Inside The Bills

Mario: Condolences to Deacon Jones family

Bills DE Mario Williams was paying his respects to Hall of Fame DE Deacon Jones, who passed Monday at age 74.

Thoughts are with the family of the great NFL defensive end pioneer and original sack artist Deacon Jones.

— Mario Williams (@bbwolf94) June 4, 2013

Bills Hall of Fame DE Bruce Smith also reflected on his relationship with Jones as a friend and mentor.

Virginia based NFL’ers like EJ plentiful

EJ Manuel is just the latest in a long line of NFL players that hail from the Tidewater region of Virginia. As we profiled on the home page of Buffalobills.com, Manuel is following a few generations of premier athletes that grew up playing on the same fields that he did as a kid. Here’s a list of just some of the more notable names from the NFL who hailed from the so called Seven Cities.

NFL players from Tidewater, Virginia area
Antoine Bethea
Ahmad Bradshaw
Plaxico Burress
Kenny Easley
Charlie Garner
DeAngelo Hall
Thomas Jones
Jerod Mayo
Herman Moore
Darren Perry
Darren Sharper
Bruce Smith
Shawn Springs
Lawrence Taylor
Al Toon
Michael Vick
Damien Woody

In the NBA you’ve got the likes of Allen Iverson and Alonzo Mourning and in baseball there’s B.J. and Justin Upton as well as David Wright. Even in boxing you’ve Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker.

Manuel has connection with Bruce Smith

Florida State QB E.J. Manuel has worked out for the Bills coaching staff in a private session. And he visited One Bills Drive a couple of weeks ago. But his connections with the Bills franchise don’t end there.

Manuel is a product of Virginia Beach, Virginia, the same hometown as Bills Hall of Famer Bruce Smith. And Manuel says he’s had a longstanding relationship with Smith over the years.

“Bruce is basically my godfather,” Manuel said Friday night, in an appearance on The John Murphy Show. “I’ve known him since I was pretty much a baby. He’s been very involved in this process and when I was in college, giving me a lot of things, and telling me just to enjoy the process.”

The process has been lengthy for Manuel, starting with his work as the Offensive MVP at the Senior Bowl in January, continuing with a strong showing at the Combine in Feburary, and then private workouts and pre-draft visits to several teams, including the Bills.

But he tells host John Murphy he’s looking forward to the payoff–being introduced by Roger Goodell as a first round draft pick on April 25th. He’s one of 23-players invited to attend the draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

“That was one of the bigger goals for me going into this pre-draft process, to get the opportunity to be at Radio City Music Hall for the draft,” he said. “And whenever my name is called, to get a chance to go up and shake Roger Goodell’s hand, that will be a memorable time in my life. I may still be wiping tears from my face, I’m so excited about it.”

Manuel is also excited that his mother, who has been battling cancer, will be able to attend the draft in New York in two weeks.

“She’ll be there,” he said on the radio show. “She still has to get radiation. She’s been working the last two or three weeks and she’s doing a lot better. I’m extremely proud of my mom.”

The entire interview with QB E.J. Manuel is available at Buffalobills.com\johnmurphyshow

Carrington ties Bruce Smith

Bills DT Alex Carrington, who was dubbed ‘Megahand’ by Stevie Johnson after his crucial field goal in the overtime win at Arizona, has now been credited with a third blocked kick this season after a scoring change in last week’s game.

#Bills DT Alex Carrington has been credited with the blocked extra point in last week’s game, his 3rd blocked kick of the season

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) December 19, 2012

The blocked extra point attempt by the Seahawks last week was originally credited to Marcell Dareus, but has been changed and credited to Carrington. That is his third blocked kick this season making Carrington the first Bills players since Bruce Smith in 1996 to block three kicks in one season.

Mario: missed tackles cost us

After reviewing the game tape on Monday DE Mario Williams cited one area of the defensive effort that was sorely lacking in the loss to the Patriots.

Appearing on the Bruce Smith show by phone down in Virginia Beach, Williams pointed to the team’s inconsistent tackling as a big culprit in being unable to stop the Patriots’ offense in the second half.

“After watching film we had good success in the first half. We got off the field without giving them a touchdown and they missed a couple of field goals,” Williams said. “In the second half we didn’t handle the four turnovers very well. When there’s a turnover we have to respond to those sudden changes and aid the offense it’s a team game. When there’s a sudden change we have to go out and execute.

