SB Nation - Chris Draft

Bills send LT Demetrius Bell to IR

Brian Galliford — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:42:10 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

Update: BuffaloBills.com is now reporting that D-Bell has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2009 season. OL Andre Ramsey was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. End Update

Three Buffalo Bills players will miss the team's Week 14 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, but of those sitting, left tackle Demetrius Bell is the only starter. This according to BuffaloBills.com.

Bell, who began the season as the starting left tackle, has missed all or part of the Bills' last four games as he deals with a knee injury that might prevent him from playing again this season. That streak now extends to five games. Also out for this contest are tight end Joe Klopfenstein (who re-joined the team this week) and receiver Justin Jenkins.

Jonathan Scott will again start at left tackle in place of Bell. Kirk Chambers, who is questionable this week but is expected to play, will start at right tackle. Andy Levitre, Ryan Denney, Chris Draft and Jairus Byrd are all questionable as well, but BuffaloBills.com reports that it's anticipated that all players listed as questionable will be in the lineup.

Shawn Nelson, John McCargo and Ashton Youboty are all probable. McCargo and Youboty have each missed action in the past few weeks, but will be available this week.

Meanwhile, Terrence McGee, who was active but did not start in the Bills' Week 13 loss to the Jets, practiced fully all week and will start in Kansas City.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Link, 12/10

MattRichWarren — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:01:51 -0000

Bills' Maybin barely toes the line : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"In time, Maybin might turn into a star. But it's disconcerting to watch so many other rookies having good years while the Bills' top pick struggles to find himself. Well, they're 4-8. Maybe someone up top should tell Fewell the time has come to find out about Maybin."

All Fundamentals Team - Brian Moorman
The Bills' punter was named to the USA Football "All Fundamentals team" for his excellent form on and off the field.

Lindell having another strong season | BuffaloBills.com
"The most accurate kicker in franchise history, Lindell is putting together another solid season. Entering this weekend’s action the veteran kicker is 20-23 on field goal attempts this season (87%). With four games left to play Lindell is within striking distance of his single-season career high in field goal percentage set back in 2006 when he went 23-25 for a 92 percent success rate."

Bills bleeding away points in the red zone : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Bills have scored just nine touchdowns inside the opponent's 20-yard line, tying the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders for the fewest in the NFL. The Bills' 27 red-zone possessions are tied with the Detroit Lions and Sunday's opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, for the fifth fewest in the league."

Byrd’s injury improving – Inside The Bills
"Fewell wasn’t ready to go so far as to say that Jairus Byrd’s snaps will be increased significantly as a result of his improved condition. But it’s a good sign that the rookie ballhawk could be out on the field more than he has been in recent weeks."

Bills notebook: Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Cornerback Terrence McGee practiced fully for the first time since having knee surgery during the bye week. Whether he's able to return to the starting lineup won't be known until the end of the week. Defensive tackle John McCargo also practiced fully after being sidelined the last two weeks with a calf injury."

Injury report – Inside The Bills
Terrence McGee practiced fully. Check out the list of players who didn't here.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills vs. Chiefs; So Similar, It's Scary
"Fewell was asked if some of the Bills younger players, like Aaron Maybin, James Hardy and Steve Johnson would see playing time over the last few weeks of the season. He replied that he's trying to put the best 45-man roster on the field each week and that the younger players that aren't playing as much will get a chance when he (Fewell) feels that they give the Bills a chance to win. "

Time for Bills to go with Brohm? | Democrat and Chronicle
"One way the Bills could make some headway on 2010 is to start finding out, as soon as possible, if new quarterback Brian Brohm is someone that could help the team."

Back to Work With the Bills | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana looks back at the Jets loss and forward to next season.

Bills looking toward 2010 for Maybin - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"I think he's going to be a dynamic player for us," said Perry Fewell. "It's very tough to play in this league, and I think he will get better, and he’ll be a top-flight pick. Maybe not at the end of this season, but he’s going to be a top-flight pick for this football team."

Video: AFC East Huddle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN's John Clayton takes his weekly spin around the AFC East and touches on a variety of subjects.

Jones, McNabb headline the top fantasy starters for Week 14 | NFL.com
Terrell Owens is a "Start 'Em" this week now that he's not locked up against Darrelle Revis.

wgrz.com | Buffalo, NY | Bills Roundtable
Watch 2-On-Your-Side's Adam Benigni and Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on this week's Bills Roundtable.

Owens and Lynch have long pass contest | WIVB.com
45 second clip of Terrell Owens and Marshawn Lynch in a long pass contest following Wednesday’s practice.

