (Again)

We've done this once - just about a month ago, we were breaking down the Jets, calling them an overrated, yet underrated opponent as they prepared for a Week 4 tilt with our Bills. As it turned out, the Bills bettered the Jets in that contest - but it was a close game. My, how times have changed in New York since that loss.

Bills should play top home opponent in Orchard Park

Switching one Buffalo Bills "home game" to Toronto for each of the next five NFL seasons will be easier to swallow for fans in western New York if it isn't one of the most attractive games on the schedule.

Bills' defense has impressive building blocks

Before the 2007 NFL season began, the belief surrounding the Buffalo Bills was that their defense wouldn't be very good. In terms of statistics, that has been true so far. After all, Buffalo is currently ranked 31st out of 32 teams in total defense through six games.

Bills Back for More

The Buffalo Bills will look to finish what they started when they travel to the Meadowlands on Sunday for an AFC East match-up with the skidding New York Jets.

Bills’ offense could get its point across

We should find out over the next three weeks if the Buffalo Bills’ offense has a chance to make some noise this season.

Bills made right move ... who should follow?

With parity raging once again in the National Football League, teams are looking closer than ever for a spark at quarterback.

One Fan's View: 6 minutes of anguish

For the first time in a long time, I was driving to the game thinking, “we can actually win this one. We have a hated enemy in Willis coming here, yet I feel we can keep him in check, show the NFL why we didn’t need him, and sneak out a win.” I honestly can’t remember when I felt like that last. Imagine my surprise when we actually pulled it out…barely.

Here is my non-slanderous take on the Bills coaching staff. They are good at some things, namely putting together a defense with very few workable pieces and keeping players from making stupid mistakes.

No doubt from the Gregg Williams era through the Mularkey regime, the Bills have killed drives with stupid penalties. Jauron-led teams have been significantly better at not taking 5 or more penalties a game. They have had George Wilson as Free safety, and for a few plays, Ryan Neil, our long snapper, playing well on defense. Neil even managed to break up a critical 3rd down pass. All things considered, this defense should be allowing 500 yards a game with who is out there. But they are coming together.

But on the con side, they kill drives, not with penalties, but with poor play calling. For me, I literally wonder why I have an office job instead of a sideline job when I see mistakes that I can fix. For example, the most glaring error during the game was clock management. This was the sole reason why we had to sit in agony for the last 6 minutes.

With under six minutes to play and a 12 point lead, the OC calls 2 running plays up the middle. Fine. I can live with that. The idea here is that we are trying to run out the clock. Yet, Edwards is snapping the ball with 8-10 seconds on the play clock. They did that several times, and even Moorman snapped the ball with 20 seconds on the clock. So if you are trying to run out the clock and play conservative, then go all out and be conservative. Run, run, run, and snap at 1 and 2 seconds every time.

Had we done that, we wouldn’t have had to do anything when we stopped the Ravens on their last drive. Instead we had to run 3 more plays and punt. All of these things had potential to break our heart in ways that taking a knee would never have.

To me, that is a bigger and more glaring issue of incompetence. Edwards came out after one of the drives, and no one said anything to him on the sidelines. JP was standing next to him, Fairchild walked by, but no one thought to say, “hey, we’re taking the safest path to victory. We’re running out the clock. Please snap at 1 or 2 seconds.” It almost seemed like the coaches were just waiting for the game to end just like us.

And in the end, we won. So it’s almost cruel to dissect the coaching staff and ask for their heads. Yet, when we think how we could, and should be 4-2, it’s really maddening. Watching the last 10 minutes of this game, we could also be easily 1-5.


DVD Extras:

• Shelly and I went to a Kelly Clarkson concert earlier in the week. Obviously it wasn’t my doing. Yet, the concert wasn’t so bad. Here are few choice lyrics to one of her songs. It seems to sum up my feelings about JP.
  
  Here's the thing
  we started out friends
  it was cool but it was all pretend
  Yeah, Yeah
  since you've been gone
  
  But since you've been gone
  I can breathe for the first time
  I'm so moving on
  Yeah Yeah
  Thanks to you
  Now i get
  what i want
  Since You've Been Gone
  