“Those 28 points off turnovers are on us. We have to answer the bell and stop their momentum. That’s something that we didn’t do. For whatever reason we had the most missed tackles in a game this season. In fact there were more than in the first three games combined. We also weren’t in the proper gaps and not playing the scheme right across the board.”

Williams said when the Bills defense started having trouble stopping the Patriots, some guys tried to do too much on defense in an effort to make a play and compromised the scheme as a result.

Fan Friday 7-27

Alright Bills fans, training camp is underway! Time to get to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net, and keep them coming. You can also fire off questions to @chrisbrownbills on twitter if that’s easier. Let’s get going.

1 - Chris,

I understand that Mario Williams is going to do fine in the new 4-3 scheme being installed in Buffalo, but can any comparison be made to how Jason Taylor was used in Miami under Wannstedt?  If so, can you break down how you see him being used and what type of scheme Miami used with Taylor.  Were they just turning Taylor loose to use his ability?  How did the other players on that Miami front 7 compare to the ones in Buffalo?
 
Tim
Rochester, NY

CB: The only real similarity between Jason Taylor and Mario Williams is their height. Both are 6’6”, but as far as body type, style of game and fit in a defense they’re vastly different. Williams at 292 pounds is an Adonis that has uncharacteristic athletic ability for his size. Though he has good speed around the edge, he has a great power game as well. Add in his solid run stopping ability and he really is the total package.

Taylor was a pass rusher first and foremost and did what he could to help against the run, but he played about 50 pounds lighter than Williams.

If anyone on Buffalo’s roster has a role similar to that of Jason Taylor I would expect it to be Mark Anderson. Wannstedt feels Anderson’s quick feet are comparable to those of Taylor, and he’s lining up on the same side of the formation at right defensive end.

So if you’re looking for a pass rusher that’s going to do similar things I’d tell you to watch Anderson.

2 - Chris,
 
 Once again, thanks for the work you do.  Simple question, I always hear the team talk about how different Stevie runs his routes. Can you explain what makes him different? How hard is it for a receiver with a “different” style of running to make it in the NFL, is Fitz just that kind of QB who can handle what other QB’s cant? I guess just over all what makes Stevie special at his position?
 
Eric,
displaced fan in AZ 

CB: What makes Stevie unique is his route running. For decades most receivers focus on the precision of their routes to make their cuts as sharp as possible to gain the necessary separation. The thought being if my routes are as sharp as they can be every single time, I give myself a better chance to gain separation and make a play.

Of course that precision in some ways can also become predictable, making a receiver easier to read and scout and prepare for in a given game.

Stevie is the exact opposite of precision. The way he runs routes is very unconventional. When he runs a comeback or a dig it’s very rarely the same route twice. Johnson uses stutter steps, hesitation, shoulder fakes, side steps and just about every other trick in his bag to gain separation and make a play.

Fortunately for him he has a head coach that’s only concerned that he get to the spot where he’s supposed to be on time. He doesn’t care how he gets there, just as long as he does when the ball is arriving in his timing-oriented offense.

So Stevie has the freedom to improvise his routes so long as they stay within the framework of the offensive system.

This is confounding to defensive backs, even some of the best (See: Revis) because there is no effective way to prepare for Johnson. Rarely does he run a route the same way twice over the course of several weeks let alone a single game. So it’s almost impossible for cornerbacks to anticipate what is coming putting them at a distinct disadvantage.

3 - Chris,
How does Mario Williams compare to Bruce Smith?

LeeD

CB: That is not as easy a question as it sounds. I think the two were both physical freaks. Uncommonly athletic for men their size while also possessing an unnatural amount of strength. As talented as Mario Williams is he’s got an awful lot more to do in this league to measure up to the all-time sack leader, but there aren’t many other defensive ends over the last 25 years that can match the rare physical abilities of both men.

Lawrence Taylor is one of the few that come to mind.

4 - Chris,

How do you see the cornerback position shaking out? Will they start Gilmore and McGee (if healthy) or might they go with Williams regardless of McGee’s health? Do you believe McKelvin is expendable with Rogers and Brooks pushing hard from behind? Would they keep just 5? Is there anybody on the roster right now who might crack into the top 6 (Gilmore, Williams, McGee, Rogers, McKelvin, Brooks) and push another out? Thanks for your time!