Bills search for motivation | WIVB.com
"We're all competitors number one," Fewell said Wednesday. "We talked about it this morning, that in order to get what you want in life, you have to have enthusiasm and a vision. Our vision is to win."

Bills top draft pick DE Maybin remains motivated - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"Maybin is willing to lower his expectations a little for this year. The level of confidence he has in his abilities, though, remains unchanged."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell on LT Demetrius Bell (knee): "That's a day-to-day thing with Bell. He worked out Monday, really looked good on Monday. Did not participate today so we’re just trying to find out what the problem is there."

Further Evidence Edwards Is Done : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran, who two weeks ago called for Briam Brohm to get a look, now wants Trent Edwards back as the starter since he lit up the Chiefs a year ago.

Countdown Daily AccuScore Report: BUF-KC - ESPN Video - ESPN
Jenny Dell tells you the chances the Bills go into Kansas City and beat the Chiefs

Saints sign LB off Bills practice squad – Inside The Bills
"LB Anthony Waters, who was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad on Oct. 14 in the wake of a rash of injuries at the LB position, has been signed by New Orleans as they deal with injuries themselves at the LB position."

Owens open to re-signing with Bills in 2010 | BuffaloBills.com
"Terrell Owens seems to view the Bills as the victim of circumstance in 2009, which is why he’s not as discouraged by what has transpired this season as some might think." He is quoted as saying, "It’s no coincidence as (Ryan) Fitz(patrick) has been in the offense that I’ve been getting involved and he’s kind of been dropping back and looking downfield and he’s seen on the film where I have been open and we’ve taken full advantage of that."

Bills Week 14: Bills at Chiefs | Buffalo News Video
"The Bills head to Kansas City this week where they face the the Chiefs. Last time the Bills played in Arrowhead Stadium the Bills racked up 54 points in a win. Can the Bills repeat this season? Al, Sully and Rodney take a look at the matchup."

Bills celebrate Play 60 with students | BuffaloBills.com
The event included appearances by wide receiver Lee Evans, safety George Wilson, linebacker Chris Draft, long-snapper Garrison Sanborn, linebacker Jon Corto, defensive end Aaron Maybin, safety John Wendling and team mascot Billy Buffalo as they encouraged kids to stay fit.

Wilson: Bills work out Pettiti | National Football Post
The Bills worked out former Cowboys offensive tackle Rob Pettiti, late of the UFL's Florida Tuskers, Tuesday.

Team in Transition
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Getting a new football coach - in 12 stages
Jeremy White's 12-step program of getting over your old coach and finding your enthusiasm for the next season.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Assistants will draw interest for head-coaching jobs
"With the majority of the teams likely to be looking for new head coaches at the end of the season also having financial concerns that figure to keep them from pursuing heavy hitters such as Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren, PFW this week takes an in-depth look at the more affordable alternatives whom our leaguewide sources have identified from the NFL assistant-coaching ranks."

2010 NFL Draft
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Cover-3: A Man Named Suh
FO profiles the big Nebraska DT.

Locker might return to Washington - San Jose Mercury News
"Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says he's "very optimistic" that star quarterback Jake Locker will return to the Huskies for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft."

Bills Tweets
Nic Harris
Off tired, think this is what they call the rookie wall, imma fight thru! Time to bite down!

Letterman writer Eric Stengel
Terrell Owens has signed with a modeling agency. A couple of gigs and maybe the guy can finally get some attention!!

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/2

MattRichWarren — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:35:05 -0000

T.O. prefers Fitzpatrick to Edwards | ProFootballTalk.com
Terrell Owens and other unnamed Buffalo Bills players are much happier now that Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting. Paul Hamilton corroborated on WGR this afternoon.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills wide receivers are finally happy.
"Perry Fewell said he's talked to friends around the league and the key to playing Thursday is trying to keep players fresh," reports Paul Hamilton.

McGee could be back in lineup | BuffaloBills.com
"He didn’t think he’d miss three games, but Terrence McGee has a good chance to return to action Thursday night in Toronto."

Ryan says Sanchez "absolutely" will play on Thursday night | ProFootballTalk.com
"I think he looks great," said Rex Ryan. "Again, the injury, when I say it's a tweak, that's really what it was. He tweaked his knee. I think he's fine."

McGee hopes to return against Jets : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills top corner is looking to be back in the lineup vs. the Jets.

Buffalo Bills know they'll have to stop run to beat Jets | Democrat and Chronicle
"We were glad to win, but we realized that if we're going to win games we have to shore up our run defense, which I think we have," Posluszny said. "We know stopping the run has to be priority No. 1."

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Run Defense - Gang Green Nation
The SBN Jets blogger, John B, looks at the matchup of the Bills' run defense and the Jets run offense.

