Inside The Bills

Supplemental draft is on

The NFL Supplemental draft was postponed earlier this week, but a new date has now been set.

The league announced that the Supplemental draft will take place on Mon. Aug. 22. And former Ohio St. QB Terrelle Pryor is eligible, however he will face a five-game suspension to start his NFL career. It relates back to his NCAA violations, which is an interesting development knowing in the past the NFLPA has been opposed to NCAA violations coming back to bite players already in the NFL.

Here are some other top prospects in the Supplemental draft pool.

DB Torez Jones - West Carolina
RB Caleb King - Georgia 
DE Keenan Mace – Lindenwood college 
DE Mike McAdoo North Carolina
DB Tracy Wilson Northern Illinois

Bills Daily Charge – Aug. 18

DAILY REPORT
– The Buffalo Bills will hold their final practice at St. John Fisher College today starting at 2:20 PM.  The Bills will break camp and resume practice in Orchard Park on Monday, August 22 at 3:30 PM, following the team’s second preseason contest this Saturday in Denver.  Training camp media rules will apply upon the team’s return to Orchard Park until the start of the first regular season week on Sunday, September 4^th. 

– The Buffalo Bills announced they will celebrate their eleventh annual Kids Day promotion at the 7:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2011 home preseason game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

As part of Kids Day, the Jacksonville game will feature special giveaways, fun interactive games, face painting, reduced concessions pricing, Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo, post-game fireworks, and a special Ryan Fitzpatrick Bills schedule poster giveaway for all kids 14 years of age and under.

DAILY LINKS
BuffaloBills.com – Practice Notes – Day 14

BuffaloBills.com – LB White hopes ankle is right next week

Buffalo News – Big plays may require special effort

Buffalo News – Maybin can’t wait to face Bills

Buffalo News – Extension talks with Williams have begun

Rochester D&C – Buffalo Bills wide receiver Donald Jones catches on

Associated Press – Bills DL Williams in talks to extend contract

Sports Illustrated – Postcard from camp: Bills

Canandaigua Daily Messenger – It’s not just a football team, it’s a common bond

Canandaigua Daily Messenger – Things I learned at Bills camp on Wednesday, Aug. 17

Scott Pitoniak.com – Putting the Maybin draft bust into historical perspective

TV/Video/Audio/Photo Clips
WGR550 – Fred Jackson Norton in the morning

WIVB – Bills final prime time practice

WKBW – PM Practice Transcripts

WHAM – Camping with the Bills

YNN – Opportunities along Bills OL

YNN – Bills adjust to new training camp rules

Additional Clips
Inside The Bills
Bills on the radio, Bills game time Sat. changed, Kyle: Extension talks are new, Moving parts at center, Levitre getting reps at center, Parrish limited, Merriman sitting, Roscoe returns, Vote for Marcell, Levitre confirms LG rotation, Levitre back with 1’s

BillBoard
Dareus highlights night practice
Kyle Williams wants to stay
Buffalo big in fantasy ranking
Kids Day vs. Jaguars

WGR
Bills’ Levitre Focused on Getting Job Back
Dareus, Defense Dominates Bills Practice
Dareus Aims to Put the Fun Back in Bills Football

ProFootballWeekly – New ‘Lights Out’ expects to shine in 2011

QUOTE FOR THE DAY
DL Kyle Williams on where he sees the biggest difference with the defense this year — “I think we have more talent spread out.  You have Merriman, Marcell (Dareus), Nick (Barnett), you’ve got guys on the back end that can play.  I feel like I can do some good things.  I think we have talent spread out throughout the defense, guys who can make plays and guys who create things for one another.  Hopefully I can create things for Marcell (Dareus) and he can continue to get better and make some things (happen) for me, me for Merriman, all of us for Nick (Barnett).  I think it will be good.  All of us play off of each other, play fair and do some good things.”

PHOTO OF THE DAY

CJ Spiller takes a photo with his special guests Kristian Nicoletta of Barrie, ON and his father Nick Nicoletta following last night’s training camp practice at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY.  Spiller signed a pair of adidas cleats for the Nicoletta family.  CJ first met Kristian while participating in NFL Canada’s Take a Player to School event on February 10, 2011 when Spiller visited Kristian’s Monsignor Clair School in East Barrie.

After a wet night practice on Monday, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick signs in the rain for some young fans.

Bills on the radio

Here’s the rundown of Bills coaches and players due to appear on the radio airwaves Thursday morning.