  Oh, Kelly, you always know what to say.
• My take on the QB situation: It’s a no brainer. Edwards is your guy. JP is a good guy, and he might be better somewhere else. He simply has not been dealt the cards to win in Buffalo. It’s over. I have a lot of respect for him and feel bad that this is how it’s going to play out, but there is a saying in French, “this is life”. Granted the French say it in French. Edwards is a rookie and throws one INT a game. Most other rookie QB’s when they are struggling with development throw literally 50% completion rate, 2-3 picks a game, and are wobbly the entire game. Edwards biggest strength was that after Willis’ TD sucked the life out of the stadium, he marched the team the other direction to even things out and finally score a TD. He made it happen with a long throw, he made it happen with 3rd down conversions, and he made it happen despite an OC who wanted to stymie the offense yet again. There really is no debate. As Hyman Roth said in Godfather II, “And I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen - I didn't ask who gave the order.” This is the QB we’ve chosen. He’s handling himself incredibly well.
• Why are JP supporters turning into FOX news journalists? These people just come up with Buzz terms like, “arm strength” and “long ball”. They totally disregard the truth so they can see what they want to see. It’s one thing to do it about politics, but when you are being blind about football, I draw a line. I saw posts in the Bills Zone saying that JP should come back because he throws a better long ball. Have you seen a single decent drive by JP this year? Are you honestly banking on the QB position because he can throw long 3 or 4 times a game? How many more years of JP volatility can you handle? If you want to watch volatility, watch your 401k for the next 2 years. I want stability. I want a guy who makes all the plays. The guy who can stand and deliver a pass with a Leon Seals on Jeff Hostetler type hit coming. I want the guy who can side step an all out blitz and make something happen. I want a guy to be able to consistently hit the 7 to 20 yard passes that occur regularly throughout the game. I want the chains to move so that our defense can actually play and last an entire game. Edwards went deep three times this week. If Evans catches it cleanly, it’s a TD. So spare me that Losman deserves another chance. He’s gotten all the passes one could get. We all rooted for him. We all respect him, but his time here is done. And I guarantee you, when he surfaces with another team next year everyone will be able to watch JP with an unbiased opinion. And we’ll all agree, “Talented kid who’d you’d love for your flag football team, but not mentally quick enough to play the game at a pro level.”
• On Edwards pick: Here’s the thing, they went with 2 run plays prior to the pick. It left a 3rd and long situation. Everyone in the stadium knows they are going to throw at that point. And they only come out with a two WR set. If JP supporters can say JP didn’t succeed because of the coaches, well, we have to give Edwards the same benefit. To me, the Bills seem to have some superior pass protection. Why not run a delay handoff. They’ll get the blocks, and Lynch is just waiting to juke someone into a high ankle sprain. That’s what I would have done. It would have run clock, it would have been mildly unexpected, and it would have been conservative.
• I thought we had Jonathan Vilma on our team for a second when Willis ran his long TD. I didn’t know Willis ran long touchdowns against anyone other than Vilma.
• Despite the trash that Willis talks on a regular basis, have you ever noticed in his team roster pictures used on TV, the media packages, he has the tiniest mouth? It’s almost like he’s doing Zoolander’s Blue Steel face. God, I hate this guy.
• McGahee ran 19 times for 115, was unavailable for most of the 3rd and 4th Quarter after his long run, seemed ok with losing the game, and simply wanted to have some good stats to show Bills fans. That’s exactly why we got rid of you, Willis. We’re a little savvier than that. On the other side, Lynch ran the ball 27 times, got a TD that mattered, seemed uninterested to celebrate because he actually wants to win the game, and ran for the tough yards to seal the win. It might only be 3.1 yards a carry, but we won.
• I saw a bunch of people defame the Willis Jersey on the walk into the stadium. Personally, I thought that was stupid. The guy’s departure made us draft Lynch in the first round, and we got Edwards in the third for his trade. Personally, I’m thinking of Willis much the way I think of Rhett Warrener. Trading him to the Flames gave us Drury and a pick that turned out to be Ryan Miller. Not a bad deal. Are there other Buffalo pseudo sport legends like these? I know there is an antithesis of this player. Lindy Ruff was traded to the Rangers for a pick that turned out to be the slowest and most prodding of our defensemen, Richard Smelik. Regardless, we should honor the Rhett Warrener’s and Willis McGahee’s. We got value for these guys.
• Jumping the Gun: If, in the next three weeks, we can beat one of these next three team handily, then mark me officially as a believer that anything can happen. Namely, the playoffs. If you give the coaches and players the benefit of the doubt, of the remaining games left, the Bills could easily win 8 of these games (Jets, Bengals, Dolphins 2x, Washington, Cleveland, Giants and Philly). That is 10-6. Is that enough for a wildcard spot?
• Leftover Dallas rage: two weeks without Bills football took a toll on me. I ended up listening to a lot of Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve been loving you?” That song was made for anguish and heart break. I recommend it for any games where the Bills find a way to lose. Robert Plant totally nails the anguish of a being a Bills fan.
• Leftover Dallas Rage, part 2: I thank all of you who wrote in after the loss. I normally get a few emails after each article, but this game touched a nerve. It was different because it was more heartbreak on top of an already heartbreaking season. It was like breaking up with your girlfriend while your dog was dying. Prior tough losses were tough losses during a magnificent run. At least we enjoyed the magnificent part. This was cruel. Anyways, I’ve been told the numbers of the readership of “One Fan’s View”, but I take it with a grain of salt. Mostly because I have an inability to accept praise and to a lesser extent I’m a Buffalonian at heart. There is no such thing as praise and success in my mind. However, after seeing the emails come in over the two weeks, I was happy that the way I process pain makes it easier for others. It would be the worst “superhero” trait ever. But sincerely, I liked all the email and I appreciate that you read all this babble.
• I saw “Gone Baby, Gone” this weekend. Um, so between “Mystic River” and this movie, Shelly and I are never going to take our “to be named later” kids to Boston until the kid is 24, jacked, and is a card carrying and gun carrying member of the NRA.
• Although, had I not seen the movie, I would have said the same thing because I hate the redsox and I hate the pats, therefore, I hate Boston.
• Why is the NFL talking about playing games everywhere around the world right now? This is obnoxious. We have a team in Buffalo that grosses a profit in the $40-50 million range for the owner. Yet the NFL is worried. That, my friends, is textbook greed. If in a monopoly, making $40MM a year isn’t enough, then there is no amount of money that is going to satisfy you.
• On the toss to Boller: how weird a play was that? You could tell something was up because the receiver was so indecisive setting up in the backfield. Kudos to Schobel for actually reading that play and being the force to break that up. I don’t think the fans or the Bills would have been able to come back from that play if they score.
• Definitively in 2nd place in the east. My bet with Matt the Jets fan has grown to a marked to market value of $41 in profit. Prior to the season, Matt and I bet $1 on who would have the better record at the end of the season. And we bet $20 head to head. Well, prior to the first game, I asked for odds since the Bills were so bad and Edwards was getting the first start of his career. As a true friend, I am going to have to provide him the same courtesy and give him odds as the Jets have flamed out as most Bills fans had predicted.
• Speaking of my preseason article, let’s just see how the flop turned out. Yes, I was totally wrong on the Pats. I said that their dealt hand was two queens. Turns out, the flop had 3 more queens, and the next two cards, most likely will be queens. And while you know there is chicanery going on to get those cards; there is nothing you can do. You can try to lock them in their room a la “Maverick”, but the Riverboat Captian, Captain Goodell, wouldn’t stand for that. The Jets hand was a 6 and 10 of spades. Based on the 3 queens on the table, you’d rest assured that they’ll fold. But that presupposes that Chad can toss the cards onto the table. The Dolphins are indeed stuck with the Joker and Instruction card. You feel bad for them. The sad thing is they can’t fold and just leave the table. And your beloved Bills who I said had a 3 and 10 of hearts can say goodbye to the flush. But if a 3 or 10 come up on the turn, we’re looking for wildcard. And the Turn literally becomes, “can the Bills run the table for the next 3 weeks?” If they do that, they have a chance to be wildcard material. And even if it’s a long shot, if they can stay in it. We could all really stop all the internal bickering amongst the fans and start getting us excited.

Kevin Shenoy can be reached at Binaural02@hotmail.com

Owner plays a PR game

The first thing to remember is that Ralph Wilson is still very much with us. In fact, given his presentation to the National Football League owners meeting in Philly this week, the 89-year-old Buffalo Bills' owner is aggressively alive. Unfortunately for the Canadian Football League, so is his interest in Toronto.

Mixed reaction to Edwards promotion

ORCHARD PARK — For a 2-4 football team, the Buffalo Bills provided plenty to talk about at Wednesday’s weekly gathering of the Western New York media. The big news, of course, was the official announcement that rookie Trent Edwards has supplanted J.P. Losman as the team’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. Just as interesting, though, was the reactions of other team members.

McCargo shows improvement

(October 25, 2007) — ORCHARD PARK — Some of the things that the Buffalo Bills' hierarchy saw defensive tackle John McCargo do on Saturday afternoons at North Carolina State are starting to show up on Sunday afternoons in the NFL.

Losman goes along with Bills decision

(October 25, 2007) — ORCHARD PARK — Bills coach Dick Jauron and his former starting quarterback, J.P. Losman, will politely agree to disagree about who should be the first-stringer Sunday when Buffalo travels to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Jets.

October 24, 2007

Edwards Era Begins

On Tuesday in a two line published press release, Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron committed to play quarterback Trent Edwards. It's real impact came in the words that weren't used. "This week." The decision to play the rookie is no longer a week to week issue.

Vikings, Bills and Colts drafted wisely

Rewind to six months ago and the NFL's biggest debate was not "Patriots or Colts" or "Rosenfels or Schaub," but rather, "Brady Quinn or JaMarcus Russell?" The Raiders had the first pick in April's NFL Draft and observers were split over which gunslinger Oakland should and would choose. Middle-aged talking heads with too much makeup on lost their voices arguing on cable TV shows for weeks, draftniks broke down the velocity of each kid's arm and the mental capacity of each kid's brain in thousand-word manifestos, and America waited — patiently — until Oakland finally made a decision on draft day.