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Pass Defense - Gang Green Nation
Good memories: John B. from Gang Green Nation looks at the Bills passing defense as it matches up with Mark Sanchez and the Jets passing offense.

No bigger week than this one in AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"This is the week that could rip the AFC East wide open or bunch everybody together for a fascinating final month of jockeying," says Tim Graham as all four AFC East teams play each other.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
A key matchup in Thursday's game will be Bills WR Terrell Owens against Jets CB Darrelle Revis . "We scouted Revis coming out, we thought he was the best corner in that (draft) class," Bills interim coach Perry Fewell said. "So that will be an interesting matchup."

Revis to pull out all the stops against T.O. : The Buffalo News
"If you think Thursday night's game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets lacks intrigue for viewers, check out the Owens-Revis duel. It promises to be must-see TV."

Don’t look for Brohm on game field – Inside The Bills
"Brian has a limited role on our team in practice," said Fewell. "He doesn’t take a lot of reps with our offense. He takes reps with our practice squad."

NFL.com - Players of the Week
Fred Jackson is up for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week award. Go vote for him even though he gained "only" 73 yards rushing. :-)

Bills Digest
The Bills Digest is free and online this week. Go check it out for lots of stuff on the Bills.

Bills add DT to practice squad | BuffaloBills.com
"The Bills filled the vacant spot on their eight-man practice squad Tuesday, signing free agent DT Rashaad Duncan (6'2", 315)."

Jackson steps into lead role | BuffaloBills.com
"In light of Jackson’s most recent performance," says Chris Brown, "it’s not unrealistic to think Jackson could be carrying the load heading into the final five games of the season."

Short week means more mental focus – Inside The Bills
"With the Bills in the midst of a short week, and recovery time from last Sunday’s game in short supply, Buffalo’s coaching staff will limit the team’s time on the field, which means the players will have to prepare more mentally than physically for a game for the first time this season."

Thank God.. Owens Finally Done Mincing Words : Buffalo Sports Daily
"Without mentioning Trent Edwards by name once, Owens made it quite clear that in his assessment, his numbers could’ve been gaudy all season long, and perhaps the Bills overall fortunes as well, had Dick Jauron played Ryan Fitzpatrick sooner. Much sooner"

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Terrell Owens and Fred Jackson's stocks are both rising.

Bills Round Table | wgrz.com
2 On Your Side's Adam Benigni and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle's Sal Maiorana talk Bills in this week's Bills' Roundtable.

Bills DE says Brick's a wall - NYPOST.com
"Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel, who has been a headache for the Jets over the years, yesterday praised the man he'll be going up against tomorrow night in Toronto - D'Brickashaw Ferguson."

Niagara Gazette - BILLS CROWD PLEASER: Draft pickup working out for Bills
Jonah Bronstein profiles the Bills free agent linebacker, Chris Draft, and the play he made on Sunday intercepting Ricky Williams.

Too little, too late for Bills - Wellsville, NY - Wellsville Daily Reporter
"Even though the Bills have looked much better in two weeks under Fewell, there are still plenty of warts, but you can’t help but wonder if this change happened much earlier, could it have been different?"

Bills Daily - "A Breath Of Fresh Air"
Tony Bogyo, he of gloom and doom, appears downright giddy over the Bills win this weekend at Bills Daily.

T.O. loves to be loved but haunted by his past - thestar.com
"A fired offensive coordinator, axed coach and rotating QBs has created a volatile situation, but T.O. has kept his cool, mostly."

The 10 best plays of the decade - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The Music City Mmmm.... Titans kickoff return from the AFC wild card game against the Bills is the best play of the decade says Shutdown Corner.

Countdown Daily: AFC East - ESPN.com
A look at the AFC East by John Clayton.

Week 13 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills moved up three spots from 27 to 24 after their beatdown of the Dolphins on Sunday.

Bills’ victory fails to hold down arrests at stadium; 34 are charged : Buffalo/Erie County : The Buffalo News
"Sunday’s arrest number, between 30 and 35, has become the norm for Bills games lacking any major negative crowd-control factors such as a night game, a blowout loss in nasty weather or a game with the Oakland Raiders. "

VIDEO SPECIAL- Sporting misses that changed history for all the wrong reasons - Blackburn Rovers News from football.co.uk
On a list of mostly soccer's near misses, Scott Norwood finds a home.

NFL Rookie Watch. - ESPN
"[Jairus Byrd] stays on the list because of his overall play throughout the season, but he has not made many plays in the last few weeks." He is sixth on the weekly power ranking type list of ten.

Toronto
Bills in Toronto: An easy ticket - The Globe and Mail
"As of Tuesday, the Bills in Toronto website was still offering tickets to the game, even at the bottom price of $99 each. And on the ticket reselling websites, there have consistently been seats consistently available at below cost."

