SB Nation - Brian Brohm

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/17

MattRichWarren — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:42:37 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Practice is inside and out – Inside The Bills
"In an effort to have the players ready for the elements interim head coach Perry Fewell has his players spending portions of practice inside the Fieldhouse with all the doors open to let in the freezing cold air, and outside on the team’s grass field."

Scott: safety by trade, LB by necessity - BuffaloBills.com
Lead editor Chris Brown talks with the Bills' defensive staff and LB Bryan Scott about his transition from safety to linebacker this year.

Buffalo Bills might face local TV blackout Sunday vs. New England Patriots | Democrat and Chronicle
"If the 2000 remaining tickets are not sold by 1 p.m. today, the home game will not be televised in the western New York market for the first time this season."

Buffalo Bills' defense to face test with Wes Welker | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"On that opening night in New England, Tom Brady threw for 378 yards in his first game back after sitting out almost all of 2008 with a knee injury. He found Welker 12 times for 93 yards, and Moss caught 12 for 141 yards. Oh, and tight end Ben Watson caught two touchdown passes in the final four minutes to deliver a pulsating 25-24 Patriots victory, New England's 12th in a row over the Bills."

Bills Notebook: Terrell Owens does like the cold: Buffalo News
"Asked what he thought of the weather, he said: 'I can't remember. I'm still frozen. I'm trying to thaw out right about now. Brutal.' Was it good to get outside a little and get acclimated? 'Absolutely not,' joked Owens.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Cold Snap
"Ryan Fitzpatrick is the exception. The Arizona native doesn't mind being outside, and noted that the Bengals didn't have an indoor practice facility. He said that helped the Bengals quarterbacks be better prepared for the cold, and thinks Fewell's decision to put the offense outside was a good one, though a stiff wind limited some of their drills."

Belichick on Bills screen game – Inside The Bills
"The screen game was its most effective in Week 1. The Patriots will undoubtedly be better prepared for it this time. It’s probably safe to assume the Bills will use it sparingly this week knowing the Pats will be looking for it."

Beating Pats could boost Fewell's stock with Bills -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY
"If Fewell, who's 2-2 after Dick Jauron was dismissed, is to solidify himself as a serious contender for the job beyond this season, there's no better opportunity than this. A win over the Patriots (8-5) would snap the Bills' 12-game losing streak against their AFC East rivals, a drought which began after Buffalo's 31-0 season-opening victory in 2004."

Stevie Johnson chops the dreds! – Inside The Bills
"Steve Johnson said equipment manager Dave Hojnowski had to tighten his helmet one head size now that the hair is gone." I don't even recognize him in the picture that's in the post.

Brady, Moss don’t practice – Inside The Bills
Tom Brady (finger), Randy Moss (rest), Ty Warren (ankle) and Vince Wilfork (foot) didn't practice for the Patriots yesterday.

Bills and Jills spread holiday cheer - BuffaloBills.com
"Ninety children and their families had a great time celebrating the holidays with the Bills players, Jills cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo and Santa Claus at the Buffalo Bills Toyota Rookie Club’s Annual Holiday Party held December 15th in the Jim Kelly Club at Ralph Wilson Stadium." Bryan Scott played Christmas carols and other Bills participating were Ryan Denney, Chris Draft, Jon Corto, Ellis Lankster, Jairus Byrd, Andy Levitre, Jamon Meredith, Andre Ramsey, Nick Hennessey, Jason Watkins, Garrison Sanborn, Cary Harris, Ashlee Palmer, Shawn Nelson, Rashaad Duncan and Lonnie Harvey.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- It looked like a few Bills skill players were surprised to do some work outside in the cold. The rest of the team worked indoors. WR Steve Johnson was in shorts, and someone eventually gave him a sweatshirt. Quipped one equipment man: "It's like the pop quiz at school you didn't study for."
- Bills WR Terrell Owens believes playing well outside in cold weather has more to do with the mental aspect of the game than the physical aspect. "It's all about just being mentally prepared to catch the ball," he said. "The ball's going to be hard."

Video: AFC East Blogger's Blitz - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tuesday night on ESPNEWS, anchor Ducis Rodgers and blogger Tim Graham discussed a variety of AFC East topics.

New-look Bills - BostonHerald.com
"I wouldn’t say it was our best night," Tom Brady said about opening night. "I don’t think any of us felt really great about the way we played and kind of escaped with a victory. I’m sure Buffalo was very disappointed with the outcome of the game just because they had us there for a long time."