Bills QB Edwards maintaining focus after being awarded No. 1 job

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Now that Trent Edwards has earned the Bills confidence to be their full-time starter, the rookie quarterback refused Wednesday to get caught up in the sudden raised expectations that come with the job. In Buffalo, that means answering questions of whether he can become the long-awaited player, after a long string of quarterback disappointments, to finally fill a position that's been unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired following the 1996 season.

Bills Add WR and LB To Practice Squad

With receiver Justin Jenkins and tight end Derek Schouman getting called up to the 53-man roster late last week, two open spots were created on Buffalo's eight-man practice squad. Buffalo filled those holes with another receiver and a linebacker.

Bills stick with the rookie

Wide receiver Lee Evans said on Sunday following Buffalo's victory over Baltimore that he hoped coach Dick Jauron would decide on a starting quarterback as soon as possible so the Bills could get on with the rest of their season.

Wilson makes his case to owners

The Buffalo Bills want to play games in Toronto, and it looks like their plan will have the support of the NFL owners.

Bills here, but not (yet) to play

The Buffalo Bills came to Toronto yesterday, although no one was willing to say whether the NFL team might make a more permanent move.

BILLS: DiGiorgio making a name for himself

John DiGiorgio’s story is one that any Buffalo Bills fan can get behind.

Before coming to Buffalo, he played at Saginaw Valley State — not exactly the Florida Gators when it comes to college football. He signed as an undrafted free agent in May 2006, the kind of player who usually offers an extra body for training camp. But DiGiorgio would prove to be more than just a camp extra. Later that year, he became the only undrafted free agent to make the Bills’ 53-man roster.

NFL Adds $10 Million to Retirement Fund

 The NFL added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players Wednesday, designating the money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening and assisted living.

NFL Cuts Time For Draft Picks

The NFL moved to speed up its draft on Tuesday during owners' meetings at which it also discussed having the Buffalo Bills play regular season games in Toronto, expanding the reach of the NFL Network and moving the Pro Bowl.

October 23, 2007

Jauron officially names Edwards the starter

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Two wins in three games earned Bills rookie quarterback Trent Edwards the starting job, and sent J.P. Losman to a familiar place -- the bench.

Jauron names Edwards starter over Losman

Two wins in three games earned Bills rookie quarterback Trent Edwards the starting job, and sent J.P. Losman to a familiar place -- the bench.

Bills To Stick With Edwards At QB

Last Sunday wasn't a spectacular performance on paper for Trent Edwards, but consistent decision making and two victories in three NFL starts carries weight. Buffalobills.com has learned that Buffalo's offensive staff has elected to start the rookie signal caller at quarterback again this week against the Jets in the Meadowlands.

Lynch Set To Bust Out?

Slowly but surely Buffalo's running game has been gaining momentum. Moving the ball on the ground consistently has been anything but easy, but Bills head coach Dick Jauron sees progress.

Small plays in game’s late stages loom large

Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron wasn’t prepared Monday to suggest that his team had turned the corner. The Bills played well in beating a good team in the Baltimore Ravens, a contest that revealed promise after four losses in five games. It was enough to grant his players a practice day off for the first time this season.

Crossing line suits run defense well

The Buffalo Bills are better at defending the run when they play on the other side of the line of scrimmage. During Sunday’s 19-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills did just that.

Bills report: Inside slant

It certainly wasn't a memorable performance, but it was probably good enough to assure rookie Trent Edwards that he'll be the starting quarterback this week against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

REPORT CARD VS. RAVENS

PASSING OFFENSE
C -- The Bills finally decided to throw downfield and it produced two big gains. Roscoe Parrish drew a 34-yard pass-interference penalty that set up a field goal, and Trent Edwards hit heretofore invisible Lee Evans with a 54-yard bomb that set up Buffalo's lone TD

Bills report: Notes, quotes

It wasn't quite the no-huddle offense popularized by Jim Kelly in Buffalo's heyday in the early 1990s, but the Bills played most of the Baltimore game on Sunday without huddling.

lls aim to step up T.O. plan

The Buffalo Bills aren't just planning to be occasional tourists to Toronto but regular visitors.

Bills improving on defense

Three defensive starters are out for the season and five other key players have missed extended time for the Buffalo Bills.

Bills are set to pitch Toronto ideas to NFL

Bills owner Ralph Wilson frequently has lamented how difficult it is for his team to fully tap into Toronto, the Canadian metropolis considered the NFL franchise's northern — and, by far, largest — market.

What? There's good news for Bills?

Leo: Well, my fellow vaudevillian, it's another gorgeous fall day and I'm feeling a spring in my step. We actually get to chat about a Bills victory for just the second time in nearly two months. We're always accused of being — in those famous words of Bill Polian — nabobs of negativism. Well, Sal old boy — and I mean that literally — I'm here to praise the Bills today, not bury them. I'll take a splash of Pollyanna.

October 22, 2007

Second Down: Week 7

Each week we'll spend Monday dissecting the more interesting statistics and noteworthy items that came out of Sunday's game. Some stats may surprise, others might impress and some might tick you off, but we try to cover it all in Second Down.

Psychological Lift

Keith Ellison said it best after Buffalo's 19-14 win over Baltimore. Faced with protecting a five-point lead late he and his teammates didn't want to experience another waning moment defeat. The Bills defense made sure it didn't happen.

Evans gets loose for five catches, 98 yards in best game of year

Lee Evans got a chance to stretch his legs a little on Sunday as the Buffalo Bills finally stretched the field a little more with the vertical passing game. The result was Evans’ best game of the season.

QUARTERLY REPORT

Mark Gaughan breaks down the game quarter- by- quarter.

Swarm welcome: Defense hangs tough as Bills finish the job

“Here we go again” is what everyone in Ralph Wilson Stadium had to be thinking Sunday when Trent Edwards threw an interception at his own 14-yard line with the Buffalo Bills trying to preserve a fourth-quarter lead.

Tortuous road to victory tortures the loyal fans

At the end, Lee Evans looked up at the new scoreboard and waited for it to be official. He counted down every last second. Like the widespread and long-suffering nation of Bills fans, Evans has learned not to take anything for granted with this team.

Edwards 2-1, but will he get chance at third win?

The numbers were pedestrian: 11 completions on 21 pass attempts for 153 yards, one interception, no touchdowns and a 56.2 quarterback rating.

Defense sends fans home happy

You didn't have to be clairvoyant to know what most of 70,727 spectators at the sunny Ralph were thinking with two minutes remaining in Sunday's Buffalo Bills game.

Bills easily No. 2 in division

The worst thing about being a member of the AFC East for the Buffalo Bills is that they figure to go 0-2 against the loaded New England Patriots in the forseeable future. The best thing is that the Bills appear to be significantly ahead of the Miami Dolphins in the rebuilding process and probably are better than the New York Jets.

Ugly victory never felt better for Bills

From the pleasantly warm weather to the starting lineups littered with backup players, the game had all the feel of an August exhibition game.

Two-minute read

 Play of the game

Fortunately for the Bills, the play of the game didn't turn out to be Trent Edwards' bonehead interception that allowed Baltimore to get back into contention. Instead, it turned out being his perfect 54-yard bomb to Lee Evans — who tried his best to muff it — which set up Marshawn Lynch's short touchdown plunge late in the third quarter.