CFL supporters needn't fret this year - The Globe and Mail
"This week, as CFL types enjoy the luxury of remaining confidently silent, the Buffalo Bills return to Toronto, having so far absolutely failed to make an impression in the country's largest metropolis."

Bills head north on high note - The Globe and Mail
"They’re talking proud again in Buffalo – just in time for the Bills to bring their act back up to Canada for their home-away-from home game against the New York Jets Thursday night in Toronto. "

Team in Transition
BillBoard: Should Bills interview Weis?
Charlie Weis interviewed for Buffalo's head coaching vacancy before they hired Mike Mularkey. Should the Bills consider the former Notre Dame coach again? Vote in the poll.

Get Brandon some help for GM search : The Buffalo News
"Maybe they should hire a search firm to help in the process," says Jerry Sullivan. "College and NFL programs have done it before."

Gleason: Back home, Fewell is talk of the town : Sports Columns : The Buffalo News
Back in his tiny hometown of Cramerton, South Carolina, Perry Fewell has his old friends and coaches buzzing.

Perry Fewell deserves a long look as the coach of the Buffalo Bills, but he might not get it. - ESPN
"What does it say about Perry Fewell's future in Buffalo when big-name coaches keep being linked to the Bills' opening? It says he deserves better, and he needs to win. Now."

POLLOCK: It’s unlikely that Fewell will return
"Even if he goes 6-1 after taking over from the fired Dick Jauron, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Buffalo’s former defensive coordinator would keep the job next season. "

Martz-Fewell would be a nice combo | Democrat and Chronicle
"Martz as head coach and running the offense plus Fewell as associate coach and running the defense could be a winning combination," says Bob Matthews.

Bills Tweet
Gregg Rosenthal
Why I love Gus Johnson: At kickoff Sunday, he starts "Dolphins-Bills. This is a big one!"

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Pass Defense

John B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:09:55 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

Browse more photos »

You may remember the first meeting between the Jets and Bills as one of the most disastrous showings in the history of quarterbacking by Mark Sanchez. A week after holding Derek Anderson to a 2 for 17 game, Buffalo intercepted Sanchez 5 times in an overtime victory. More than any other factor, their pass defense won the Bills that game. Through one week of Rex Ryan's codes to Sanchez, things have worked out. Sanchez made good decisions against the Panthers, and the Jets won the game. Mark didn't try to do too much. If the Jets want to leave ~~Orchard Park~~ Toronto with a win, they could sure use an efficient game from the rookie quarterback.

The Bills will look to use the same formula everybody use against the rookie quarterback, attempt to generate pressure. Aaron Schobel leads their club with 6 sacks. He's probably the best pass rusher they have, although slowing him down will be an easier task for D'Brickashaw Ferguson than handling Julius Peppers. Schobel hasn't been a model of consistency this year, though. Chris Kelsay, who is battling a shoulder injury, is the other end. He has 3 sacks. You'd have to think Damien Woody has a favorable matchup.

In the middle, Marcus Stroud returned from a knee injury for the Miami game. He is a guy who always occupies attention. Neither he nor Kyle Williams register many sacks, but their job will be to get a push up the middle and flush Mark Sanchez from the pocket. We may find out a lot about the status of his knee and that brace.

Buffalo blitzed sparingly under Dick Jauron. Since Jauron's dismissal, the numbers appear to have increased a bit. Paul Posluzny is the most likely guy to come from the middle. It could present a test for the middle of the line dealing with the tackles.

Cornerback Terrence McGee has been limited by a knee injury for the Bills. Drayton Florence will start next to him. Florence is having a nice year, but he and a gimpy McGee are a good matchup for Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. They do have a pair of good cover safeties in Donte Whitner and George Wilson.The problem could be the run defense for the Bills, though. The Jets ran all over them in the first meeting. You have to think the biggest adjustment they will make will be to stop the run. That probably means they'll want their safeties up and won't dedicate them as much to the passing game.

Buffalo has been decimated at the linebacker position by injury. In one regard, that might help them in this matchup. Bryan Scott is starting at outside linebacker. He was converted from the safety position and is a good pass defender, which leaves the Bills in good shape covering Dustin Keller. Posluszny is also a good pass defender. The other starting linebacker, Chris Draft, was limited in practice with a neck injury and is probably the weakest cover linebacker the Bills have but is still solid. It will have to be a day for the receivers. Sanchez should have time to find them. Again, after the rushing numbers the Jets posted in their first meeting, the Bills won't be overly aggressive for fear of being caught up field.