Harvard kid answers NFL call - BostonHerald.com
Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald interviews former Hardvard QB Ryan Fitzpatrick about his days playing for the Crimson and his new gig with the Bills.

Belichick recalls the night T.O. put on a show - Brockton, MA - The Enterprise
"Hauling in nine passes for 122 yards came up second best to game MVP Deion Branch (11 receptions for 133 yards) as the Eagles came up second best to the Patriots, 24-21, on that February night at Alltel Stadium [in Super Bowl XXXIX]."

New coach Fewell has had positive impact on Bills | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal
"While head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged that under Jauron the Bills were always prepared for their meetings with the Patriots, he also gave a tip of the cap to Fewell, calling him an "excellent" defensive coach who has done a good job of getting Buffalo to play well in all three phases of the game."

Fitzpatrick takes NFL detour - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News
"At this point in his life, Ryan Fitzpatrick figured he'd be putting on a suit and tie every day in Manhattan rather than shoulder pads and cleats in an NFL locker room."

Patriots deal with banged-up defensive line - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"It’s uncertain whether Wilfork will be ready for Sunday’s game at Buffalo. With three games left in the regular season, New England (8-5) leads the AFC East by one game over the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets and three over the Bills."

Wilson: Bills cut Klopfenstein | National Football Post
"In order to make room for newly-signed offensive guard Richie Incognito, the Buffalo Bills have released veteran tight end Joe Klopfenstein," reports Aaron Wilson.

AccuScore Report: Patriots-Bills - ESPN Video - ESPN
Jenny Dell tells you if the Patriots can get past the Randy Moss distractions and win against the Bills.

Oakland Raiders sign quarterback J.P. Losman | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The Oakland Raiders signed J.P. Losman, a former starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, to be it's No. 3 quarterback. Charlie Frye gets the nod over Jamarcus Russell.

Incognito claimed off waivers
Incognito claimed off waivers; Mitchell is no fan : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Incognito was rated by NFL players as the dirtiest player in the league in a poll conducted by the Sporting News recently. "

BillBoard: Bills claim 'dirtiest player'
"The Bills have claimed the player who could be the second coming of Conrad Dobler. Actually, comparing Incognito to Dobler is giving Incognito too much credit at this point of his career. Incognito is a three-year starter and has 44 career starts. Dobler, who played for the Bills in 1980 and '81, had a 10-year career in the NFL and was a three-time Pro Bowler."

Bills recognize Incognito - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Maybe Incognito and New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork will sit down for tea and crumpets Sunday. Incognito might just be passing through Buffalo. His contract expires after the season. "

Team in Transition
Candidates abound for Bills' personnel job : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan compiles a list of potential general manager candidates for the Bills.

Brian Brohm
Brohm: "I’ll be ready if called upon." – Inside The Bills
"The offensive system has steadily become more and more familiar to [new qyarterback Brian Brohm]. But getting an opportunity on the field before the 2009 season is over looks remote at best at this point in time. "

Fewell on Brohm prospects – Inside The Bills
"I don’t know how far he is along in the development of our offense because he doesn’t take the reps in our offense. He takes the reps with our scout team," said Fewell. "So to put him in that position might be a recipe for failure for him. But you never say never."

Sullivan: Why keep Brohm in closet? : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"It seems the Bills lead the league in allowing people to figure things out on the fly. But suddenly, a month isn't enough time for Brohm to at least suit up as the No. 2 quarterback."

Bills fans shouldn't expect Brohm in '09 - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Eight seconds doesn't sound like a lot. But when a coach stands silent for that long in front of dozens of waiting reporters, it can feel like an eternity. Count out eight seconds in your head. That's how long a bull rider has to stay on a Brahmin's back, and it's how long it took Bills interim coach Perry Fewell to formulate a diplomatic response when asked if he'd consider putting quarterback Brian Brohm in."

Bills Tweets
Twitter / Steve Bradley
Still 2,000 tickets remain for Bills-Pats on Sunday. Could this be the first local television blackout of the season?

Twitter / Daniel Jeremiah
Incognito story: During OL drill at combine, he was so out of control, I said he was going to hurt himself, tore his acl 1 min later, no lie

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
Perry Fewell was asked if he would play QB Brian Brohm. He thinks it would put Brohm in a bad situation, but he also said "never say never.:

Twitter / Nicholas Mendola
Alex Van Pelt says the #Bills still have no plans to use Brian Brohm this year.