Musings: Once again, no easy victories for Buffalo

 One thing Bills' fans can't complain about: They sure get their money's worth when they come out to Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills get even with McGahee

Willis McGahee was the Bills' star running back and an unlikely prophet when he proclaimed Toronto a fitter city than Buffalo for the National Football League franchise that signed his paycheques.

Trying to steal your NFL team? Not us

Starting in 2008, the Bills will play two "home" games a year in Toronto. In order to help make the Bills' northward roam a success, we suggest the following game promotions to make fans visiting from upstate New York a bit more comfortable.

Bills Fans Feel End Is Near

The parking lots surrounding Ralph Wilson Stadium are filled with the familiar smells of beer and barbecues. The Buffalo Bills' fight song plays over stereos, and footballs are passed in and out of the hands of those clad in red, white and blue.

Edwards directs five scoring drives

Rookie Trent Edwards was 11 for 21 for 153 yards and engineered five scoring drives to help the Buffalo Bills beat the Baltimore Ravens, 19-14.

October 21, 2007

OpIv37's Postgame Review- Bills 19, Ravens 14

Thank you Buffalo- with the Sabres 2 losses and another humiliating defeat for the Irish, today's game avoided the weekend sweep for me. And, it's always fun when my team beats one of the local teams.

 

Of course, no discussion of this game would be complete without a discussion of Willis McGahee. For those of you who were at the game, you'll be happy to know that the "***-hole" chant in the first quarter and the boo's throughout the game were clearly audible through the TV speakers. The Bills largely neutralized McGahee in the first half, although he had a big 2nd half and a great stat line. However, Ravens fans learned what Bills fans already know: McGahee will put up numbers when he has personal motivation but he's not a leader and his performance will never put his team over the top.

So, since this was a victory, let's start with the positive: As with the Dallas game, the Bills were in this game because players who weren't performing finally made plays. Angelo Crowell is coming on and has been solid the last few games. Evans finally made a deep reception. Reed had a few key receptions. Even the much-maligned Larry Tripplett was disruptive in the backfield a few times.

The beginning of the game actually was the polar opposite of how Bills games usually go: the Bills managed a few defensive stops and responded with long scoring drives. At halftime they had a 7 minute edge in TOP.

Lynch was truly a workhorse today. The guy never gave up on the play and helped carry the team. Edwards wasn't bad and contributed to the team moving the ball. The OL helped as well- they were generally solid in pass blocking and somewhat better at run blocking, all against a very solid (if aging) Baltimore defense.

The DL is solidifying somewhat against the run. The majority of McGahee's yards came on one carry and the line is finally getting some push. McCargo's improvement and Hargrove's return are helping. The line still has a long way to go , but there is clearly some improvement.

Of course, even with a win there are some disturbing trends with this team. Red zone offensive production is still non-existent. It's clear, both from his actions and the team's performance, that Jauron clearly does not know how to get the team into the endzone. The coaches still don't understand when to gamble and when to play conservative. The three straight runs late in the game, taking Lynch out and putting A-Train in on 3rd and 3, the "Reed in motion then run to that side" play- all of these same mistakes happen every game and prevent the Bills from ever putting a team away.

In addition, late in the 1st half and especially after halftime, it was clear that Baltimore's adjustments were hurting the Bills. The Ravens finally got their running game going and their D tightened up a little. As usual, Jauron and company failed to adjust as well as the opposing coaches- fortunately, this time we were able to overcome it.

I will say this, though: 4 of the 6 games so far this year have at least been exciting to watch. There are no easy victories for the Bills and they keep the fans on the edge of our seats.

Extra points:
-in Jauron's defense, this was the best game he's had as far as managing time outs and challenges. Overall the coaching was piss-poor as usual, but I have to give credit where credit is due.

-Maybe it was because of the no-huddle, but I could have sworn I saw Edwards calling audibles. Audibles in a Fairchild offense! Who saw that one coming?

-McGee and Whitner both had awful games. Whitner whiffed on McGahee in the hole and could have stopped him for no gain on the TD. McGee had some big hits, but also that stupid return when he ran it out of the endzone and put the rookie QB in a bad spot. And it seemed as though most of the Ravens' completions were right in front of McGee or Whitner.

-Lindell had a great game- 4 FG's, an XP and two touchbacks. In fact, ST was great all around, except for botched returns from McGee and Parrish. The punt coverage was the best I've ever seen it.

-DiGiorgio is playing better.

-It was good to see Dwayne Wright get involved in the offense a little- hopefully he can build off of it.

-Schouman did well in pass blocking.

-The Bills did not rely on the WR screen today (in fact, I can't think of a single instance where they used it, although there were a few RB and TE screens). They went long 3 times: the completion to Evans, the PI on the pass to Parrish, and the one incomplete pass. Stretching the D definitely helps.

-Boller still sucks. He's got a big arm but he still makes rookie mistakes, like rushing passes and throwing without setting his feet. Baltimore's QB situation is really holding the team back.

-I despise the New England Patriots, and my hatred for them grows weekly. The Dolphins were demolished today, and instead of enjoying it, I found myself pissed that the Pats continue to put up record numbers every damn week. Oh, and they cheat. And they play dirty (and for those of you who think that's the ranting of a disgruntled Bills fan, just take a look at the fines and suspensions the NFL has hit them with this year- the league agrees with me).

Buffalo Bills report card vs. Baltimore Ravens

QUARTERBACK (C+)- Rookie Trent Edwards didn’t produce the numbers (11 of 21, 153 yards, 0 TDs, 1 interception, 56.2 rating) that would’ve secured his standing as the team’s undisputed starter.

Bills Outlast Ravens For Second Win

Buffalo's defense again carried the day as they closed out a tight game successfully at Ralph Wilson Stadium stopping the Baltimore offense on three of their final four possessions including a pair of turnovers on downs in a 19-14 Bills victory.

Bills hang on for win over Ravens and McGahee

 It was all set up for yet another unfathomable loss at Ralph Wilson Stadium, but this time, the Buffalo Bills survived. Barely.

Power Rankings / By Mark Gaughan

Last week’s ranking in parentheses 1 New England Patriots: Who needs All-Pro Richard Seymour? (1) 2 Indianapolis Colts: Dallas Clark is the X-factor. (2) 3 Pittsburgh Steelers: Have won three of last four on road. (4) 4 Green Bay Packers: Robinson reinstated; hello Ricky Williams? (6)

Points will be hard to come by for offensively challenged teams

1. He’s baaack. RB Willis McGahee returns to Buffalo as NFL’s fourth- leading rusher. He has only one 100- yard game, but has gained at least 88 yards in five of Ravens’ six games. … Bills have held last two opponents under 100 yards.

NFL Gameday | Pat Yasinskas

The Falcons appear ready to move rookie cornerback Chris Houston into the lineup ahead of Lewis Sanders. ... Minnesota's Artis Hicks probably shouldn't have complained about rotating with Anthony Herrera at right guard. Soon after Hicks voiced his displeasure, coach Brad Childress declared Herrera a full-time player. ...

Ravens preparing to rattle Bills' surprising rookie QB

OWINGS MILLS - Trent Edwards arrived in the NFL with glowing testimonials from the late, great Bill Walsh. Then, the rookie delivered such a promising starting debut that venerable Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson was practically gushing in the locker room in the wake of how Edwards quarterbacked his team to its lone victory of the season.

