Inside The Bills

Patriots injury report

Here’s New England’s injury report for this week’s game against Buffalo.

C Dan Koppen – ankle – injured reserve
CB Kyle Arrington – concussion – did not practice
S Patrick Chung – hand – did not practice
TE Aaron Hernandez – knee – did not practice
OT Sebastian Vollmer – back – did not practice
DE Mike Wright – concussion – did not practice
CB Ras-I Dowling – hip – limited in practice
TE Dan Gronkowski – hamstring – limited in practice
LB Gary Guyton – hamstring – limited in practice
LB Jerod Mayo – thigh - limited in practice
P Zoltan Mesko – knee – limited in practice
WR Taylor Price – hamstring – limited in practice
C Ryan Wendell – calf – limited in practice
S Josh Barrett - thumb – full practice
CB Leigh Bodden – hand – full practice
LB Dane Fletcher – thumb – full practice

Bills injury report

Here’s the Bills injury report for Week 3 and practice participation for Wednesday.

DL Spencer Johnson – hip – did not practice
WR Stevie Johnson – groin – did not practice
CB Terrence McGee – hamstring – did not practice
LB Kirk Morrison – hamstring – did not practice
DT Torell Troup – lower back – full practice
OL Kraig Urbik – knee – did not practice

Merriman’s workload

Bills head coach Chan Gailey addressed it on Monday, that Shawne Merriman is still being paced with respect to his play count in regular season games as was the case in the preseason. Merriman himself confirmed that he’s on a play count week to week for the most part.

“I feel good,” he said. ”I don’t think I’m ever going to play every play throughout the whole season. Like Coach had said that’s unrealistic. When I’m in there I want to be 100 percent. I want to feel like I have my legs up under me. That’s being able to go out and play that game, and the rest of the games and beyond.”

Belichick on Fitz

Bill Belichick had some praise for Ryan Fitzpatrick’s game thus far in his conference call with the Buffalo media Wednesday.

“Ryan did a great job against us in the first game last season,” said Belichick. ”He’s very smart, we all know that, and does a great job in reading defenses and checking the plays, getting them into the right play against different looks, and he’s accurate. He makes good decisions with the ball, and makes quick decisions. He’s certainly good with the ball in his hands.

“As a scrambler he can avoid guys in the pocket and make plays with his feet as well as his arm. He’s working with a lot of good playmakers, both skilled players and the offensive line. He’s done a great job, and he’s got a lot of good players working with him there.”

Urbik targeting next week

Bills starting right guard Kraig Urbik is out 2-4 weeks with a left knee injury, but he’s hoping to be on the short side of that prognosis.

“I’m looking to be back practicing by next week,” Urbik told Buffalobills.com. “My range of motion is coming along so hopefully it’ll be better next week.”

Naturally the team’s athletic training staff will have a lot to say about whether Urbik practices or not.

Urbik was injured in last Sunday’s game against Oakland. He was not on the practice field Wednesday. Chad Rinehart is expected to start at right guard in his place this Sunday against New England.

Stevie spectating

Bills WR Stevie Johnson is not practicing here at 1 Bills Drive on Wednesday.

Johnson is dealing with a nagging groin injury, but insisted he will play on Sunday against the Patriots.

Here are the other non-participants on Wednesday.

Terrence McGee
Kirk Morrison
Kraig Urbik
Spencer Johnson

Nix sees Spiller progress too

On the home page of Buffalobills.com today (Wed.) we profile the progress C.J. Spiller is demonstrating early in his second NFL season. His production on Sunday, with three of his four carries going for 10 yards or more (12, 18, 26) has Bills GM Buddy Nix encouraged about what’s to come down the line.

Personnel bosses are typically more patient than fans with top draft choices, which is why Nix when addressing the Monday QB Club earlier this week explained how the deck is often stacked against high draft picks.

“Nobody drafted in the top 10 can ever live up to the expectations of the fans and the media,” said Nix in reference to Spiller. “You can’t do it. It’s impossible. You get too much money and everybody expects too much. That being said we did get C.J. a little more involved (last Sunday).”

To further his point, Nix pointed to Oakland’s top back, who trails Fred Jackson by just seven yards right now for the league’s top rushing spot thus far this season.

“That guy that ran up and down the field on us (Sunday), number 20, McFadden, was a “bust” for two years,” said Nix. “He didn’t play. He just didn’t adapt to the game. These running backs if they stay healthy and C.J. stays healthy, with the kind of kid he is, he’ll be a really good player for us. We’ll let Chan figure out where to use him.”