Twitter / Eric Stangel
NFL - Richie Incognito, waived by Rams, is claimed by Buffalo. Perfect fit. The Bills have been incognito all season

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
So the Bills signed OG RIchie Incognito. Labeled a dirty player. What I've heard, probably true. But he could now be best O-lineman team has

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
T.O. didn't like practicing outside: "I’m still frozen," he said w/ a laugh. "This is by far the coldest practice I’ve ever been a part of."

WR Patrick Williams Signed From The Practice Squad

Brandon — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:19 -0000

by Patrick Semansky - AP

about 1 month ago: Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34), running back Tyrell Sutton, behind, and center Ryan Kalil (67) celebrate after DeAngelo's touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

View full size photo »

The Green Bay Packers made a roster move: signing WR Patrick Williams from the practice squad and releasing WR Biren Ealy. Here's what I wrote about the two receivers back in October:

As to the two receivers signed: WR Patrick Williams was barely mentioned here at all after a quiet preseason, but he should be familiar with the offense and have a short learning curve. WR Biren Ealy worked with the Saints and Ravens so far this season, but spent time dropping passes for the Titans in 2008.

I'm not really sure why they need a 6th WR on the active roster. There are a couple other guys on the roster, T Breno Giacomini and S Matt Giordano, who don't seem to fill a need on the roster either. Not that they especially need a 3rd QB or a 4th RB, but why did they let go of guys like QB Brian Brohm and RB Tyrell Sutton, and keep other guys like Giacomini, Giordano, and Williams?

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/16

MattRichWarren — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:25:15 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

6 days ago: Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) is chased by Buffalo Bills defensive end Ryan Denney (92) and safety Donte Whitner (20) as he runs 76 yards for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009 in Kansas City, Mo. The Bills won the game 16-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Browse more photos »

Bills' Byrd doesn't mind sharing the wealth : The Buffalo News
Rodney McKissic profiles the Bills' safety phenom Jairus Byrd and his 9 1/2 interceptions.

Video: Bills run D historically bad - AFC East Blog - ESPN
KC Joyner, aka the Football Scientist, highlights the biggest matchup in Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Joyner notes the Bills could give up 3,000 yards on the ground this year, something that has been done only three times in NFL history. [Ed note: Bad like in the picture above, giving up a 76-yard TD run.]

How the Buffalo Bills can still win the division : Buffalo Sports Daily
"The following is what needs to occur for the Bills to be still playing football after January 3; The Buffalo Bills win out, while the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins lose out, and the New York Jets win no more than one of their last three games."

Bills Daily - "A Christmas Carol"
A Buffalo Bills Christmas Carol from Bills Daily. It's amusing.

Bills secondary a den of thieves - BuffaloBills.com
Despite being banged up all year, the Bills defense, the secondary in particular, leads the league in interceptions. "Their 25 picks have already matched their best total since the AFL-NFL merger as the 1975 Bills had 25 in a 14-game season."

Rival receivers have some catching up to do - The Boston Globe
"The Bills and their bombastic receiver, Terrell Owens, host the Patriots and Randy Moss in a matchup of AFC East rivals that features two go-to receivers who do not like each other."

Let’s see what Brohm brings to the table - Wellsville, NY - Wellsville Daily Reporter
Paul Jannace adds his voice to the litany of writers pining for Brian Brohm.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Stock Rising - Marshawn Lynch "He has rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown and averaged 8.0 yards per carry the past two weeks."

Week 15 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills move up one spot to 25 after defeating the Chiefs.

Where's AFC East in Pro Bowl balloting? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Bills' Brian Moorman, one of the NFL's top three or four punters, isn't in the AFC's top five. "

AFC East: Patriots circling wagons around Moss - The Sports Netowrk
"But if there's one area that person is least likely to touch, it's a secondary that has ever-so-quietly been among the best in the league this year, and is unquestionably the single best piece to build around on this team."

McShay has OT going to Bills – Inside The Bills
"The Bills are projected to pick 10th overall in his mock draft where he has Buffalo taking Rutgers OT Anthony Davis. Mel Kiper says if he waits a year Davis will be a top 5 pick, otherwise he’ll go in the 10-15 range of round one this year. Kipier has him as his top rated junior tackle."

2009 NFL Redraft - Don Banks - SI.com
Don Banks does the draft over again and the Bills end up with Brian Orakpo with the top three OTs off the board.

Losman update – Inside The Bills
"With Bruce Gradkowski injured, JaMarcus Russell a mess and Charlie Frye an unrealistic option J.P. Losman heads to Oakland with an opportunity to be a long term answer at quarterback."