Ravens-Bills scouting report

Ravens run offense vs. Bills run defense Willis McGahee is coming off his worst game as a Raven, gaining 61 yards last Sunday on 2.4 yards a carry. Much of his problem was a lack of holes created by a young offensive line, which is starting three rookies for a second straight game.

Roundup

MIAMI | There will be no comeback this season by Trent Green, leaving the Miami Dolphins with an uncertain quarterback situation yet again.

Super Bowl in England will not fly with U.S. fans, viewers

The Super Bowl has evolved into a national holiday/treasure and the idea of loaning it out, even to our allies in the United Kingdom, is not very appealing.

Q&A: George Wilson

(October 21, 2007) — ORCHARD PARK — George Wilson sure knows how to make a splash. Converted from wide receiver to free safety during the offseason, the third-year Buffalo Bill found himself in the starting lineup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football 13 days ago.

Bills keep their focus on sparking the offense

(October 21, 2007) — ORCHARD PARK — When the NFL schedule came out back in April, one of the first games Bills fans circled was today's against the Baltimore Ravens. Or maybe they drew a bull's-eye on it — not that the Ravens are a big rival for the Bills, but because Baltimore is where former Bills running back Willis McGahee now plies his trade.

Injury Report

BALTIMORE at BUFFALO — RAVENS: OUT: DT Trevor Pryce (wrist). DOUBTFUL: TE Todd Heap (thigh), CB Chris McAlister (knee), TE Daniel Wilcox (foot). QUESTIONABLE: C Mike Flynn (knee), LB Ray Lewis (knee), QB Steve McNair (back), T Jonathan Ogden (toe), T Adam Terry (ankle). PROBABLE: WR Derrick Mason (knee), RB Willis McGahee (knee), LB Gary Stills (knee), WR Demetrius Williams (knee). BILLS: OUT: DE Ryan Denney (foot), S Jim Leonhard (calf), WR Peerless Price (neck). DOUBTFUL: WR Sam Aiken (hamstring), CB Ashton Youboty (ankle). PROBABLE: G Brad Butler (hip), QB J.P. Losman (knee), DT Kyle Williams (illness), DT Coy Wire (knee).

Playful McGahee `looks forward'

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.–For all the off-the-wall, brow-raising comments Willis McGahee uttered during his four up-and-down seasons in Buffalo, there was never one he'd want retracted. Clearly, nothing has changed since the Bills rid themselves of a disgruntled player by trading the running back to the Baltimore Ravens in March.

Bills QB Edwards to Start Against Ravens

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Bills rookie Trent Edwards will make his third straight start Sunday when Buffalo hosts Baltimore, leading to questions about whether J.P. Losman will ever get his job back.

October 20, 2007

Game Day Tipsheet: Week 7

Once again we'll be featuring our Game Day Tipsheet, which will include everything you'll want to know, some things you may not have known and probably a few things you didn't care to know, but find interesting anyway.

Bills hope Toronto is cash cushion

Toronto. Is it the ultimate threat to Buffalo, as a possible new home for the Buffalo Bills?

No dodging the ex-factor

Willis McGahee insists Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills is just another one on the Baltimore Ravens’ schedule. Don’t buy it, say those who know him best.

County gives OK for Bills to play in Toronto

Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra has given the county's consent to let the Bills play a preseason and a regular season game in Toronto starting next year and running through the 2012 season.

Braley warns Rogers Communications Inc.

David Braley, the outspoken owner of the Canadian Football League's B.C. Lions, has a message for Rogers Communications Inc.: Think long and hard about getting involved in a potential move by the National Football League's Buffalo Bills to Toronto.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--TE Kevin Everett, who continues to make remarkable strides from his life-threatening spinal injury, issued a statement Wednesday confirming reports that he was able to take a few steps this week with the aid of a walker and was also able to use his wheelchair. "Both are great triumphs for me," Everett said. "I maintain a positive attitude and feel fortunate every day that I'm alive and well. I value and appreciate the unfailing support of my family, my friends, my doctors and my fans." Everett said he's well aware that his type of injury can be wrought with "peaks and valleys," and that he's prepared for a long, hard recovery.

Bills report: Inside slant

The Buffalo Bills, no strangers to quarterback controversies, have laid the groundwork for a new chapter.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

WR Lee Evans is hoping this is the week he gets on track. Baltimore, while boasting the NFL's No. 4 defense, is likely to be without Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister (knee), meaning Evans could find the operating room that's been lacking. Of course, the Bills have to find a way to protect rookie QB Trent Edwards against Baltimore's strong pass rush, ranked 14th with 13 sacks.

Buffalo Bills place Price on IR, release Nall

The Buffalo Bills placed receiver Peerless Price on injured reserve today following surgery to repair a disc in his neck two weeks ago. Price becomes the ninth Buffalo player to go on IR.

Bills' offense is bad no matter who the QB is

 The decision has been made and Dick Jauron — or was it Ralph Wilson? — believes Trent Edwards gives the Buffalo Bills their best chance to succeed on offense.

October 19, 2007

Bob DiCesare: Border push can only help save Bills

Here’s the cold, hard fact of the matter: The Bills can’t survive long term on Buffalo alone.

The economics, both locally and NFLwide, are weighted against the franchise. Once the team becomes part of Ralph Wilson’s estate the highest bidder will prevail. Unless someone with Buffalo ties is willing to pay an astronomical premium to keep the team here — try $300 million over local market value, its roundabout worth in cities such as Los Angeles and San Antonio — the likelihood of the Bills remaining in Buffalo is little more than nil.

Homecomings not always happy for ex-Bills backs

No doubt it will be a warm homecoming for Willis McGahee when his Baltimore Ravens visit The Ralph on Sunday.

But will it be the stuff that fantasy victories are made of?

This certainly isn’t the first time a former Buffalo Bills featured back has had a chance to get even with his old team. The results have been mixed.

Bills near the high end of head coaching turnover

Q: How many head coaches have the Bills had in their history and how many have been terminated before their contracts expired? How does Buffalo head coach turnover compare with the league wide average? — Don Human, Tavares, Fla.

A: Dick Jauron is leading the 16th head coaching regime in team history. (Lou Saban and Harvey Johnson each served two separate stints as head coach.) Twelve times the coach essentially has been fired. I’m counting Gregg Williams, whose contract expired, and he was not brought back. He would have stayed if they wanted him. I’m counting Chuck Knox, who resigned with a year to go on his deal, but it was a mutual parting. Lou Saban resigned twice. Marv Levy retired from coaching. So the average tenure of a Bills head coach in the team’s 48-year history is exactly three seasons.

Reed named to SEC’s 75th anniversary team

The Southeastern Conference has produced a number of great football players during its 75-year history. Included among them is Buffalo Bills wide receiver Josh Reed, who was named to Sports Illustrated’s all-time SEC team.

Reed, who starred at LSU from 1999 to 2001, is part of a 26-man squad that commemorates the conference’s 75th anniversary. He was selected over such luminaries as former Alabama All-American and Green Bay Packers legendary receiver Don Hutson, who is in the college and Pro Football halls of fame.