After rushing for just 856 yards and five TDs over his first two NFL seasons, McFadden had 1,157 yards rushing and 507 yards receiving on 47 catches and 10 TDs in 2010.

Meet Kyle Williams & Andra Davis

Bills Pro Bowl DT and team captain Kyle Williams and ILB and team captain Andra Davis will visit the Verizon Wireless kiosk in the Walden Galleria Mall to meet with fans and sign complimentary autographs tonight (Wednesday).

Williams and Davis will be at the Verizon Wireless kiosk from 6-7 pm.

The two Buffalo defenders are the spokespersons for Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program in Upstate New York.  Williams and Davis encourage all fans to make a difference in the life of a domestic violence survivor by donating their no longer used wireless phones at the Bills home game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday Sept 25^th.  Fans donating a wireless phone at the game will receive an Andra Davis poster at the entry gates.

You can also bring your no longer used cell phone when you come to meet Kyle and Andra tonight at the Galleria as well to donate to the cause.

Nix: Likes Bills being sleeper

SI.com’s Peter King believes the Bills are a sleeper team in the AFC, and upon hearing that opinion during a radio appearance on the FAN590 in Toronto, Nix is fine with Buffalo currently having that label.

“We are a sleeper,” he said. ”There’s been very little written or said about us. It’s kind of like we’re an afterthought. That’s how it seems to me and I’m not complaining about no respect. You have to earn respect. They don’t give that away.

“We haven’t earned it. That’s what we’re working toward is trying to make people notice and then people talk about you. They write about you, talk about you and good things happen for your players, but you have to earn it.”

If Buffalo can manage a win over the Patriots on Sunday they might not be a sleeper anymore.

Fitz mic’d up on NFL Replay

Buffalo’s dramatic 38-35 come from behind win over the Raiders in Week 2 is going to be part of the NFL Network’s Replay series Wednesday night.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was mic’d up for the game by NFL Films, so his commentary will be interspersed into the replay of the game throughout. Knowing the Bills offense scored on all five of their possessions in the second half it’s likely you’ll hear a lot from Fitz in this one. The Bills-Raiders replay airs tonight (Wednesday) on NFL Network at 8 pm.

BDC 9/21: Wilson’s $1M donation, Roosevelt promoted and more

DAILY REPORT
– Through the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, the Ralph and Mary Wilson have given $1 million to honor the Bills team physicians in the UB Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, where they teach and train five orthopaedic residents and two sports medicine fellows per year.  Read the story from the University at Buffalo >>>

– The Buffalo Bills announced that the team has promoted WR Naaman Roosevelt to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.  Buffalo also announced that the team has placed WR Roscoe Parrish on Injured Reserve.  The Bills also announced the signing of OG Keith Williams to the practice squad.  The Bills also announced that the team has reached an injury settlement with LB Robert Eddins and released him from Injured Reserve.  

– The NFL announced that Fred Jackson has been nominated for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week award.  Fans can vote at NFL.com/FedEx from 9 a.m. EST on Tuesday through 3 p.m. EST on Friday to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week. The winners will be announced Friday on NFL Total Access on NFL Network and on NFL.com.  

– The NFL has announced that Ryan Fitzpatrick’s game-winning touchdown pass to David Nelson has been nominated for the ‘GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week’.  Fans can vote on NFL.com/gmc beginning immediately following Monday Night Football and ending on Friday at noon ET to determine the GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE WEEK.  The winner will be announced Friday during NFL Network’s “Around the League” show and then posted on NFL.com.

– Were you at the home opener? Check out the Super Focus FanCam from the Bills home opener on Sunday, Sept. 18.  http://www.buffalobills.com/fans/fancam091811.html

– Today’s Practice
Wednesday, September 20
Practice: 2:00 PM / Open to Media at Approximately 2:00 PM (Stretch & Individual only)

TODAY’S MEDIA APPEARANCES
– Fred Jackson – Shredd and Ragan Player of the Week; 103.3 The Edge after practice @ 4:10 PM
– Tonight at 8:00 pm NFL Network will air NFL Replay: Buffalo Bills vs. Oakland Raiders.  QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was wired for sound by NFL Films and the footage will be featured in this broadcast.