Raiders sign former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman - Inside Bay Area
Jim Fassell coached J.P. in the UFL and his son is on the Raiders staff. Think that had anything to do with it?

Willy Living his Dream | WIVB.com
Former University of Buffalo QB Drew Willy was signed to the Colts practice squad a few weeks ago and could see time in the final game of the season in Buffalo.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/15

MattRichWarren — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:47:31 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

6 days ago: Buffalo Bills defensive back Jairus Byrd (31) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lance Long in the the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. Long was call for pass interference on the play. The Bills 16-10. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Browse more photos »

Buffalo Bills’ All-Decay Team : Buffalo Sports Daily
"Every franchise has its busts, but few can put together a complete lineup of failures who came with so much promise. These aren’t just any scrubs; they’re guys who, based on what was invested in them, were counted on to make the team respectable at least. " Can't say I agree with Willis McGahee on here.

S Byrd leads NFL and interception-happy Bills - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
John Wawrow of the AP analyzes the Bills' interception totals from the year. [Ed. Note: Check out the caption on the photo above and catch the mistake.]

Evans again forgotten on Bills' offense : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"You have to feel a twinge of sympathy for poor Lee Evans. Good guy. Good teammate. Good in the community. Good hands. Great speed. But in his sixth NFL season, the Bills' wide receiver is struggling through the most discouraging season of his career."

Bills replay: Running backs finally run wild : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
In his game tape review, Allen Wilson focuses in on the Bills run blocking and running backs.

Buffalo Bills Replay | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"We're trying to say some nice things about the Bills because this might be our last chance. This is probably the last game they're going to win this season." Thanks Sal!

Perfect ending for Colts, Saints would be Super Bowl | Democrat and Chronicle
Buffalo was holding opponents to a 62.5 passer rating before Kansas City's Matt Cassel registered a 35.4 rating in a 16-10 home loss to the Bills. The Bills entered Sunday with a 25th-ranked 70.0 passer rating themselves, and Ryan Fitzpatrick had a 65.8 rating in victory Sunday.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
The Bills are currently leading the league in INTs with 25. The last time Buffalo had that many takeaways through the air was in 1975.

Moorman has shot at elusive number – Inside The Bills
"After Sunday’s masterful performance in which he finished with a net average of 53, Moorman’s net average for the season is now 41.4, good for third in the league."

Monday Morning Quarterback - Peter King - SI.com
King named Brian Moorman his special teams player of the week for punting four times for a 53-yard average and not surrendering a return yard. He forgot to mention the other stuff like getting a bad snap up for Rian Lindell and calling a timeout instead of taking a delay of game penalty.

Run game revs up - BuffaloBills.com
"My hat goes off to Jonathan Stupar because he played every play on offense," said Fred Jackson. "He was on the field (throwing up) at one point. He was a guy that wanted to perform for us and help us get a victory. Jamon coming in as another tight end to help us [when Shawn Nelson went down]. It was about guys just wanting to get a victory."

Scott growing into role at linebacker : The Buffalo News
"He's a big safety and a small linebacker," Fewell said. "Bryan is really stepping up to the plate for us because we need guys to step up to the plate. It's not the role that he envisioned himself to be in at the beginning of the season but it shows how unselfish he is and how unselfish this team is."

What Else Can We Expect? | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana lauds defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay for playing well and explains why he dislikes Aaron Maybin so much. He also calls for Brian Brohm because Ryan Fitzpatrick "couldn’t start for about 20 Division I college teams."

No passing mark yet for Fitzpatrick | Olean Times Herald
"One question was emphatically answered on Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium: neither Trent Edwards nor Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the Bills’ quarterback come training camp next July."

Taking out the Trash: Bill of goods - George Winkler - Fantasy Source Blitz - Sporting News
"Perry Fewell says he's sticking with Fitzpatrick, but it doesn't take an Ivy League education for fantasy owners to know the Harvard grad should be punted."

Bills Announce Tickets Available For Last Two Games | WKBW News
The Bills have announced that approximately 2,000 tickets are available for Sunday’s game vs. the New England Patriots and over 5,000 tickets remain for the January 3rd game vs. the Indianapolis Colts.

Countdown Daily Insight Center: NE-BUF - ESPN Video - ESPN
Football Scientist KC Joyner takes you into the IBM Insight Center to tell you the keys to victory.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Jake Locker Could Have Been #1
"Sam Bradford is a mid-first round talent. I project Colt McCoy as a late first to early second round pick, with the likes of Tim Tebow, Dan LeFevour, Tony Pike and Sean Canfield in a glut just beyond him. Watch out for Arkansas's Ryan Mallet, however. He's a very raw talent and underclassmen, but has the skills to sneak in to the first round if he elects to leave early."