Bills make plays late, give Fewell first win

MattRichWarren — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:11:36 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

For the first time in recent memory, the Buffalo Bills were the ones putting a team away late in the fourth quarter in their 31-14 win over the Miami Dolphins.

A career-long 56-yard field goal from Rian Lindell put the Bills up 17-14 with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing drive, Chris Kelsay applied heat to Chad Henne, who floated a pass that was picked off by Drayton Florence with 2:43 remaining. Everyone thought the Bills would try and bleed some clock on their possession, but Ryan Fitzpatrick had other ideas. The starting quarterback audibled at the line of scrimmage and threw a perfectly-timed deep ball to Terrell Owens for a 51-yard touchdown to ice the game with 2:31 left. Interceptions by Donte Whitner and Corey Mace sealed the deal.

The Bills' offense was not without their faults on the day, as Fitzpatrick was picked off once and sacked six times. New addition Kendall Simmons had what I'll politely call a rough outing at right guard, giving up two sacks and getting in on the penalty party by jumping offside once.

Fred Jackson got the start in the backfield for the Bills today and picked up 73 yards on 15 carries. Fitzpatrick cemented his status as Buffalo's starter with a big day, throwing for 246 yards and the long touchdown to Owens. Fitzpatrick also started the Bills' scoring by rushing for a 31-yard touchdown on a broken pass play.

Buffalo's defense allowed Ricky Williams and the Dolphins to march down the field early. A Chris Draft interception on an ill-advised Williams goal line pass thwarted the first Miami drive, but Williams amassed 115 yards rushing and a touchdown on 27 carries. Henne was 17 of 30 for 175 yards, including a touchdown pass to Brian Hartline and the three late picks.

The win moves Buffalo to 4-7 on the season and to a short week to prepare for the 5-6 New York Jets. That game will be played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, and will be broadcast on the NFL Network. The Dolphins fall to 5-6 on the season, and this loss severely hurts their playoff chances (which couldn't make me happier).

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/28

MattRichWarren — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:42:24 -0000

A look at AFC East O-line stability - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills will use their league-leading seventh different starting lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills have used as many offensive line combinations as the Jets (1), Dolphins (2) and New England Patriots (3) combined.

Kelly's Call: A coach, a QB and a rebuttal
Jim Kelly clarifies his statements regarding California quarterbacks and Tim Tebow.

Fan Friday 11-27 – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown answers questions from fans on Brian Brohm, whether or not Jauron addressed the team after he was relieved of his duties, Trent Edwards' future, Mike Shanahan and other coaching candidates.

Dolphins Prep
Downtrodden Buffalo Bills will try to rise up against their biggest rival, the Miami Dolphins
"It's on a greater level than the other division teams ... Our guys are keyed up," Perry Fewell said.

Miami Dolphins prepare to face Terrell Owens for second time this year -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
"I mean, look at him, he's a physical freak," Dolphins rookie cornerback Sean Smith said. "There's not a lot of wide receivers out there 6-3 and built the way he is. He's built to last the whole year without slowing down at all."

Bills look to regain home field edge | WIVB.com
The Buffalo Bills have lost seven of their last eight games in Orchard Park, three of four this year. Rebuilding their home field advantage is an important step towards eventual playoff contention.

Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
- Ricky Williams should record his third straight 100-yard rushing game. - Bills receiver Terrell Owens might have fun against the Miami Dolphins' rookie cornerbacks.

Video: Williams will run over Bills - AFC East Blog - ESPN
AccuScore doesn't believe the Bills can cope withRicky Williams this weekend.

Bills notebook: Stroud likely to play Sunday : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills position coaches had longer work days Friday and today to prepare for next week's game — on Thursday against the New York Jets.

Miami center not looking good – Inside The Bills
The Miami Dolphins are likely to be without their starting center. Jake Grove did not practice again on Friday and Miami head coach said Grove has been declared doubtful for Sunday’s game.

Sparano on weather factor – Inside The Bills
Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano isn’t worried about the weather that Buffalo might have in store for his team Sunday.

Team in Transition
Coaching carousel: Remember Mike Martz? | National Football Post
Mike Martz has the highest winning percentage among coaches who have won a Super Bowl.

GoErie.com: John Dudley - Bradford would be an acceptable answer to Bills' prayers
"If I'm the Bills, I take Bradford if I have the chance, and never look back," says Dudley.

Leftovers
BillBoard: More on DT Harvey
Perry Fewell talks about new DT Lonnie Harvey. He likes that the Bills offense can now practice against someone that big in a 3-4 look.