Chan Gailey – Norton in the Morning; 97 Rock at 7:15 am (listen online)
Ryan Fitzpatrick – Steve Czaban Show; Yahoo! Sports Radio at 8:30 am
Nick Barnett – Howard Simon Show; WGR 550 at 8:30 am

Bills game time Sat. changed

The Denver Broncos, who play host to the Bills on Saturday evening for Buffalo’s second preseason game have changed the start time of the game.

That according to the team’s website blog page. The club moved the time of the game back a half hour and announced it on their twitter account as well.

Kyle: Extension talks are new

Bills Pro Bowl DT Kyle Williams confirmed that talks on an extension have begun, but that it’s still very early in the negotiating process.

“They’re just talking,” Williams told Buffalobills.com. ”It’s not far along so that’s really, I really don’t know much other than that. I kind of let my guy do that stuff and I don’t deal with it. But that being said, this is where I want to be. I feel like we’ve got a chance, moving in the right direction, got some good players here, and I want to see what I started here through.”

For more on Williams and his superb training camp you can reference tonight’s practice report and find his comments on how excited he is about teaming up with Marcell Dareus up front.

Moving parts at center

Geoff Hangartner got some of his first snaps with the starters Wednesday night.

Hangartner stepped in at center with the starters in place of Eric Wood. Andy Levitre also took a few reps at center with the ones.

Levitre getting reps at center

In addition to being back with the starters at left guard, Levitre is also taking reps at another position.

During run fits Levitre took a few snaps at center with the second unit. If his time increases there it can’t be seen as a positive development for Geoff Hangartner.

Parrish limited

Roscoe Parrish is back practicing, but he’s very limited.

He did individual position drills and a punt return at half speed, but no team reps.

Merriman sitting

Head coach Chan Gailey said he would err on the side of caution with Shawne Merriman, and so a day after Merriman’s practice was cut short due to muscle tightness, he’s a spectator again tonight.
The tightness as he described it is in his right leg. Other non-participants tonight included some new players in Dwan Edwards and Mansfield Wrotto.

Here are the other non-participants.

Justin Rogers
Kelvin Sheppard
Chris White
Chris Hazley
Shawn Nelson
Chris Hairston
Kellen Heard
T.J. Langley
Craig Davis

Roscoe returns

WR Roscoe Parrish is back in the fold practicing tonight.

The slot WR is returning from a tweaked hamstring. We’ll see if he gets a full share of reps tonight or if his workload is scaled back. He has nt practiced in almost a week.

Vote for Marcell

The NFL Players site has a touchdown dance contest going on right now between members of the 2011 draft class and Marcell Dareus was a part of it. Buffalo’s top pick needs your vote!

Dareus along with Patriots RB Shane Vereen, Panthers QB Cam Newton and Chargers RB Jordan Todman all performed touchdown dances on camera at the rookie premiere earlier this offseason. So make sure you vote for Marcell.

Personally I think Dareus’ touchdown dance is the most enthusiastic.

Levitre confirms LG rotation

Bills LG Andy Levitre was back with the starting offensive line at Wednesday’s morning walk through, indicating that’s where he’ll be for the Bills night practice tonight. Head coach Chan Gailey hinted that a split of time at the starting left guard spot would be taking place between Levitre and Rinehart. Levitre confirmed that after the walk through.

“We’re just rotating,” Levitre said. ”They wanted to see what both of us have to offer. We’re competing for a job. We’re going to be switching back and forth.”

Presumably Levitre and Rinehart will switch off every day to keep the reps as even as possible. Levitre, a two-year starter at left guard, admitted he was a bit surprised by the move Tuesday, but is committed to proving he deserves the starting role.

“I didn’t see it coming at all,” Levitre said of being bumped down to second team Tuesday. ”It’s not the greatest feeling in the world but hopefully that will bring some more competition out of me and make us both better players. I know that Chad (Rinehart) is a good player so competition will be good for us in the long run.”

Levitre back with 1′s

LG Andy Levitre is back lining up with the starting unit on Buffalo’s offensive line in this morning’s walk through.

He had been replaced by Chad Rinehart in the starting lineup in Tuesday’s practice.

Head coach Chan Gailey had said that Rinehart earned the right to compete for a starting job and at least split first team reps, which looks to be the case.