It's my mom's birthday today so happy birthday mom!

Bills Coach Weighs In On Chiefs Quarterback Situation

Joel Thorman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:04:00 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

Bills Coach Weighs In On Chiefs Quarterback Situation. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Browse more photos »

Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell is no stranger to quarterback controversies. He's currently leading a team that has a former quarterback of the future in Trent Edwards, a non-quarterback of the future in Ryan Fitzpatrick and a question mark in practice squad quarterback Brian Brohm.

Like Kansas City, the quarterback situation has been hotly debated in Buffalo.

Fewell weighed in on Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley's decision to let Brodie Croyle finish last week's game after Cassel and Co. struggled mightily.

"If you’re struggling in the ball game sometimes it’s good to go back and watch and assess what’s going on out there," Fewell said via Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com. "Sometimes you learn better by watching what’s happening rather than being in that fire and you’re able to process some things and come back and be a better player the next week."

It's a good point and one that has been made by a few folks around here. Haley even suggested that Cassel's seat on the bench could teach him a lesson - not necessarily in a negative way, either.

"That’s probably what took place in that football game," the Bills head coach explained. "He was struggling, he had a tough time in that ball game and Coach Haley felt like he needed to see from the sideline what happening so he could understand, not from a rapid fire, bullets are coming at me standpoint, but from a teaching-learning session."

You can agree or disagree with the man but I think there's a very strong argument that the Chiefs are in a better situation at quarterback than the Bills. In fact, I think that's definitely the case.

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!!

Fitzpatrick still the right call for Bills at QB

Brian Galliford — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:29 -0000

More photos » by Nathan Denette - AP

Browse more photos »

Amidst one of the worst seasons to witness as a fan of the Buffalo Bills in the past decade - and as the entire decade's been bad, that's saying something - calls for the Bills to change quarterbacks occur on a seemingly weekly basis. With Buffalo all but eliminated from playoff contention and awaiting organizational direction in the form of new football decision-makers and a new coaching staff, Bills fans are making their voices heard about the quarterback position.

It's tough for me to understand why. Buffalo doesn't have a desirable starting quarterback option on its roster. The man with perhaps the most vocal fan support at the moment, Brian Brohm, has been with the Bills for less than three weeks. Starter-by-default Ryan Fitzpatrick has put up some truly horrendous stat lines this season, to the point where even Trent Edwards, who fell out of favor quickly after a slow start in his third season, is the choice candidate in some circles.

Ultimately, however, it's Fitzpatrick that should stay in at quarterback for the Bills. I understand completely that that's not exactly the best news in the world. The reasons behind that opinion aren't great, but they're better than the reasons for starting Edwards or, far more importantly, Brohm. Buffalo has bigger fish to fry than trying to find a franchise quarterback this month.

The argument against Brohm
Since he became a Bill on November 19, infatuation with the second-year player out of Louisville has grown each week he's been on the sidelines as the Bills' emergency quarterback. (He's done it twice, by the way.) Once heralded as a sure-fire Top 5 pick and one of the more prolific college passers of recent memory, Brohm was a huge flop in Green Bay, failing to impress the coaching staff that developed Aaron Rodgers, losing confidence more rapidly than Edwards himself, and landing on the practice squad in just his second year while 2008 seventh-round pick Matt Flynn became Rodger's undisputed backup.

Yes, the talent is there with Brohm. He's not a blue-chip prospect, but his raw talent says he's capable of being a productive player in the NFL. But his psyche is fragile, he doesn't know the playbook yet, and even if he started all four games, we likely wouldn't learn anything definitive about him. He might end up playing an entirely different offensive scheme next year. If he played great, that'd be awesome, but that's incredibly unlikely given the Swiss Cheese nature of our offensive line. Do we really want to be putting a player who may or may not have the mental fortitude for the position into the lineup just to "see what we have" when the negative effects of the move could ruin yet another young quarterback in Buffalo? How, exactly, is that a good idea?

Seriously, what might we learn? That Brohm might be a good player? Can't we make the same claim right now, with Brohm stuck on the sidelines? Yes, it's the conservative approach, but there is absolutely no reason for the team to be aggressive in bringing Brohm along, nor is there a good reason for the fan base to want them to.