Bills players on a mission | BuffaloBills.com
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, safety Bryan Scott, cornerback Drayton Florence, linebacker Chris Draft and wide receiver CJ Hawthorne volunteered to serve more than 300 people a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Sports on the Air: Bills fans continue to tune out : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills' 18-15 loss to Jacksonville had a 26.9 rating on WIVB-TV, making it the season's lowest-rated Bills game.

Losman's Las Vegas team wins UFL title : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Losman completed 21 of 35 passes for 193 yards.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/25

MattRichWarren — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:33 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

22 days ago: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) runs for second-quarter yardage as Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Spencer Johnson moves into make the tackle during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Browse more photos »

Wilson making mark at strong safety | BuffaloBills.com
In six starts this season Wilson stands third on the team in tackles, is tied for second in forced fumbles, fourth in sacks and fifth in pass breakups. He also caught his third interception of the season last week.

Bills' Johnson lending a hand on D-line : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Spencer Johnson's (pictured above) name may not jump off the stat sheet from Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his impact was certainly felt by interim Bills coach Perry Fewell.

Give The Ball To Brohm : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran suggests that Brian Brohm is the only potential franchise QB on the roster so he should get some playing time down the stretch this year.

Team in Transition
Bill Cowher Snubs Bills, Would Not Snub Bears Or Texans - SB Nation
Apparently Bill Cowher would be "excited" to coach the Bears or Texans. Guys - welcome to the QB quandry.

Schottenheimer says he's not a coaching candidate | ProFootballTalk.com
"I'll be very candid with you and say it's nice to think that people would consider you," Schottenheimer said, "but the reality of it is is that after 30 great years I'm really not going to go back down that road again."

Cowher isn’t shuffling off to Buffalo | National Football Post
Robert Boland says Bill Cowher may or may not be interested in Buffalo but he is not going to give away the leverage he has over the Bills and other teams. He also doesn't want the Bills to pit Shanahan against Cowher.

Schottie addresses Bills coaching rumors – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown laments the disinterest of Marty Schottenheimer because of his great coaching record.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora joins THSS
"It's more just a sort of extension of where Coach Cowher is coming from in terms of having a commitment to honor right now at CBS," LaCanfora said. "He doesn't want to become a part of a coaching search while guys like Perry Fewell are trying to make a statement."

Shanahan stays on Buffalo Bills wish list | Democrat and Chronicle
A person familiar with the Bills' search told The Associated Press that the team has contacted the former Denver Broncos' coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills are not discussing the search.

Bills owner Wilson willing to write the check, but who'll cash it?
Mike Holmgren has rejected an overture from the Bills as well, presumably because he has his eye on one or more other opportunities that would likely involve him taking only a front-office position.

NFL Videos: Around the League
Will Bill Cowher coach in Buffalo next season? Get the latest on that story and more from Jascon La Caforna.

News and Notes
Dolphins vs Bills: Five Good Questions - The Phinsider
Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings joins the Phinsider to discuss the Bills as we look towards Sunday's Dolphins/Bills game.

Blogger's Blitz: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham analyzes the state of the Patriots, Bills, Jets and Dolphins

Even in defeat, Fewell rouses Bills fans - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Fewell, the Buffalo Bills' interim head coach, lost his first game as Jauron's placement but as of Tuesday night was pulling down a 65 percent in SportsNation's weekly NFL head coach approval ratings.

Week 13 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham lists the AFC East teams best wins, worst losses, and close calls. The Bills-Patriots game is both teams' close call game and the Bills win over the Jets is their worst loss.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills offensive line stock is falling - and let's face it how could it not be - and Terrell Owens stock is rising.

Buffalo City Mission's Photos | Facebook
Chris Draft, Terrell Owens, Bryan Scott, and C.J. Hawthorne helped out at the Buffalo City Mission yesterday.

Bills bring cheer to kids | BuffaloBills.com
Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, linebacker Jon Corto, kicker Rian Lindell, and safety John Wendling visited with children and their families from the Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on November 23rd.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Small errors keep killing Bills
Tim Schmitt looks back at the Bills loss to the Jaguars to give his thoughts.

Buffalo Bills' QB situation among the worst in the NFL | Democrat and Chronicle
Bob Matthews ranks the Bills QB situation 29th in the NFL.

Bills Tweets
Kawika Mitchell
rehab is goin good. Healin up and storin up energy

Aaron Maybin
just got done serving dinner to over 300 kids and their families in downtown buffalo. Great time!

Adam Caplan
Source said they brought in a young guard today, no name guy.RT @mdschmidt: @caplannfl Any word on other OLs Buffalo might be pursuing?