Bills Daily Charge – Aug. 17

DAILY REPORT
– The Buffalo Bills announced a new partnership with Hunt Real Estate, the largest family-owned and operated real estate company in the area.  As part of the agreement, Hunt Real Estate will be the Official Real Estate & Relocation Firm of the Bills.

TODAY’S INTERVIEWS
Marcell Dareus – John DiTullio Show; 1280 WHTK around 5:00 PM – Live on Campus (www.whtk.com)

DAILY LINKS
Buffalobills.com – Practice Notes – Day 13

Buffalobills.com – Johnson wants leaders behind him

Buffalo News – Changing of the guard for the Bills

Buffalo News – Stevie wants to share leadership role

Buffalo News – White to Miss at least two weeks with ankle injury

Rochester D&C – Chan Gailey shuffles Buffalo Bills’ offensive line

Associated Press – Nix: Offensive line depth Bills’ primary concern

Wellsville Daily – Maybin joins long list of Bills’ busts

Messenger Post – Buffalo’s big mike

TV/Video/Audio/Photo Clips
103.3 The Edge  - Ruben Brown joins us to talk BILLS.

WIVB – Bills look at Rinehart at LG

WGRZ – O-Line Depth Bills Top Concern

WHEC
Marv Levy takes novel approach to football
Johnson ready to lead

YNN – Bills Training Camp Winds Down

The Score 1260 – On The Block With Brad Smith!

TSN Radio 1050 – Mike Richards: Fred Jackson

Other Clips
Inside the Bills
Williams thankful for vet input, WR Davis prognosis increased, LB White to miss Broncos game, Merriman has muscle tightness, Merriman’s day over, Changes on the O-line

BillBoard Blog
Video: Tuesday’s practice

Bills Beat Blog
Levitre Out, Rinehart In at Left Guard
Bills’ Merriman Sits Out Half of Practice

Buffalo Rumblings
Ryan Fitzpatrick Remains Very High On Donald Jones

Pro Football Talk
Fitzpatrick expects big things from Donald Jones, Brad Smith
PFT Live: Ryan Fitzpatrick

QUOTE FOR THE DAY
Head Coach Chan Gailey on Stevie Johnson — “I think Stevie is very confident in his game. I think he really believes in himself. If he gets down on himself, it’s short-lived. That’s the way you better be in this league because we’re counting on him to make a play the next time. He’s going to drop another one. I don’t care what anyone says. He will. You get over it and go on to the next one. He’s going to make a lot more good plays than bad ones in our offense. I think he learned to handle some of that stuff off the field more than I worry about anything on the field.”

PHOTOS OF THE DAY
A Day At Training Camp

Williams thankful for vet input

Bills second-round pick Aaron Williams knew he was flying blind coming into training camp with no rookie minicamp, no OTAs and no mandatory minicamp in the spring. That’s why he’s so appreciative of the tutoring time veterans in the secondary have given him.

Williams thanked George Wilson and Jairus Byrd in particular on his twitter account.

WR Davis prognosis increased

Bills WR Craig Davis initially was thought to be sidelined for about three days with his undisclosed injury suffered Monday night. Now the length of time he’ll be out has been increased.

“He’s about a week,” said Gailey of the time Davis is expected to miss on the field.

That will put him out for the Bills next preseason game at Denver on Saturday.

LB White to miss Broncos game

Rookie LB Chris White, who was injured in the preseason opener, was not even on the practice field watching for the second straight day. Head coach Chan Gailey said he’ll be on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

“He’s a couple of weeks, three weeks away,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “He got rolled up on pretty good so he’s going to be out a while.”

White sustained an ankle injury in the game against the Bears.

Merriman has muscle tightness

LB Shawne Merriman cut his practice day short Tuesday afternoon. He explains why.

“It’s a little tight,” he said. “I didn’t play much Saturday, but coming out here I got a good workout early and I’ll see how I feel tomorrow and just go from there.”

Merriman did not take part in any team drills Tuesday as he pulled himself out of practice during 1-on-1 pass rush drills.

Head coach Chan Gailey said his situation is minor.

Merriman ‘s day over

Shawne Merriman’s practice day appears over.

Merriman looked as though he tweaked something during 1-on-1 pass rush drills and has not taken a rep in 11-on-11 team work to this point.

We’ll have an update post practice.

Changes on the O-line

Tuesday’s afternoon practice brought changes on Buffalo’s starting offensive line.

Second string LG Chad Rinehart is lining up with the starting unit while LG Andy Levitre is lining up with the second team.

We’ll get more answers on this change after practice.