Dreams for teams already out of NFL playoff chase - Ross Tucker - SI.com
"Buffalo Bills -- This is a tough one. I know and love Bills fans after spending a decent amount of my playing career in Western New York. Your hope should stem from the fact that it is highly unlikely the string of injuries will continue. You'll also have a new head coach and perhaps even a new quarterback to look forward to in 2010. If that doesn't generate hope, nothing will."
Jackson gunning for 1,000 - BuffaloBills.com
"It’s something I’m aware of," Jackson admitted. "My brother more than anybody keeps me updated on how close I am. It would be a good way to finish the season. With us not being able to go to the playoffs that’s definitely something that’s in striking distance." He currently sits at 811 yards.
Pass game to take flight vs. Falcons? - BuffaloBills.com
"The Falcons are struggling defensively ranking 30th in pass defense and 28th in passing average. So, if establishing production from the passing game remains a priority with two weeks remaining in the season, the Bills might see opportunities from a secondary yielding 254.8 yards per game. For two teams also struggling on third downs—the Bills rank last converting just 25 percent of their third downs and the Falcons rank the same in defending them, dead last in league with opponents converting a whopping 46.6 percent."
Aaron Schobel might retire
Be surprised if Schobel hangs it up – Inside The Bills
"I think he’s thinking about retirement not because of his ability, but because of the lack of team success. He and Brian Moorman are the longest tenured Bills players and they haven’t reached the postseason once. "
Fewell doesn’t want Schobel retiring – Inside The Bills
"No, we haven’t discussed that," said Fewell on Schobel. "And no he can’t."
Bills DE Schobel considers retiring after season - BuffaloBills.com
``I don't think I'm as athletic as I once was,'' the two-time Pro Bowl selection said. ``I mean, if I'm not as good as I once was, or not making the plays I should make, I'm not going to be around.''
BillBoard: Schobel eyes retirement
"There are some things I've felt like I should have been able to do better and some plays I think I should have been able to make,'' he said. "But I did make some because of my understanding of the game. There's a time when your knowledge of the game can't make up for your athletic decline. But I don't know if I'm there yet. We'll see.''
Bills' Schobel considers walking away : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Aaron Schobel's ninth season with the Buffalo Bills might be his last. The veteran defensive end told two reporters, including The Buffalo News, that he is contemplating retirement at the end of the season."
Twitter / Nicholas Mendola
If Schobel retires, you'll learn how valuable he is to the team. He's been popular to hate.
Quarterback News
Edwards likely out for season – Inside The Bills
"Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell does not expect Trent Edwards to be healthy enough to be available for the Bills final two games this season."
Brohm not a lock, but likely starter Sunday - BuffaloBills.com
"Fewell admitted that Brohm will not be given a typical game plan and things will be scaled back since this is just the fifth week that the former Green Bay draft choice has been with the Bills."
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Brohm To Start; Byrd to IR
"The word from the lockeroom after Bills practice was that Brian Brohm will be the starting quarterback in Atlanta, and the comments from Evans, Owens and Brohm himself hinted strongly at that as well."
Brian Brohm gets crash course in running Buffalo Bills' offense | Democrat and Chronicle
"It didn't really hit me until this morning when we were installing the passing game and going through it at a rapid rate, and then you realize 'Oh my gosh, I'm explaining training camp stuff — protection issues, when are we hot, what makes us hot, what do these protections mean,'" the Buffalo offensive coordinator said. "That's when it hit me that we have a great challenge."
The Carousel | The Goose's Roost
Chris from TGR looks at the revolving door at quarterback.
QB Ryan, RB Turner don’t practice – Inside The Bills
The big names on the list are Matt Ryan and Michael Turner but the entire Falcons injury reports can be found here.
