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Stroud one of three Bills starters out for Sunday

The Buffalo Bills, led by interim head coach Perry Fewell, will be looking for a win in Jacksonville without the services of three key starters.

Marcus Stroud did not practice all week with a knee injury and has been ruled out, according to BuffaloBills.com. This could potentially leave the Bills with just two healthy defensive tackles on Sunday. Also ruled out were tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), linebacker Keith Ellison (thigh) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle).

Stroud's absence is of critical importance. The Bills have the NFL's worst run defense, and they're about to take on the NFL's fifth-leading rusher in Maurice Jones-Drew without their most proven run defender. Exacerbating that issue is the fact that fellow defensive tackle Kyle Williams is on the injury report as well, listed as questionable with a knee injury that has caused him to miss Buffalo's last two games.

Spencer Johnson will start in Stroud's place, and if Williams can't go, John McCargo will make his first start of the season as well. Converted safety Bryan Scott will make a second straight start at outside linebacker in place of Ellison. Rookie guard Andy Levitre will flip out to left tackle in place of Bell, with veteran Seth McKinney getting the nod in Levitre's left guard spot.

Joining Williams as questionable for Sunday are receiver James Hardy (groin), cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and rookie free safety Jairus Byrd (groin). McGee and Byrd were both limited in practice on Friday. With Donte Whitner returning to the lineup (he's not listed on the injury report and practiced all week), George Wilson would start at safety if Byrd can't go. If McGee cannot play, the Bills will dress just three healthy cornerbacks in Jacksonville (Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster).

Meanwhile, Jacksonville will be missing one key defensive starter (cornerback Rashean Mathis) and is likely to be without another (middle linebacker Justin Durant is doubtful).

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Looking back at Perry Fewell's career path

It's only appropriate that Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell's first game as an NFL head coach would be against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fewell broke into the NFL as a coach with the Jaguars organization in 1998. Let's take a closer look at the Bills' new leader.

Playing Career
Perry Fewell attended South Point High School in Belmont, N.C. and was inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Following high school, he went to Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina and was a football standout. He was a four-year letterman, and as a senior in 1983, he was named the team's Most Improved Player.

College Coaching Career
Following his graduation, Fewell accepted a two-year stint with the North Carolina Tar Heels as a special assistant under head coach Dick Krum, followed by one year at Army. From 1988 to 1991, he made the move to Kent State University as a defensive assistant, before holding the same role back at Army (1992-1994). In 1995, Fewell became defensive backs coach and assistant head coach at Vanderbilt University, where they finished 2-9 twice and 3-8 - but coached future Pro Bowl safety Corey Chavous

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Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 11 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

It's been a rather eventful week, hasn't it? There's a new head coach, new starting quarterback and maybe some new hope for the future. Unfortunately, the Buffalo Bills' fantasy prospects are still quite dim for the rest of the season. The Bills head down to northern Florida to take on the 5-4 Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. It'll be another difficult matchup for the Bills, especially for the run defense.

There aren't many fantasy players of significance for either side in this game, but we'll take a look at anyone who might have some value. Head on in after the jump for a review of all the individual fantasy players of note for Bills at Jaguars.

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Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/20

Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick passes against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a preseason NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

2 months ago: Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick passes against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a preseason NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

Stefanie Spielman dies at 42 | ProFootballTalk.com
Former Buffalo Bill Chris Spielman's wife has died after a very public battle with breast cancer. She beat it four times but the fifth was too much to ask after 12 years. Heartfelt condolences to the Spielman family.

The Associated Press: Bills owner tells AP big changes could be coming
"It's not about money, it's about winning," Wilson said by phone from his home in suburban Detroit. "If it was about money, we wouldn't have brought in and paid for somebody we know was a great player [Terrell Owens]. Anybody that says I'm cheap is looking down the wrong side of the street."

Scott unlikely to bump Levitre from LT – Inside The Bills
Jonathan Scott practiced at every position except center yesterday in preparation for what Chris Brown terms a "backup role". Coach Fewell did leave the door open for Scott to start at LT.

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NFL Week 11: Buffalo Rumblings Authors Picks

Week 11 of the 2009 NFL regular season is set to kick off at 8:20 PM ET tonight, and the authors of Buffalo Rumblings are back to provide our picks for all 16 games on the docket. Nine of us are participating, and once again, we encourage you to leave your own picks in the comments section.  All of our picks are after the jump. The standings after ten weeks of NFL action:

#1: Brian Galliford (98-46)
#2: krytime (97-47)
#2: poz (97-47)
#4: Kurupt (94-50)
#5: MattRichWarren (92-52)
#6: MARVelous (90-54)
#6: Ron From NM (90-54)
#8: sireric (89-55)
#9: WABillsfan (83-61)

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AP: Wilson says Bills ready to go all in

At halftime of the Buffalo Bills' Week 8 loss to Houston, team owner Ralph Wilson received his Hall of Fame ring in a ceremony held on the Bills logo at midfield of the stadium named after him. During his brief speech at that ceremony, Wilson did the typical thanks and praise routine. He also mentioned, to skeptical groans and half-hearted applause from the masses still in their seats at the time, that he'd do everything in his power to bring a championship to Buffalo.