Donte Whitner
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength.when u go through hardship and decide not to surrenderthat strenth

Scott's return could glue Bills' D back together

Brian Galliford — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:55:19 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills face a curious problem at the safety position right now. Opening day starters Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott have each missed at least four starts this season, and while they've been down, rookie Jairus Byrd has established himself as one of the elite young players at his position. Now that Whitner and Scott are close returning to the lineup, the Bills have three legitimate starting safeties, but only two starting spots to occupy.

Luckily for the Bills, Bryan Scott is a multi-faceted weapon. He's also a team player and a genuinely good guy, which makes removing him from the "starting" lineup all the easier. Byrd is a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year and the team's best defensive playmaker by miles, so he's not going anywhere. Whitner won't sit, either, considering his versatility in coverage and the level of play he exhibited prior to his various injuries.

Even if Scott doesn't start - and if both Byrd and Whitner are healthy, he won't (not at safety, anyway) - you're going to see a lot of him. He might just be Buffalo's best run defender, and given the fact that the Bills sport the No. 32-ranked run defense in the NFL, Scott's return to the lineup may be of critical importance, even if he's not technically a starter.

Scott's presence makes a difference defending run
Scott has only played in part of three games this season. He got hurt mid-way through the Bills' Week 3 loss to undefeated New Orleans, meaning he's been available to Perry Fewell for roughly ten quarters this season. In those ten quarters, Buffalo surrendered 219 rushing yards to New England (the NFL's No. 16-ranked rush offense), Tampa Bay (No. 25, thanks to a lot of late-game passing) and New Orleans (No. 5). Since his departure from the lineup, the Bills have surrendered 1,170 rushing yards in 22 quarters. That stat jumps from 22 yards per quarter to 53 yards per quarter with Scott out of the lineup.

That's not to say that Scott is the key to Buffalo's run defense. The flood gates have certainly opened since he's been out of the lineup, but in all fairness to his teammates, they've faced four of the top five rushing offenses in the entire league (New York, Carolina, Miami and the second half of that New Orleans game) without him. That certainly won't help your statistical cause. (The Bills face the league's No. 2-ranked rushing offense this week in Tennessee, and the No. 6-ranked attack the following week in Jacksonville, by the way.)

But let's not pretend that Scott's absence wasn't a blow, either. He racked up 27 tackles in less than three games. Even with all the time he's missed, he's still third on the team in tackles at the safety position, behind fill-in George Wilson (54) and Byrd (32). Unlike Byrd and Wilson, Scott is technically sound, makes an impact in the box, and has the ability to make plays in the backfield consistently. You can't take that type of player off the field and not expect to see a decline in play.

Potential roles
As mentioned, Byrd will continue to start at free safety, and Whitner will probably still see the lion's share of his work at strong safety. Fewell has, however, found ways to incorporate three safeties into his defensive packages in years past, with Whitner playing a rover position or lining up in the slot. In those cases, Scott could line up at strong safety.

More likely, you'll see Byrd and Whitner take coverage responsibilities, allowing Scott to take the majority of his reps in the box - because let's face it, the run defense can use all the help it can get. Scott has been taking reps at linebacker for the past two weeks, and it's possible he could see time in that role as well, particularly if either starting outside linebacker, Chris Draft or Nic Harris (if Keith Ellison can't go), is injured or fails to live up to the task.

That versatility has been sorely missed - not just from Scott, mind you, but from Whitner as well. Byrd and Wilson have made more than their fair share of plays while Scott and Whitner sat out, but those two players are limited schematically. Byrd is strictly a free safety at this point, and Wilson is a severe liability defending the run. Whitner's versatility allows the Bills to play more matchup coverage in their defensive backfield and, more importantly, get better players in position to make plays against the run.

But as important as Whitner is - even against the run - it's Scott's return that could prove to be the most important to a potential Bills playoff run. Buffalo's chances are slim at best, but they become non-existent if they can't improve against the run, particularly with run-heavy teams coming up on the schedule. Scott isn't a dynamic enough player to turn the league's worst run defense into anything more than an average run defense. But if he can get Buffalo to average - and if the defense finally gets a little help from Buffalo's offense - anything can happen.

Bills getting healthier with streaking Titans looming

Brian Galliford — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:51:29 -0000

The Buffalo Bills returned to the practice field on Monday after their weekend of rest, relaxation, and with any luck, dramatically increased football skill. The week's hiatus appears to have done some good for the team's overall health, as a report from WGR 550 this morning indicates. Here's a quick glance at where the Bills are getting healthy, and where they're still hurting.

+ Trent Edwards practiced fully today and, according to the WGR report, it's looking like he'll be ready to resume starting duties next Sunday in Tennessee. Edwards practiced fully last week, but it appears he got through the weekend unscathed and is ready to get back into the lineup.

+ BuffaloBills.com reports that Shawn Nelson returned to the practice field on Monday as well.