Chris in Binghamton
CB: I think Terrence McGee has some ground to cover in his return from a torn patellar tendon. He’s got some time, but not a lot. The problem with his situation is they can’t wait on McGee very long because if he can’t play effectively they have to make sure they have Aaron Williams ready to start.

As I see it McGee is the only guy that can overtake Williams at left cornerback with Gilmore a virtual lock to start from day one at right cornerback. Leodis McKelvin looks like a guy they want to move inside to the slot for the nickel package.

I like Justin Rogers’ skill set and believe he could be a bigger contributor this year, but covering slot receivers might be the best fit for him. So against four wide sets he could cover the other slot receiver assuming McKelvin is the primary slot defender.

I think Brooks also makes the roster. He’s a top flight physical talent and in my mind has the fastest feet of all the corners. I want to see how he holds up though when the pads go on because he is not the biggest guy. Those are your top 6 and yes, I think keeping six is a distinct possibility with another likely on the practice squad.

5 - Chris,

If Shawne Merriman returns to form (or even gets close to it) and has a productive season for the Bills this season, will Buddy Nix try offering him a contract extension? Thanks! 

Steve
Fredericksburg, VA

CB: I think the Bills have a lot of decisions to make on a bunch of players heading into contract years. Most notably Andy Levitre, Jairus Byrd and Kraig Urbik. David Nelson is also a restricted free agent. Those players, who all have a longer career in front of them than Merriman, are likely to get priority when it comes to extensions.

If Merriman is productive I would anticipate the Bills trying to keep him, but it’s not a one player decision.

Talley’s College HOF induction day

Bills Wall of Famer Darryl Talley is going to see his college football career enshrined for all time later today (Saturday).

The former emotional leader of the famed Bills defenses of the early 90′s is part of the 2012 College Football Hall of Fame induction class for his exploits at West Virginia University. Several of his former teammates, including Bruce Smith who played against him in college, felt the honor was well deserved.

Among the other more notable members of the 2012 College Football Hall of Fame class going in with Talley are Eddie George (Ohio State), Marty Lyons (Alabama), Russell Maryland (Miami), Deion Sanders (Florida St.) and Will Shields (Nebraska).

Mario takes number of former pass rusher

In officially choosing his jersey number, Mario Williams didn’t do it on purpose, but his number is the same as that of Buffalo’s last most effective pass rusher.

In taking number 94, Williams is wearing the same digits as Bills former pass rusher Aaron Schobel. Schobel is second all-time in sacks by a Bill with 78 in his nine-year career. Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is obviously tops on the list with 171 sacks as a Bill.

Bruce Smith on the radio

Bills Hall of Famer Bruce Smith will be making a radio appearance this afternoon.

Smith will be appearing on TSN Radio in Toronto at 5:15 pm. (listen online)

Comparing Miller to Bruce

Bills Scout Shawn Heinlen was asked to compare Bruce Smith’s ability to stay low to the ground and maintain his leverage while rushing the quarterback to Texas A&M LB Von Miller. Here’s what he said, “Von is the same thing but in smaller package. He’s got that same ability to be able to do that where he’s so low to the ground but yet he’s able to maintain his power, his leverage, and his speed and take on the contact from the tackle and continue to progress. It’s a rare trait that I haven’t seen in any linebacker I’ve looked at.”

In his junior and senior seasons with the Aggies, Miller had a combined 27.5 sacks and 39 tackles for loss.

2 Bills HOF’ers on top 100

There will be a pair of Bills Hall of Famers that will appear on tonight’s (Thursday) latest NFL Network episode of The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players.

O.J. Simpson and Bruce Smith will both rank somewhere between 40-31 on episode #7, which debuts tonight (Thurs., Oct. 14) at 9:00 PM ET  on NFL Network.

Notable figures from the world of sports and entertainment serve as “presenters” for each featured player.

O.J. Simpson will be presented by Chuck Klosterman and Bruce Smith will be presented by MSNBC’s Luke Russert.

The 10-part series counts down the 100 greatest players in NFL history, as ranked by a Blue Ribbon Panel of football experts that includes current and former GMs, former players, coaches, historians and Hall of Fame voters.