:60 with Derrick Dockery

Your wife, Emma, gave birth to your first child. How do you like being a dad? It’s great. It’s truly a blessing, man. I was there for the whole thing. Seeing her come out it was so surreal. I couldn’t believe it. Every time I see her now, I just smile.

Crowell gets his head back in game

Buffalo Bills linebacker Angelo Crowell has his mojo back.

For a couple of weeks, it was missing, and there was an understandable reason. Crowell thinks he lost a little bit of an edge to his game in the week or two following the catastrophic injury to teammate Kevin Everett.

“I was telling my brother when he dropped me off for the Jets game that man, it’s really taken me to this point to get my mind-set back to where I can play unconsciously out there,” Crowell said. “When I was watching my play against Pittsburgh, I was coming downhill but I was still just a little timid. Even though you don’t realize it, I think it [Everett] was in the back of my mind.”

Toronto Bills game gains support

The Buffalo Bills have several levels of defence to negotiate before being allowed to stage National Football League games in Toronto but the club now has the support of two of the city's biggest sports players.

In a statement yesterday, Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and Ted Rogers of Rogers Communications said they are working with the Bills to smooth the way for the NFL team to begin playing games at the Rogers Centre as early as next season.

Bills move could happen

The words filtered over the radio without sarcasm, and free of irony. They came from a caller to WGN, the all-sports radio station in Buffalo.

"Toronto," he said, "scares the hell out of me."

That was the natural state of every Buffalo Bills fan even before it was revealed yesterday by the National Post and The Buffalo News that the team will apply to play a preseason game in Toronto next year, and a pre-season and a regular-season game the next year. The team calls it part of its "successful regionalization efforts," and compares it to training camp in nearby Rochester, N.Y.

Bills moving here? Forget it

The Buffalo Bills are coming to Toronto.

At least a few of their players are.

A local sports marketing company yesterday announced Bills' running back Marshawn Lynch and quarterback Trent Edwards would be among a group of the team's players who will travel to Toronto on Tuesday with new shoulder pads and footballs to donate to Sir Sanford Fleming Academy's fledgling junior football team.

The schoolyard may be about as close as they get to the Rogers Centre and tossing NFL footballs in Toronto for real.

Looks like a gimme, but don't be fooled

The Ravens are handling Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in the right manner. They aren't loading up the lineup with injured star players, and they are proceeding with caution.

This isn't a trap game. And the Ravens aren't pretending the Bills (1-4) are the New England Patriots or the Indianapolis Colts. What the Bills are is an up-and-coming team loaded with good, young players.

They're going to be good in a few years, but they're hungry right now for a victory, and the Bills play extremely well at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills' answer to QB was predictable

You hoped against hope that it wouldn't happen ... but you just knew it would.

It would have been great had Bills' coach Dick Jauron, when he verified the leaked reports that Trent Edwards had been named Buffalo's starting quarterback, offered an endorsement. Something like: "We just feel, based on his last two starts, that Trent has shown enough to merit retaining the job."

No such luck.

Edwards to start for Bills

It was the worst-kept secret in Western New York.

After Chris Mortensen revealed it Tuesday night on ESPN and it was splashed across the top of the Buffalo News sports section on Wednesday morning, the reality that Trent Edwards would be the Bills' starting quarterback on Sunday against Baltimore was almost old news. Even coach Dick Jauron couldn't play into the charade

October 18, 2007

Buffalo Bills seek to play game in Toronto

In a move that should send up red flares throughout western New York, the Buffalo Bills have acknowledged that they are seeking permission from Erie County, New York state and the National Football League to play a 2008 preseason game, and a 2009 regular-season game, at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.

How Jauron Made His QB Decision

Most everyone knows what Dick Jauron's quarterback decision was for this Sunday's game against Baltimore as Trent Edwards will make his third straight start. But how he arrived at that decision is still a bit of an unknown. Buffalobills.com sat down with the Bills head coach for a closer look at his evaluation process in making this important decision.

GREER HAS LOCK ON CORNER JOB

Sounds like Jabari Greer's performance on the field the past couple of weeks has landed him the starting job at RCB. With Ashton Youboty still trying to recover from a high ankle sprain, Greer is expected to start this week anyway. But even when Youboty is healthy Dick Jauron indicated that Greer will remain in the starting lineup.

Sitting doesn’t sit well with Losman

J.P. Losman did not pull any punches Wednesday. He’s disappointed. He doesn’t think it’s fair. But he’s going to be ready if needed.

Trent Edwards was excited but by no means was celebrating — a wise move with the Baltimore Ravens’ defense staring him in the face.

Dick Jauron would rather not discuss the pros and cons of the move.

Lee Evans was rooting for Losman and thinks the Bills should avoid playing musical quarterbacks.

Jerry Sullivan: Tricky Dick stays glued to the fence

For a while there, it seemed I’d been whisked back in time. It might as well have been Mike Mularkey up there on the podium, lying about Kelly Holcomb. Or our bumbling pal Wade Phillips, telling us Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie were both starting quarterbacks. You know, 1 and 1A.

Dick Jauron had a chance to make a bold statement Wednesday afternoon. The Bills’ head coach could have confirmed the obvious — that rookie Trent Edwards is the starting quarterback for the long term. Instead, Jauron took the easy way out. He hid behind J.P. Losman’s injury and said Edwards is the definite starter for only one week.

“We’re talking about the Baltimore Ravens,” Jauron said, “and then we’ll see where the thing takes us. I like both our young quarterbacks.”

Ravens also ravaged with injuries

The Baltimore Ravens will bring a depleted roster to Buffalo for Sunday’s game against the Bills.

The Ravens arguably are more injury ravaged than Buffalo — at least for this week.

Quarterback Steve McNair, cornerback Chris McAlister, tackle Jonathan Ogden and defensive tackle Trevor Pryce all are expected to sit out the game. McAlister was not officially ruled out by coach Brian Billick, but McAlister told Baltimore media this week he will be on the shelf.

Bills notes: Everett gives his fans a thank-you

For the first time since he suffered a spinal cord injury during the Buffalo Bills' season-opening loss to Denver on Sept. 9, tight end Kevin Everett shared some thoughts publicly on Wednesday.

Through the media relations department of the medical facility in Houston where he is undergoing extensive rehabilitation, Everett released a statement that thanked fans for their continuing support.

Bills name Edwards starter for this Sunday

This week, Trent Edwards is going to be Buffalo's starting quarterback.

As for next week, and the week after that, and the week after that, your guess is as good as Dick Jauron's. Jauron confirmed on Wednesday that Edwards would start Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens at sold-out Ralph Wilson Stadium.

No surprise Bills picked Edwards

The outpouring of grief after the Buffalo Bills' 25-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys 10 days ago was nothing like I've seen.

Even the Super Bowl defeats and the Music City Miracle didn't evoke this kind of emotion. Media colleagues were deluged with similar avalanches of phone calls, e-mails and by people on the street, asking, "How could the Bills lose that game?" My standard response has become "Winners win and losers lose."

Bills's Everett takes first steps, says lucky to be alive

Buffalo Bills tight-end Kevin Everett, who doctors feared would be paralyzed for life, has taken his first steps and said he felt fortunate to be alive.