DAILY LINKS
BuffaloBills.com – Parrish’s season ends early again

Buffalo News – Bills activate Roosevelt, put Parrish on IR

Rochester D&C – The Buffalo Bills are no fluke

Rochester D&C – Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy impressed by Buffalo Bills

Associated Press – Bills place WR Parrish on injured reserve

NFL.com – Fitzpatrick bringing magical touch to surprising 2-0 Bills

University at Buffalo – Wilsons Give $1 Million to UB Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Department

UB Spectrum – UB scores charity touchdown

Olean Times – It’s time Bills fans give due to Fitzpatrick

Lowell Sun – Undefeated Bills are being taken seriously

Arizona Republic – Buffalo Bills’ Ryan Fitzpatrick a real heads-up player

Wellsville Daily – Time for Bills to show what they’re made of

Boston Globe – Matchup is worthy of better billing this time

Los Angeles Times – Buffalo Bills are in a much better place this season

Audio/Video/Photo Clips
BuffaloBills.com – Wilson Foundation Donates to UB

Fan 590 – Buddy Nix talks to Bob McCown about the team’s 2-0 start and this week’s game against New England

WGR
Source: Bills Made Fitzpatrick Offer Last Week
Source: Bills and WR Johnson $2 Million Apart

WIVB – Parrish Out; Roosevelt Up

 WIVB (video)- Wilson donation to UB

WKBW – SPORTSBLAST 7.0 – Bills Parrish to IR, David Nelson talks offense

Additional Clips
Inside the Bills Blog
LB Eddins released from I-R, Lots of Bills in on off day, Vote for Fitz’s GW-TD pass, Vote for Fred!, Merriman still being paced

Fox Sports – Bills have franchise QB in Fitzpatrick

TIME – Bet on Brady and Buffalo

Billboard Blog (Buffalo News) – Roosevelt to 53-man roster, Parrish to IR

Buffalo Rumblings
Buffalo Bills Are Scoring At A Record Pace
NFL Power Rankings, Week 3: Buffalo Bills Continue To Climb

Pro Football Talk
Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish will miss the season
Report: Big gap between Bills, Steve Johnson
C.J. Spiller to get more time at wideout

Pro Football Weekly
Patriots-Bills matchup of the day: Tuesday
Bills WR Parrish done for season
Early look at Week Three
MVP Meter: Circle the wagons

AFC East Blog (ESPN.com)
Thoughts on Roscoe Parrish’s injury
AFC East Power Rankings analysis
AFC East Stock Watch
Sanchez-Henne-Fitz Watch: Week 2

QUOTE FOR THE DAY
Bills Medical Director Dr. John Marzo on the donation from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation to the UB Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine :
“This generous gift from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson means the difference between a good program and an exceptional one for our sports medicine residents and fellows here at UB.  I speak for the other team physicians and the entire orthopaedics and sports medicine department when I say that this donation is invaluable to our efforts.”

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson made a $1 million donation through the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation to the UB Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.  Pictured from left to right, Bills OT Demetrius Bell, Satish Tripathi, Mary Wilson, John Marzo MD, Michael Cain MD

LB Eddins released from I-R

Bills LB Robert Eddins, who landed on injured reserve following Week 1 with an undisclosed injury, has been released from the team’s I-R list.

Eddins reached an injury settlement with the Bills, which likely means his injury is one he feels from which he can return before the 2011 season is over. By league rule, once he can pass a physical, Eddins is eligible to sign with any other NFL club. However, he cannot by rule come back to the Bills this season.

This rule is in place to keep teams from using injured reserve as a protected clearing house to hold onto players and bring them back to the active roster when healthy.

Lots of Bills in on off day

There have been many Bills players at the facility here at One Bills Drive on their off day today (Tuesday).

WR David Nelson tried to ballpark the head count.

Vote for Fitz’s GW-TD pass

The game-winning touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to David Nelson is up for the ‘Never Say Never Moment of the Week’ from Week 2 NFL action. Here’s how you can vote for it.

Just go to the voting site and select Fitz as your winner. You can vote as many times as you want. Here’s the competition he’s up against.

Resilient Romo leads Cowboys to OT victory: A week after falling to the New York Jets in a game in which he turned the ball over twice in the deciding fourth quarter, Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo was forced from the game against the San Francisco 49ers with a cracked rib and a punctured lung. But that didn’t stop him from returning and leading a gutsy comeback. Under his direction and leadership, the Cowboys pulled off an improbable 27-24 victory in overtime.

Buccaneers ride Blount to comeback over Vikings: Things were looking bleak for the Buccaneers, who were trailing 17-0 to Minnesota in the Vikings’ home opener. That’s when RB LeGarrette Blount — who spoke up about his limited role in Tampa Bay’s Week 1 loss to Detroit — helped the Buccaneers avoid an 0-2 start. Blount scored two second-half TDs, including the winner with just 35 seconds left, to give Tampa Bay a 24-20 win.