Here's the biggest reason that Brohm seeing any field time is a bad idea: Perry Fewell is his head coach. More accurately, Perry Fewell is his interim head coach. Like it or not, Fewell is three weeks into a seven-week job audition. If Fewell were to insert Brohm into the lineup, no matter how prepared or not he might be, Fewell would be asking Brohm to save his job. Fewell's coaching for a permanent head coaching gig. He's not coaching to groom talent, and his players realize it. Brohm would be in the lineup to play lights out and prove that his coach is the right man for the job. Fewell wouldn't do that to Brohm, and if he did, it'd be a severe blow to his head coaching chances, no matter how well Brohm performed. It's just not going to happen, folks, and y'all should be glad it won't.

Fitzpatrick still gives the Bills the best chance to win
Nothing against Trent Edwards. I'm not nearly as anti-Edwards as the venomous corner of the Bills' fan base, but he shouldn't be on the field unless playing in injury relief. Nothing would be better for Edwards at this point than a change in environment. He's proven himself to be dysfunctional as a starting quarterback in the current environment. His career is in a holding pattern; whether or not it continues in Buffalo remains to be seen, but throwing him back into the fire would do him nor the team any good at all.

That leaves Fitzpatrick. His play is incredibly hit-or-miss, but he's the choice starter of the offensive unit, he plays smart football, and for all of his flaws, he at least is capable of keeping the Bills competitive in games. Those are hardly glowing arguments, but it's the best we've got. He's the best choice for Fewell, who needs wins to remain here as the head coach. He's the best choice for the team, who at least are still playing with some small semblance of confidence.

Fitzpatrick obviously isn't the long-term answer at quarterback for any team, including the Bills. He's a good backup quarterback at his best, and with two more years on his current contract and some solid performances in the last two years under his belt, it's likely he'll stay as a backup quarterback for at least 2010. He's the best the Bills have right now, and he's the best choice for Perry Fewell. Like it or not, Fitzpatrick should, and very likely will, close out 2009 as Buffalo's starting quarterback.

Poll

Who should start at quarterback for Buffalo's last four games?

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

Brian Galliford — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:30 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

Two weeks ago - a day before the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Dick Jauron, in fact - we here at Buffalo Rumblings took a look at the core players of Buffalo's roster. The idea behind the post was to identify players that, based on their contract status with the franchise, are very likely to survive a regime change at One Bills Drive.

We'll recap the fruits of that labor quickly after the jump, but the purpose of this post is to take that exercise a step further. With the core players out of the way, it's time to look at the players that I'll term "crux players" - guys with flexible contract situations that will define a new regime's focus on re-building the Bills.

Core player recap
We named 17 current Bills as "core players," splitting the group up into vested veterans, young players with promise and role-playing veterans awaiting new roles once the regime change is complete. Of those 17 players, we defined a solid 9 as starting-caliber, a further six as fringe starters, and two as reserves. Here's that breakdown:

Starters: RB Fred Jackson, WR Lee Evans, G/C Eric Wood, DE Aaron Schobel, DT Marcus Stroud, LB Kawika Mitchell, CB Terrence McGee, FS Jairus Byrd, P Brian Moorman

Fringe starters: TE Shawn Nelson, OT Brad Butler, OG Andy Levitre, DE Aaron Maybin, DT Kyle Williams, CB Leodis McKelvin

Reserves: C/G Geoff Hangartner, DT Spencer Johnson

Keep in mind that all of these players are currently under contract through the end of the 2012 season. That means that, if each plays to the end of their contract, they'll be in Buffalo for another three years. The fact that each player has at least three years left on his deal at least ensures that they'll be part of the roster in Year 1 of a new regime, and many of them will be playing considerably large roles.

For this exercise, the criteria changes a bit. "Crux players," as far as we're concerned for now, are players that, once the 2009 season ends, will have either one or two years left on their current deal. Each is under contract for the 2010 season, but each also has a deal that makes it possible for a new regime to play football in 2010 without these players under contract. They are truly "crux" players in that a new regime will be making its most important decisions amongst this group. The entire new direction of the franchise from a personnel standpoint will be based largely on evaluations of these 19 players.

Keep in mind, also, that this list changes if 2010 is an uncapped year. Ask MattRichWarren about it.