Wang’s tie to Bruce Smith

Bills fifth-round pick Ed Wang already has a tie to Bruce Smith having also been a Virginia Tech Hokie, and now a Buffalo Bill, but there’s one other connection between the two.

“I’ve met Bruce Smith,” said Wang on his conference call with the WNY media. ”I actually live in his apartment complex in Blacksburg, so I met him a couple times.”

Wang also majored in housing and resource management. Smith is in the real estate business in Virginia.

NFL wants best picks of all time

In celebration of the 75th NFL Draft, which kicks off in primetime for the first time on Thurs. April 22, fans now can help choose the 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks of all time. You can vote for your choices at NFL.com now through April 18. 

The 10 Most Valuable Draft Picks will be announced during Round 1, when many of the Top 10 will be in attendance at Radio City Music Hall, the home of the 2010 NFL Draft. The order of the Top 10 will be revealed after the conclusion of the Second Round of the Draft on Friday night.  Many of these players will be on hand for the announcement.

NFL.com editors narrowed down the first 74 Drafts to a list of the top 320 players, consisting of 10 players from each team.  Fans begin the process of determining the Most Valuable Draft Pick by choosing between pairs of players randomly generated from the list of 320 greats.  After selecting winners of 30 random matchups, fans will begin to build their own Top 10 list.  Fans may continue to vote in order to make changes to their personal Top 10 list as well as the All-Time Top 10 announced at the Draft. Users then may share their lists and their head-to-head winners on Facebook.

NFL.com delivers comprehensive information on each of the 320 players, including the player’s draft information and career accomplishments to help the voters make educated selections in determining the Most Valuable Pick.

Below is the list of Bills nominees.
Gary Anderson – never played for the Bills, but was a late round draft pick that went on to be one of the league’s all-time scorers.
Ruben Brown – 8 Pro Bowls
Joe DeLamielleure – Hall of Famer
Jim Kelly – Hall of Famer
Reggie McKenzie – Well known member of the Electric Company
Andre Reed – Bills Wall of Famer, 4 time HOF finalist
O.J. Simpson – Hall of Famer
Fred Smerlas – Bills Wall of Famer
Bruce Smith – Hall of Famer
Thurman Thomas – Hall of Famer

Mr. Wilson to get HOF ring Sunday

The Bills have announced that Mr. Wilson will be presented with his Hall of Fame ring at halftime of the game against the Houston Texans this Sunday.

In a separate development Hall of Fame DE Bruce Smith will be presented with his Hall of Fame ring at halftime of the home game against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 29th.

Bruce Smith to be honored tonight

Bills Hall of Fame DE Bruce Smith will be honored tonight in his native Virginia.

Operation Smile, a Virginia based medical effort that repairs the cleft lips and cleft palates of children abroad and across the United States is honoring Smith tonight for his HOF induction and for his commitment to helping children with deformities and other unfortunate circumstances.

The event takes place tonight at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. For more information on the cause you can log on to the organization’s website.

Top 10 Hall of Fame speech excerpts

There may be some argument with my choices, but here is my top 10 list of speech excerpts from the Buffalo presenters and inductees at the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony Saturday night.

10. Rich Eisen – “When did Buffalo move to Canton?”

9. Chris Berman – “Bruce, Mr. Wilson, I think we have a Buffalo home game.. It’s as if everyone in Buffalo is being inducted.”

8. Bruce Smith – On his first attempt at football in high school – “The first day was a nightmare. The second day I quit. Coach called my house that day and spoke with my father. After the conversation ended my father asked me, ‘Why weren’t you at practice? Are you sick? Is something wrong?’ I said, ‘No sir. Football is just too hard. It’s too hot and it’s too painful.’ My father gave me a look I will never forget. In his baritone voice he said, ‘Son, whatever you do in life don’t ever quit.’”

7. Ted Cottrell – On Bruce Smith – “He wasn’t a football player. He was a football performer. The field was his stage and he was the star.”

6. Bruce Smith – “In the annals of NFL history the sum total of my career will be defined by the 15 years I spent playing for the Buffalo Bills. And what a ride it was. Four consecutive AFC Championships, the potency of the no huddle offense, the greatest comeback in NFL history and the record breaking attendance set by the greatest fans in the NFL.”