Fitzpatrick guides Bills’ last-minute win: Trailing 21-3 at home to the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills produced a 35-point second half, survived a wild back-and-forth final quarter and scored the winning touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to claim a 38-35 victory over the Raiders. To attain the winning score, Fitzpatrick engineered a 14-play, 80-yard drive in which the Bills converted twice on fourth down before he tossed the final touchdown.

Vote for Fred!

Bills RB Fred Jackson is up for FedEx NFL Ground Player of the Week for his Week 2 performance against the Raiders in Buffalo’s three-point win last weekend. Here’s how you can vote for Fred to help him beat his competition.

Just go to the voting site and cast your vote for Fred.

Jackson had two touchdowns and 117 yards on just 15 carries to help the Bills overcome the Oakland Raiders, 38-35. His 7.8 yards per carry average was the highest among backs with more than ten carries.

The other candidates he is up against is Atlanta’s Michael Turner, who rushed for 114 yards and a score on 21 carries in the Falcons’ 35-31 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta trailing in the fourth quarter, Turner broke off a 61 yard run to put the Falcons deep into Eagles’ territory. Five plays later, he scored the go-ahead and game-winning touchdown.

And Tampa Bay’s LeGarrette Blount, who tallied 13 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs’ 24-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. His two scores came in the second half as Tampa Bay rallied to win after an early 17-point deficit. His four-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left secured the Bucs’ victory.

Merriman still being paced

We saw it in the preseason. The Bills were being very cautious with the amount of playing time Shawne Merriman received after a lengthy layoff from football. That measured approach has been carried into the regular season.

Bills head coach Chan Gailey confirmed that Merriman’s time on the field is still being curtailed each game. Knowing the intensity of play goes up another notch in the regular season from the preseason, the coaching staff is increasing his workload incrementally each week.

“I think it’s probably unrealistic to think he could go out and play 70 snaps day one for entire games,” said Gailey. ”I think we have to be smart in how we use him. The guy hasn’t played in two years. He showed flashes of what we all think he will be down the line, but we’ve got to make sure that we keep him in a rotation while he’s getting back into it these first few weeks, until he can work himself into an entire ball game. I think that’s sort of the plan right now to make sure we don’t overextend him. We talked about wanting him for the first game. We also want him for game 16 and beyond.”

BDC 9/20: Wilson’s to make $1M donation, FanCam and more

DAILY REPORT
– Ralph and Mary Wilson, in an effort to honor the Buffalo Bills’ team physicians, today are expected to announce a $1 million donation to the University at Buffalo Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.  The gift from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation will support new research and educational programs, particularly for the training of five orthopedic residents and two sports medicine fellows who rotate through the department each year.

– Today’s Interviews
Ryan Fitzpatrick – The Herd w/ Colin Cowherd; ESPN Radio @ 11:15 am
Stevie Johnson – The Jim Rome Show @ 1:30 pm

– Were you at the home opener? Check out the Super Focus FanCam from the Bills home opener on Sunday, Sept. 18.  http://www.buffalobills.com/fans/fancam091811.html

DAILY LINKS
BuffaloBills.com – WR Johnson insists he’ll play Sunday

BuffaloBills.com – Bills offense is rolling

Buffalo News – Tuesday QB: Dissecting the winning drive

Buffalo News – Some reasons for concern about Bills

Buffalo News – Parrish’s ankle injury may have ended his season

Buffalo News – Bills’ owner to give UB medical unit $1 million

Rochester D&C – Buffalo Bills get job done with unknowns

Rochester D&C – Can Buffalo Bills beat New England Patriots?

Associated Press – Big test awaits resurgent, undefeated Bills

Associated Press – Patriots not taking Bills lightly

Olean Times – A 2-0 record looks good on the Bills

National Post – A good time to be a Bills’ fan

The Enterprise – Patriots about to find out if these Bills are legit or counterfit

Audio/Video/Photo Clips
BuffaloBills.com – Chan Gailey Monday Press Conference

WIVB – Bills Fred Jackson is NFL’s top rusher

WKBW – SportsBlast 7.0 – Bills 2-0, Thanks Fred Jackson!

WGRZ – Unbeaten Bills Begin to Focus on Pats

WGR – Bills WR Johnson Dealing with Groin Pain; Parrish Out Long-Term

WHAM – Mike Catalana’s Bills Blog

WROC – Franchise Fitzpatrick?