Buffalo's 19 "crux players"
You'll have a task at the end of this exercise, but for now, here's a quick summary of the 19 crux players on Buffalo's roster:

Trent Edwards, QB - Signed through 2011. He's been benched and needs a new environment, but some talent remains.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB - Signed through 2012. Has proven to be reliable as a backup, but is not considered a franchise signal-caller.
Brian Brohm, QB - Signed through 2012. A project player with some solid tools, there's a chance he never sees the field for Buffalo.
Marshawn Lynch, RB - Signed through 2013, with an opt-out clause in the final year. No longer the starting running back, Lynch might be the subject of trade talks this off-season.
Corey McIntyre, FB - Signed through 2011. Run-of-the-mill player.
James Hardy, WR - Signed through 2012. Buffalo invested a second-round pick in him, and the talent is there, but Hardy has had injury issues and hasn't seen the field much.
Roscoe Parrish, WR - Signed through 2012. Has clamored for a trade, but a new regime might be inclined to keep him as a punt returner. Unlikely to get PT as a WR anywhere.
Steve Johnson, WR - Signed through 2012. Held in high regard by current regime, but that could change quickly, and doesn't carry the same investment as Hardy.
Derek Fine, TE - Signed through 2012. Probably survives a regime change because he's a role player with special teams ability.
Demetrius Bell, OT - Signed through 2012. Has struggled with injuries and on the playing field, but again, there is raw ability to work with.
Chris Kelsay, DE - Signed through 2011. A heady veteran who has improved under position coach Bob Sanders, but has a large salary that might seal his fate.
Chris Ellis, DE - Signed through 2012. Does not play a significant role now and that's not likely to change, but represents a significant investment ('08 third-round pick).
John McCargo, DT - Signed through 2011. Nothing more than a rotational tackle at this point in his disappointing career.
Paul Posluszny, LB - Signed through 2011. Sure to be the most intensely-debated player on this list.
Drayton Florence, CB - Signed through 2011. Has been excellent as a fill-in starter, and has scheme versatility.
Reggie Corner, CB - Signed through 2012. Reserve-type corner that has his uses, but should never be counted on as a starter.
Donte Whitner, S - Signed through 2011, with an opt-out clause in the final year. Could be a UFA as soon as this coming March. New regime might feel differently about him.
John Wendling, S - Signed through 2011. Special teams player only.
Rian Lindell, K - Signed through 2012. Reliable and gets more consistent with age.

Your Task
There's your list, folks. Some of those names obviously carry much more weight and importance than others. Your task: pick out the players that you believe are worth keeping around. Then, of those names, split them into starters and reserves. Combined with your input from the original post, this should really cement your ideas about where you'd take the franchise if you were GM.

Game Day Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/29

MattRichWarren — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:21:37 -0000

Gameday Tipsheet - Week 12 | BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown's things to watch for.

Buffalo Bills set to host Miami Dolphins | Democrat and Chronicle
John Wawrow's AP preview

Simmons expected to start – Inside The Bills
The seven-year veteran Kendall Simmons is expected to start at right guard in place of rookie Eric Wood.

Game Previews
Bills-Dolphins Preview | BuffaloBills.com
Preview from the Associated Press.

Bills Daily Gameday Preview
The Bills blog gives its preview.

Dolphins' Porter out to prove he's not all talk : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Expect Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter to have blood in his eye Sunday when he faces the Buffalo Bills.

NFL Preview - Miami (5-5) at Buffalo (3-7) | Sports Network
The 2009 season has descended into the abyss for the Buffalo Bills. On Sunday, when Perry Fewell makes his Ralph Wilson Stadium debut as the team's interim head coach, the 3-7 Bills will be looking to drag the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins down with them.

Week 12 NFL game previews - USATODAY.com
Dolphins @ Bills is a third of the way down the page: The Dolphins have won the past three meetings by an average of 16.7 points.

Bills-Dolphins scouting report : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Here is Allen Wilson's breakdown of today's matchup.

Game Day: Buffalo Bills | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana's six points and gameday preview.

Dolphins vs. Bills Preview | wgrz.com
Adam Benigni spoke with Dolphins color Commentator Joe Rose as the team arrived at the Adam's Mark hotel in downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo Bills Game Day (Two Bills Drive)
Gameday preview by the Bills blog, Two Bills Drive.

Who has the edge: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.com
Armando Salguero breaks down who has the edge during several specific times in the game like when the Bills run or the Dolphins pass.

Team in Transition
Russ Grimm emerges as candidate for Bills job | ProFootballTalk.com
Charley Casserly of CBS's The NFL Today suggested the Cardinals line coach.

Mike Shanahan, Leslie Frazier among NFL coaching candidates - Don Banks - SI.com
Don Banks profiles the list of potential head coaches fir 2010.