Everett suffered a horrific spinal injury making a tackle on a kickoff against the Denver Broncos in the first game of the 2007 season for the two NFL teams in September and underwent spinal surgery.

"This week, with the assistance of a walker, I was able to take steps, and I've been able to move in my wheelchair, both of which are great triumphs for me," he said on the team Web site (www.buffalobills.com) in his first comments since the injury.

Mum's the Word on Buffalo

Willis McGahee had plenty of inflammatory words for his former city and team, the Buffalo Bills, when he left them during an acrimonious offseason. But now that he is a running back with the Baltimore Ravens, who are preparing to play the Bills Sunday, McGahee is trying to stay quiet.

He said he doesn't know what kind of response he will get when he steps on the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It's not going to feel strange to be back in Buffalo, which he described as "a nice city." He said doesn't have anything to prove there, and his legacy with the Bills was as "just a regular player, a regular person."

Baltimore (4-2) at Buffalo (1-4)

Willis McGahee left the Buffalo Bills on less than pleasant terms this offseason. On Sunday, he'll get the chance to prove his doubters wrong when the Baltimore Ravens come to visit.

The teams will meet at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the first time after three matchups in Baltimore, including a 19-7 win by the Ravens in last year's regular-season finale that secured a first round bye. McGahee was on the Bills' sideline that game, but following a March trade, he's flourished with the Ravens (4-2).

The former University of Miami star has rushed for 525 yards this season and is averaging 113.2 yards from scrimmage - he finished last season with Buffalo averaging only 3.8 yards per carry. McGahee rushed for 3,365 yards and 24 touchdowns for Buffalo from 2003-06.

October 17, 2007

Report: Bills' Everett walking again

Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a life-threatening spinal injury that could have left him paralyzed, is reportedly walking independently. Sources told WIVB-TV in Buffalo that Everett is walking on his own, and doctors are optimistic that he will fully regain his ability to walk independently. This could happen once his rehabilitation in Houston is finished.

Edwards Decision Not Permanent

While the decision to name Trent Edwards the starter this week against Baltimore was anything but a secret, Bills head coach Dick Jauron did throw a curve ball stating that decision to name Edwards the starter is anything but permanent.

Bills make the call: Edwards

The Buffalo Bills are jumping on the Trent Edwards bandwagon.

Edwards will get the start over J.P. Losman for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to two sources close to the team.

Edwards has taken the first snap at each of the last three team practices, even though Losman has been practicing fully.

Season following Buffalo Bills thrills Elmira couple

Dennis and Carmela Whitford of Elmira are enjoying the football season of a lifetime. Too bad the Buffalo Bills aren't.

This summer, I told you about the Whitfords, who won a sweepstakes from the makers of Prilosec OTC, an indigestion drug. Their prize was a trip to the NFL Draft, every one of one team's games, home and away, three rounds of playoff games, a trip to the Super Bowl in Arizona and to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. It's a football fan's fantasy come to life.

October 16, 2007

Evans Hoping QB Decision Is Permanent

The Bills are a very young team, but there are enough players on offense that were around in 2005 to remember the club's last big quarterback decision. At that time J.P. Losman was a first-year starter, but after a successful season opening victory over Houston, Losman was benched twice over the next three games.

Jauron isn't starting Losman despite improved health

Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards, who has started the last two games for the Buffalo Bills in place of injured veteran J.P. Losman, will retain the No. 1 job when the team hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon.

The decision to keep Edwards in the lineup, which will be announced Wednesday by coach Dick Jauron, was first reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen, citing a team source.

Report: Injured Bills tight end has walked 'to an extent'

Injured Bills player Kevin Everett has been able to walk to some extent as part of his rehabilitation after suffering a severe spinal cord injury during the team's season opener, sources tell WIVB-TV in Buffalo.

Bills QB facing tough test

The Buffalo Bills’ quarterbacks pondered their immediate futures Monday and prepared to be thrown to the wolves . . . er, Ravens.

Rookie Trent Edwards took the first snap of practice with the starters for the third straight workout, but the Bills declined to announce who will start Sunday’s game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Both Edwards and J.P. Losman know the starting assignment will be tough against a Baltimore Ravens defense ranked fourth in the NFL.

Boller is starter

In allowing injured Steve McNair to rest for another week, the Baltimore Ravens are adamant about avoiding an unwanted pain — a quarterback controversy.

Even if backup Kyle Boller, who is 2-0 as a starter this season, has a solid outing Sunday at the Buffalo Bills, coach Brian Billick said he would not be tempted to keep him as the starter.

Edwards takes first snap in practice

Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Trent Edwards again took the first snap of practice with the starting offensive unit Monday. However, Bills coach Dick Jauron declined to name a starter for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jauron said Edwards and veteran J.P. Losman split the practice snaps roughly evenly as the team returned to work at Ralph Wilson Stadium after its bye weekend off.

Ravens should well know not to be buffaloed by Bills

If the Ravens needed to guard against the possibility of taking the banged-up St. Louis Rams lightly last week, the coaching staff should have no trouble convincing them that the Buffalo Bills will be a much more formidable opponent.

Just fire up the DVR or set the way-back machine to last week's Monday Night Football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

Coach Dick Jauron won't say who the starting quarterback will be Sunday against Baltimore, but it does appear that J.P. Losman has recovered from Grade 1 MCL sprain suffered on Sept. 23 and will be ready to play if Jauron chooses him to start. "I have a big, constricting knee brace on it and it's all taped up," said Losman on Monday. "But as far as feeling good and making the throws, my knee feels fine. I didn't think about my knee at all today. I was just kind of playing and getting reps in there to get a rhythm. I haven't played in quite some time. I know it doesn't seem that long, but three weeks for a player, that's a long time to take a break."

As for whether he or Trent Edwards should start against the Ravens, Losman was a good soldier.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

REPORT CARD AFTER 5 GAMES

PASSING OFFENSE
D -- The Bills have to figure out what kind of passing team they are going to be, and that means they must decide on a quarterback and stick with him. J.P. Losman has the big arm and can hit the deep pass, though he was barely allowed to even try to look deep in the two games he played. Trent Edwards seems more comfortable in a short to intermediate style, utilizing a variety of different targets and managing a game. Either way, the Bills rank 31st in the league in passing yards per game (128.4) and their big-play receiver, Lee Evans, has just 12 catches for 113 yards, a paltry 9.4 average with no TDs. The Bills' longest pass play has been 27 yards. Losing WR Peerless Price shouldn't have much of an impact, and it may get Roscoe Parrish on the field more often, which is a good thing. Edwards has been able to get the backs and tight ends more involved in the passing game, and that could play a key role when it comes time for Dick Jauron to make a decision on which quarterback he'll go with.

Bills report: Inside slant

In a season that has produced almost nothing positive for the Bills, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Buffalo's 1-4 start has been the regression of an offense that most experts thought would be productive in 2007.

The Bills played well in the second half of 2006, as quarterback J.P. Losman and wide receiver Lee Evans became one of the most dangerous long-pass duos in the league. Following an offseason that included a major revamping of the offensive line and the drafting of running back Marshawn Lynch No. 12 overall, there were lofty expectations being placed on the unit.