Byrd shuts it down, Stamer signs
Byrd lands on IR, could lose INT title - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Jairus Byrd's season is over, and so might be his campaign for NFL defensive rookie of the year. The injury could cost Byrd a lot of honors. He leads the NFL with nine interceptions, but without the ability add to his total, he could get caught from behind. Being hurt also will hinder Byrd's chances for the top rookie award. He is in the mix with Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing and Washington Redskins defensive lineman Brian Orakpo. "
Loss of Byrd, McGee means fewer options – Inside The Bills
"Donte Whitner is likely to man free safety full time. That means Whitner as an option in the slot in the nickel package is less likely. With McGee on I-R too, Reggie Corner is expected to play LCB for Buffalo’s base defense and then shift inside to nickel to play the slot with Ashton Youboty coming on the field to play LCB."
Byrd to have surgery - BuffaloBills.com
"He aggravated it in the (last) ballgame," said interim head coach Perry Fewell. "He’s been limited in practice for several weeks now. He’s a tough kid. He was struggling to make plays. He was just getting worse. He wasn’t getting healthier so we had to make the decision to get it fixed."
Byrd shut down, awaits surgery : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Byrd said he will have plenty of time to recover during the offseason. Asked at what percentage he has been playing, Byrd said: "Probably 70, if that. A lot of the stuff, like deep balls when they stretch, I really couldn't get there. So I had to kind of just mask that by getting more depth and just doing different things, and it was tough."
Stamer won’t get old jersey number – Inside The Bills
"Josh Stamer wore #57 in his first stint with the Bills, but that number is currently occupied by Jon Corto. So Stamer will be wearing jersey number 50 for the final two games this season."
More Bills News
AFC East draft rewind - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Draft curse: Not replacing Jason Peters and drafting Aaron Maybin instead. Draft Hallelujah for picking Jairus Byrd. Tough break goes to Eric Wood's broken leg.
Not all coaches up to the challenge - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills, for instance, have challenged the fewest calls in the NFL. But they've gotten both of them correct. Dick Jauron challenged one call before the Bills fired him. Interim coach Perry Fewell has disputed one call so far. Both were over overturned.
Video: AFC East Huddle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"ESPN.com's John Clayton addresses the major issues for every club in the AFC East. Take a look at the names listed in the tags to get an idea of what kind of ground Clayton covers."
Ex-Bill Wire gives scouting report on his old team | ajc.com
"Falcons linebacker Coy Wire started his career with the Buffalo Bills, played there six seasons (2002-07) and still has several friends on the team." He gives his thoughts on his former team.
Team Reports | NFL at CBSSports.com
"Even though we're out of the playoff hunt, there is still so much to play for -- for our team, for our town, our families, our teammates. So getting fired up to play an NFL football game, you know it's never difficult." -- LB Paul Posluszny on the team's mindset even though the Bills (5-9) have been eliminated from the playoffs with two games left.
Bills put Byrd on IR, re-sign Stamer : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Bills also announced that LB Ryan Manalac has been added to the practice squad. Manalac, a 6-0, 235-pound Cincinnati product, entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with Buffalo on August 13, 2009 and was released prior to the start of the regular season."
Rumor Nation | National Football Post
"We’re hearing that Bills WR Terrell Owens has a limited chance of returning to Buffalo next season because of the type of salary he would demand — which the team wouldn’t be willing to pay for another year."
"We’re hearing that Buffalo is a real player when it comes to a landing spot for Eagles QB Michael Vick next season."
Twitter / Adam Caplan
Cardinals placed starting OT Mike Gandy on IR.
Oregon St. QB not impressive – Inside The Bills
"Oregon St. QB Sean Canfield was a guy that was thought by some draft experts as a senior signal caller that could help his cause in the draft with a good showing in the Las Vegas Bowl Tuesday night. After his performance in windy conditions, I don’t know that I’d have him as a consideration for the Bills."
Season's greetings Rumblers. I'll be taking a break tomorrow as I will be at my in-laws. I'll be back at some point on Saturday to put links together but, as always, if you find something great put it in the FanShot section. Merry Christmas.