The Tuna recipe to NFL success : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Dolphins football chief Bill Parcells built winners in New York, New England and Dallas, and now he has helped remake Miami in his own image. The veteran coach's doctrines are no secret; adopting them could pay major dividends for the Bills.

A strong GM is a thing of the past in these parts : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Jerry Sullivan profiles Colts GM Bill Polian.

UFL's Jim Haslett Contacted for NFL Job --FanHouse
Haslett didn't elaborate or even say if it was for a head coaching job or a coordinator position.

Tasker, Reed named Hall of Fame Semifinalists
Hall of Fame announces 25 semifinalists | ProFootballTalk.com
No-brainers for enshrinement are Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice. Tim Brown might have to wait until Carter gets in. Reed arguably should get in before either of them.

NFL Videos: Road to Canton with Rod Woodson
The Hall of Fame DB discusses Tim Brown, Cris Carter, and Andre Reed. When asked to pick one of the 3 he picks Andre calling him "the most complete" and "the greatest at yards after the catch".

Reed, Tasker Make Final 25 List for NFL HOF : Buffalo Sports Daily
"In what is sure to raise the ire of Buffalo Bills fans everywhere, Darryl Talley was inexcusably not included among the final 25."

More Bills News
ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive - Florida Gators college football
New Bills practice squader Jason Watkins played on the UFL's New York Sentinels.

Calls and Effect: AFC East penalty tracker - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Officials already have marched off 75 infractions against the Buffalo Bills. Their 71 accepted penalties last year were the NFL's second-fewest.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
"[Eric Wood] is back in town ... and everything looks good," interim coach Perry Fewell said.

Mace jersey number – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown is worried that Mace's promotion means Marcus Stroud may be limited even if he plays.

Prep work already on Jets – Inside The Bills
Buffalo's position coaches already have the shell of the game plan set up for the Thursday night game against the Jets.

Felser: Bills need to find out Brohm's capabilities : The Buffalo News
The Bills need to find out everything there is to know about Brohm and his possibilities as a quarterback who could produce a contender in Buffalo says Larry Felser.

Buffalo Bills have lost their home-field advantage | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana laments the loss of Buffalo's homefield advantage.

Video: Kelly wants Bills to draft Tebow - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN takes a look at Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly's recent comments about Tim Tebow being a perfect fit for the Buffalo Bills.

Wilson owes a debt to fans like Chuck : Donn Esmonde : The Buffalo News
Donn Esmonde uses a fan named Chuck Jones to highlight some of the struggles Bills fans go through rooting for the team when they are so bad.

Answer Man: Buffalo Bills should consider McCoy | Democrat and Chronicle
"I believe McCoy has the arm strength, accuracy, mobility and savvy to be a very good NFL quarterback for a long time."

Bills finished with Edwards | Olean Times Herald
Chuck Pollack thinks the BIlls addition of Brian Brohm means they are permanently done with Trent Edwards on any level - backup this year, backup next year, starter if Fitzpatrick is hurt.

Bills Tweets
Terrell Owens
Is it time 2 put the Xmas tree??? I'm puttin up my tree rite now: http://tweetphoto.com/5516897

Thurman Thomas
@DarrylTalley ur a hall of famer in my book, I love you and ur family

Lydell Sargent
Mannn Tim Tebow has hearttt bro!!! Heart, Passion, Swag!! I can respect it....

ESPN's Adam Schefter
Q: What do you think the chances of terrell owens staying in buffalo?
A: Far less than chances he'd ever play there.

Former Bill Ross Tucker
Love the fake QB sneak by ND. We did that in Buffalo vs. Seattle in 2004. Mike Mularkey special.

Ross Tucker
JeremyNPike: "One more game and the Bills would have been in the playoffs. So close that year."
Tucker's response: "Tell me about it."

Thurman Thomas
Gameday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wld be nice if 72,000 fans gave the Dolphins the Bud Adams at the same time... I'm just saying

Thurman Thomas
They sld show nothing but Bills/Dolphins highlights on jumbo tron today.... 90's highlights...Y I'm not workin over there blows my mind

The AP's John Wawrow
#Bills #Dolphins an absolutely perfect late November morning for Buffalo. Mild, partly cloudy. 2 bad not many fans showing up early.

Thurman Thomas
I asked Thurman: "Do you hate the Dolphins more or less now than you did before your one year there?"
He responded: "less it ws a different experience, but I gained alot of friends there. Taylor, Zac,McDuffie,even got 2 spend time wit Marino"

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.