WHEC – Big test awaits resurgent, undefeated Bills

YNN
Bills pull off comeback win
Fred Jackson is off to a great start

Additional Clips
Inside the Bills Blog
Bills on the air, Move needed at WR?,Stevie update, NFLN’s Lombardi praises Bills, Pats could be without TE, Monday player appearances, Merriman thanks fans

Pro Football Talk
PFT Live: Jackson says Bills are looking to prove themselves
Aaron Hernandez expected to miss Bills game
King on Week Two storylines

Pro Football Weekly
Bills’ offense humming with impressive line play
Bills WR Parrish, OG Urbik to miss time

NFL.com
Gailey proving to be big reason why Bills are part of 2-0 club

AFC East Blog (ESPN.com)
Seven-step drop: Here come the Bills

Billboard Blog (Buffalo News)
Receiver depth a concern with Roscoe out, Stevie hobbled
Urbik out two to four weeks

Buffalo Rumblings
Buffalo Bills’ Fred Jackson Is NFL Rushing Leader Through Week 2
Buffalo Bills’ Offensive Line Stellar Through Two Weeks

Buffalo Sports Daily
Offensive Line Play Key To Bills Early Success

NickMendola.com
Despite perceived game gaffe, liking Chan

QUOTE FOR THE DAY
Head Coach Chan Gailey on the success in the red zone:
“I can give you all the coaching clichés about that we work on it, we spend time on it and all that.  The bottom line it’s execution of being able to defeat the defenses that you play each week.  The guys have done a good job of understanding that we need to score touchdowns down there.  We’ve done it a variety of ways.  Running it and throwing it, more throws I think than runs.  We’ve got to continue to do that.  If you can score touchdowns instead of field goals it helps you win games because you may have to score 30 or 40 points sometimes to win games.”

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Check out the Super Focus FanCam from the Bills home opener on Sunday, Sept. 18.  http://www.buffalobills.com/fans/fancam091811.html

Nix: Chan top play caller around

Bills GM Buddy Nix addressed the Monday QB Club the day after Buffalo’s Week 2 win over Oakland and made a pretty strong statement with respect to his head coach Chan Gailey.

Nix has always been impressed with Gailey’s knack for calling the right play at the right time.

“Chan Gailey might be the best play caller in the business and I’ve thought that before,” he said. “I think the big thing about him is Chan has come up in a situation where he had to do it with lesser talent. Beginning at Troy State back when they were a Division II team and at Samford, he learned the hard way that the cavalry ain’t coming. They’re not going to trade for somebody. You’ve got what you’ve got and you’ve got to adjust to them. That’s an important trait to me.

“These guys that have their own scheme and their own system and try to plug everybody that they have into what they do? It works when you have good players, but when you’ve got guys that you’re developing it’s better to be the other way. I’m excited about what they’re doing.”

Ryan Fitpatrick concurred with Nix when asked about Gailey’s play calling.

“That’s one thing that is very noticeable that I’ve noticed from playing for him is the timing of the play calling,” said Fitzpatrick. ”It’s not just the stuff that we install.  We install some good things, but a lot of times you have to call it at the right time. You have to call it versus the few looks you think you’re going to get it against.  He’s got impeccable timing.  I don’t know if that’s because he’s just been doing it for so long or just a general feel for the game, but that would be one of his biggest strengths, is a play caller.”

Nix on O-line and Fitz

Bills GM Buddy Nix addressed the Monday QB Club the day after Buffalo’s win over Oakland and had some praise for his team’s offensive line as well as a comment regarding speculation on a contract extension for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Nix felt the job turned in by the offensive line was a quality performance knowing the caliber of the Raiders’ defensive front.

“Oakland, this is the best Oakland team as far as coaching and talent that I’ve seen in 10 years,” he said. ”So it’s encouraging that they’ve got eight defensive linemen and they look like they can block out the sun when they get out there. To be able to keep him off our quarterback is a pretty good feat. Our quarterback if you keep him upright and don’t let him get hit early he can do a lot of good things for us.”

Nix then responded to the speculation that talks have begun on an extension for Fitzpatrick.

“They say we’re in contract negotiations and that’s news to me,” said Nix. ”But don’t tell anyone I was saying a lot of good things about him.”

Bills on the air

Here’s a listing of Bills player appearances on the radio airwaves for Tuesday.

Ryan Fitzpatrick – The Herd w/ Colin Cowherd; ESPN Radio @ 11:15 am
Stevie Johnson – The Jim Rome Show @ 1:30 pm