5. Bruce Smith – “I can remember arriving for my first minicamp with Andre Reed in 1985. And the first practice in the middle of May we noticed dark clouds off in the distance. Within minutes it began to rain, hail and snow. After 30 minutes of downpour the sun began to shine and I thought, ‘What the hell have I gotten myself into?’”

4. Ralph Wilson – “It has been a grand ride for me and tonight is the high point. Thank you to so many players, coaches, my family, the Bills family, passionate Bills fans, the Hall of Fame voters and the Hall of Fame staff… closing in on 91 I still feel that I have youth on my side. And I want to thank all of you very much for this honor.”

3. Bruce Smith – “Thurman Thomas, known to his teammates as Squatty. You are no doubt the most complete running back of our era. My life would be a little less bright if I didn’t have you to laugh and joke with. P.S. I hid your helmet.”

2. Ralph Wilson – when the Bills were down 21-7 at halftime in their preseason finale in 1960. – “Friends of mine in the stands said, ‘Why don’t you go down and talk to the team. You can’t do any worse.’ And I said, ‘What am I going to tell them?’ and they said, ‘Well tell them something.’ At their urging I went down and walked into our locker room and there was our head coach Buster Ramsey with that expression on his face that said, ‘What are you doing in here?’ I said I want to talk to the team. And I gave that team one of the most inspiring fight talks. It was reminiscent of one of those speeches by Knute Rockne or Vince Lombardi. And we lost the game 51-7. Shortly thereafter Buster said to me, ‘Hey Ralph, next time talk to the other team.’

1. Chris Berman – “50 years later the Bills still belong to Buffalo because your owner gave you his word.”

My pics from Hall of Fame night

It was one heck of an evening in Canton for the Bills family. Here are just a few of the photos from the evening’s festivities including Mr. Wilson’s private party. I’ve got to say he pulled out all the stops. Wait until you see the photo of his cake at the bottom unbelievable!

Pardon the lack of top quality images as I took these with the camera on my blackberry. First I snapped a quick pic of Bruce with Thurman and Jim Kelly next to his bust shortly after Bruce’s speech.

Then it was off to Mr. Wilson’s private party to first cover the event and then get some food myself (we barely had dinner). With a live band from Buffalo going all night, the 50th anniversary season was celebrated in ice, Mr. Wilson’s bust was on display and guarded by a HOF representative. Mr. Wilson’s party tent was about 100 yards long. And of course his cake courtesy of Dessert Deli back home in Buffalo was ridiculous.

Friendly wagers on when Bruce cries

Bruce Smith’s former teammates have a friendly wager going on when the HOF’er will break down at the podium.

Andre Reed has the 3 minute mark, Darryl Talley has 2 and a half minutes.

“Blubbering counts,” said Talley.
“It won’t take long,” said Reed. “Once he looks out at everyone he’ll start to lose it.”

Mr. Wilson and Bruce Smith HOF speeches to air live on Buffalobills.com

For those of you that will not be near a television or sitting in Canton Saturday night you can watch the Hall of Fame induction speeches of Ralph Wilson and Bruce Smith live on Buffalobills.com.

Just be sure to click on the media lounge tab near the top of the home page. We’ll have full coverage of all of this weekend’s events on Buffalobills.com from the enshrinement ceremonies to the post game press conferences.

Hall of Fame speech order for Saturday evening

For those fans heading down to Canton this weekend, you’re going to want to be seated early for the induction ceremonies.

The reason why is Mr. Wilson is going to be presented as the first enshrinee. Here’s the list of the order of the speeches for Saturday.

Ralph Wilson, Jr. (presented by Chris Berman)
Randall McDaniel (presented by O.K. Fulton)
Bob Hayes (Roger Staubach will speak on behalf of the family. Bob’s son Bob Hayes, Jr. will represent his late father during the weekend’s festivities)
Rod Woodson (presented by Tracy Foster)
Derrick Thomas (Carl Peterson will speak on behalf of the famiy. Derrick’s son Derrion Hayes will represent his late father during the weekend’s festivities)
Bruce Smith (presented by Ted Cottrell)

Nice that the Hall of Fame book ended the Bills representatives. Kind of fitting for a weekend that belongs to Buffalo and the AFL.