Buffalo Bills quiet on starting quarterback

Bills coach Dick Jauron wasn’t ready to reveal his starting quarterback Monday. Rookie Trent Edwards didn’t have an answer. And incumbent J.P. Losman was left wondering who might be holding up the decision.

“I think that’s still up in the air, whose call it is, who’s going to take responsibility for it,” Losman said after the Bills (1-4) returned following a bye weekend to prepare to host Baltimore on Sunday. “I don’t know who can answer these questions. It’s an awkward situation, an awkward scenario.”

October 15, 2007

Bills' Hargrove pleads guilty in altercation here

Buffalo Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, drawing a $300 fine and 200 hours of community service for an altercation with police outside a Rochester nightclub last summer.

Bills Run 'D' Looks To Three-Peat

Coming into the 2007 campaign, one of the larger concerns for the Bills was their run defense, which ranked 28th in the league the season before and allowed better than 140 yards rushing per game.

Under Center with HOF QB Jim Kelly: Week 6

Watching Buffalo play the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football brought back memories of when I was under center leading the Bills in front of a sold out stadium. The excitement throughout the game was incredible. The fans were on their feet nearly the entire game. As I watched the second half in the seats with my family I really felt like a win would have been the turning point for the Bills organization.

Edwards, Losman Still Waiting On QB Call

Bills head coach Dick Jauron has stated all along that he's going to play who he and his staff think is the best guy. But the decision on who will be Buffalo's starting quarterback this weekend won't be revealed until Wednesday.

Boller likely to step up in the pocket

Ravens quarterback Steve McNair is "unlikely" to start Sunday's road game against the Buffalo Bills, coach Brian Billick said.

McNair was sidelined with a back injury for yesterday's 22-3 win over the St. Louis Rams.

If he doesn't play against the Bills, McNair would get two more weeks to rest because the Ravens have a bye after that game.

October 14, 2007

Audibles: Who's best in the clutch?

Not a bad showing on Monday Night Football for Cowboys' Nick Folk and a pretty exciting finish all around.unless you're a Bills fan.

Fowler’s Hall of Fame Chess Partner

Bills center Melvin Fowler is widely regarded as the best chess player on Buffalo's roster. And while most of his teammates don't devote the same amount of time to the game as he does, they might be a bit more respectful of his talents on the board if they knew the name of his top playing partner.

10 Quotes and a Cloud of Dust: Week 6

Everyone's talking about the battle of the unbeatens in Big D. The New England Patriots played their worst game of the season last week and still beat the Cleveland Browns by 17 points. The Dallas Cowboys had no right winning their Monday Night match-up with the Buffalo Bills, but 9 points in the final 20 seconds and they were walking off the field victorious.

October 13, 2007

Talley was fan favorite in Super Bowl years

Throughout much of his 12-year career with the Buffalo Bills, linebacker Darryl Talley was commonly referred to as “the underrated Darryl Talley.”

Points At A Premium

It's been a difficult fives games out of the gate for Buffalo's offense this season. With just four offensive touchdowns and three field goals, the Bills stand 29th in the league in scoring. Were it not for the four return touchdowns provided by the defense and special teams Buffalo's scoring production could be even worse.

Buffalo didn't show much sense

Between injuries and last-second losses, Bills have had little luck

Here's another indication of how bad the first five weeks of the season have gone for the Buffalo Bills.

 

"I was playing that Madden on Xbox," tight end Robert Royal said, recalling the first time he fired up the "Madden NFL 08" video game last month. "And on the first play, I threw it to myself and I got injured."

Are The Bills Better Off Without Losman?

With the NFL trade deadline fast approaching, some have suggested (even starting right here with Your Truly of the Buffalo Bills Review) that the Bills should trade JP Losman while they still can. Losman is under contract with the Bills through the end of the 2008 season. That means this season is very likely his "contract" year. His play in 2007 will determine the value of his next contract with Buffalo—or if he is even offered one.

Making sure success won't go to heads

Lots of people remember the career of former Buffalo Bills safety Mark Kelso because of the cartoonishly large helmet he wore.

Thanks to that helmet, Kelso also can remember his career.

Dallas's Williams Is Fined Again

Cowboys safety Roy Williams has been fined for the second time this season for a "horse-collar" tackle. The NFL fined Williams $15,000 for a tackle against Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch in Monday night's game. Williams drew a penalty on the play, but the flag was for an incidental face mask and not the tackle.

Greer turning the corner

You wonder how it happens with so many scouts from 32 teams scouring so many college games, breaking down so much video, poring over all things measurable. Heck, prospective draft picks strip down to their underwear during the NFL Combine, confirming there’s no such thing as too much information.

October 12, 2007

Former receiver Wilson stars in first defensive start for Bills

When Dick Jauron was the defensive coordinator in Detroit in 2004, he thought that Lions' undrafted free-agent receiver George Wilson was more suited to play defense than offense.

Three years later, Wilson can't argue.  Signed by the Bills later in that 2004 season, Wilson's offensive career was stuck in neutral in Buffalo. When Jauron was hired as the Bills' coach last season, he tried talking Wilson into switching to safety. After spending 15 weeks on the team's practice squad in 2006, Wilson decided to take his coach up on the offer.

October 11, 2007

Bills Defensive Line Catalyst for Recent Success

The stats this season are not very impressive for the defensive linemen of the Buffalo Bills. In five games, the Bills have amassed just four sacks, 3.5 of them coming from defensive linemen. The unit's leading tackler, end and captain Chris Kelsay, ranks just seventh on the team with 22 tackles. That places him one spot behind Paul Posluszny, who has been on IR for the past two weeks. The pass rush has been inconsistent, there is a severe lack of explosion among the group, and the unit is the front line of what is still the league's 31st ranked defensive unit (just ahead of the Cleveland Browns).

No Doubt About It: Losman Needs to Start in Buffalo

We've been talking about it for two weeks - ever since rookie QB Trent Edwards led the Bills to their first win over the Jets - and we'll be talking about it for another two weeks, as the Bills have a bye this week. Will Edwards, with just two NFL starts under his belt, win the starting QB job, unseating young veteran J.P. Losman?

JP or Trent? Bills starting QB a mystery for now

There will be no decision coming from Dick Jauron for at least eight days because the Buffalo Bills aren't playing this week. So fans will have to wait until next week, at the earliest, to find out who will be playing quarterback for the Bills when they resume their season Oct. 21 at home against the Baltimore Ravens.

Despite Evans' words, Bills should stick with Edwards

On Oct. 21, when the Buffalo Bills return from their bye week to face the Baltimore Ravens, odds are quarterback J.P. Losman will be healed from the sprained MCL he suffered in Week 3. Since the 26-year-old's injury, rookie signal-caller Trent Edwards has stepped in, and he's produced respectable results.

POLLOCK: Bizarre finish has place in Bills' history

Last week, while driving back from Media Day at "The Ralph," ESPN Radio was flowing through my speakers.

The late afternoon host was doing his picks of the NFL games and when he got to the Monday nighter, his voice took on a smug tone, and he allowed with an air of authority, if not accuracy, "This one has the longest odds on the board."

His reference was to the Bills-Cowboys meeting where oddsmakers had established Dallas as a 10-point favorite.

A lopsided spread, to be sure, but nearly a full touchdown less than the margin by which New England was favored over Cleveland, which he conveniently ignored.