According to John Wawrow of the Associated Press, who spoke with Wilson via phone from his home in Detroit, Wilson is sticking to his guns on that statement.

Quoting Wilson from Wawrow's report, which you can read in full here: "We've got to revamp and take a look at the whole operation, and that's what we're going to do... It's not about money, it's about winning."

Well, that's certainly a departure from the norm in Buffalo, to say the least. Coupled with reports that the Bills have names like Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher on their short list of men to turn the franchise around, Buffalo has suddenly become a focal point of great interest league-wide.

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Bills add QB Brohm to active roster, release Hamdan

Photo

More photos » by John Russell - AP

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel is reporting that the Buffalo Bills have signed second-year quarterback Brian Brohm off of the Green Bay Packers' practice squad. In order to complete the signing, the Bills released third-string quarterback Gibran Hamdan so as to have room for Brohm on the active roster.

Brohm was a second-round pick of Green Bay in the 2008 NFL Draft, selected No. 56 overall. He was the third quarterback selected in that draft class, behind Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Baltimore's Joe Flacco. One of the more prolific passers in the nation in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons at Louisville, the 6'4", 228-pound Brohm threw for 10,775 yards, 70 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. At just 24 years of age, Brohm still has a considerable amount of unrealized potential.

He was cut, however, after a 2009 pre-season in which he struggled mightily. He has been on Green Bay's practice squad ever since, and took Buffalo's two-year offer over Green Bay's similar two-year offer to join their active roster. Additionally, as the Sentinel also points out, Brohm's college center was one Eric Wood, now a rookie guard for the Bills.

Buffalo recently benched 2007 third-round pick Trent Edwards in favor of veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. All signs point toward the Bills looking for their next franchise signal-caller starting this coming off-season, and Brohm is a young, talented player with upside. This is a smart signing for the organization, though it's much closer to a stab in the dark than an answer to the franchise's longest-standing question mark.

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Opponent History: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

  
Buffalo Bills (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 1:00 PM EST
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium - Jacksonville, FL

This is a little later than we normally start to look at next week's opponent, but after the events of the past two days, it seemed appropriate to push it back a little bit. This will be the tenth meeting between the Bills and the Jaguars, including their first ever meeting in the 1996 AFC Wild Card playoff game. The Bills hold a 5-4 lead in the all-time series. This is also the fifth ever meeting to take place in Jacksonville, where the Bills hold a 3-1 victory edge. With the exception of two contests, these have been very close games, with the average margin of victory being a little over a touchdown. Recaps of last five meetings are after the jump.

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Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/19

Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell looks on during NFL football practice in Orchard Park, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. Fewell takes over after Dick Jauron was fired as head coach on Tuesday. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

2 days ago: Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell looks on during NFL football practice in Orchard Park, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. Fewell takes over after Dick Jauron was fired as head coach on Tuesday. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Report: Brohm signs
Prolific college passer and Green Bay practice squad quarterback Brian Brohm is now a member of the Buffalo Bills active roster, according to the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.

Brandon is conspicuous by his absence : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Brandon still hasn't spoken publicly about Jauron's overdue ouster, or what might lie ahead for the Great Dysfunctional Family at One Bills Drive.

Diner morning news: No magic wand for Fewell | National Football Post
Michael Lombardi says Perry Fewell is walking into a difficult situation because the Bills don't lack passion or drive, they lack talent and that's something Fewell can't inspire.

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Schefter: Bills contact Mike Shanahan regarding coaching vacancy

Photo

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Buffalo Bills have contacted former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan in regards to the team's coaching vacancy. Perry Fewell was named the team's interim head coach Tuesday night and is just hours removed from the close of his first practice, but it appears that the Bills are taking advantage of their early jump on the coaching search by talking to one of the most reputable names currently available.

Pro Football Talk has the story, too, citing Schefter. Not only have the Bills contacted Shanahan, but ESPN is also reporting that the two sides are arranging a meeting. The sources leaking the story tell Schefter that Shanahan appears willing, for now, to listen to what the Bills have to say.

The same Schefter report also lists Jim Haslett, Kevin Gilbride and Marc Trestman as potential candidates. Haslett is currently in the UFL, while Gilbride is the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants. Both men have ties to the Bills. Trestman is currently the head coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, but has offensive coordinator experience in the NFL. Shanahan, however, appears to be the lead candidate.

It's also possible that the Bills will try to talk Shanahan into taking a more advisory role tailored toward the front office, similar to the role that Bill Parcells currently holds in Miami. We've discussed at length how the team needs a front office vision before bringing in a new coach. Shanahan has made it known that he has the desire to coach again, preferably in 2010. He has 14 years of head coaching experience, two Super Bowl rings, and a career record of 146-98 in stints with Denver and Oakland.

This, folks, is going to be a tough sell for Mr. Wilson. The role that Wilson has in mind will be of critical importance. Don't get too excited yet.

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