+ Jonathan Scott practiced fully and also appears ready to return to the lineup, according to BuffaloBills.com - which is good timing, really, as fill-in Jamon Meredith missed practiced Monday and is expected to miss another week or two. Scott would, as usual, start at right tackle against a still-feisty Titans pass rush.

+ Aaron Schobel and Kyle Williams missed practice on Monday. Schobel is dealing with a groin injury, while Williams' knee injury was expected to keep him out 2-3 weeks. It's quite early in the week, so there's still a (strong?) chance that both will play this weekend, but clearly the defensive line as a whole is a situation worth monitoring.

+ Keith Ellison also missed practice Monday. Buffalo's leading tackler has a lingering quad issue. If he can't play, Paul Posluszny will likely be flanked by Chris Draft and Nic Harris on Sunday. Yikes.

+ The defensive backfield is getting quite healthy. Terrence McGee, as we mentioned early last week, had his knee scoped and is not yet ready to return to the practice field. There's an outside shot that he plays this weekend, but it's more likely that he returns on November 22 in Jacksonville. If he can't play, Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty would see increased playing time. The health is coming at safety, where Jairus Byrd, Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott all practiced fully. With the emergence of Byrd, that's as solid a trio of safeties as you'll find in the NFL.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/5

MattRichWarren — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:58:58 -0000

Sullivan: Bills could use blast from Super Bowls past : Sports Columns : The Buffalo News
Jerry Sullivan advocates for the Bills to look no further than Cleveland and restructure their front office midseason. He specifically mentions hiring Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly as offensive consultants even if it's a gesture to the fans. Could the guys pictured above help?

Scott at LB a real possibility – Inside The Bills
Jauron calls Bryan Scott at linebacker a "possibility" and Chris Brown thinks Scott would get the start should Keith Ellison not be able to go citing Chris Draft's insertion into the lineup as the coaches wanting experienced players there.

Byrd’s status – Inside The Bills
"It sounds as if Jairus Byrd should be good to practice at some point next week. If not Monday when the team returns from their bye weekend, then Wednesday."

Marcus' Mailbag | BuffaloBills.com
Check out Marcus Stroud's video and see footage from his bowling event and what guys have planned for the bye week.

Bills Roundup | BuffaloBills.com
The Bills look to regroup over the bye week.

Back to basics for O-line – Inside The Bills
The bye week practices were an opportunity for Buffalo’s offensive linemen to tighten up their individual game with a hard core return to the basics

T.O. knows Alvin and the Chipmunks – Inside The Bills
"Just in this last game offensively we only had like 45 plays and defense they were out there like 70-plus plays," Terrell Owens said. "When you give a team a short field, Barney Fife and Alvin and the Chipmunks can go out there and score." He was laughing by the way.

10th Annual Hunter’s Hope Ball – Inside The Bills
The 10th Annual Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball will be taking place in just a couple of weeks, on Nov. 20th at Samuel’s Grande Manor in Clarence. Hunter's Hope is the charity founded by former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly to honor his son, Hunter, and the fight he had with Krebbe's disease.

Bills notebook : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Tackle Jonathan Scott, out the past three games with an ankle sprain, was back working at practice for the first time since his injury.

2009-10 Buffalo Bills Poster Series | Buffalo News
The 50th Anniversary team was featured on the back page of the Buffalo News.

Bills fans’ early exit from lousy game seen as helping to cut arrests in half : City & Region : The Buffalo News
With fans leaving the game early last weekend, the Orchard Park police saw a sharp decline in the number of arrests on game day.

Who makes the playoffs from the AFC East? - AFC East - ESPN
Even if the Bills somehow manage to get back to 5-5 their final three games are against the Patriots, Falcons, and Colts (though the Colts should have the number one seed wrapped up by then). Playoffs?

Here's a grade for T.O., Ginn: Incomplete - AFC East - ESPN
ESPN Stats have compiled a list of dropped passes through Week 8 and found Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens leads the league with nine.

Video: Buffalo Bills at the bye - AFC East - ESPN
ESPN's Trent Dilfer takes a look at the state of the Buffalo Bills' offense as the team heads into its bye week 3-5. Dilfer says it starts not with getting Terrell Owens involved, but establishing the run.

POLLOCK: In short, ‘D’ hasn’t been bad for Bills | Olean Times Herald
"And, as much as Buffalo’s offense deserves criticism, the preoccupation with its ineptitude has stolen the credit coordinator Perry Fewell’s defense deserves."

Have the Bills hit rock bottom? | WGR video
Jerry Sullivan sits down with Schopp and the Bulldog to talk about the ineptitude of the Bills offense.