Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills News, 11/17

Bills Lease Update | wgrz.com
Russ Brandon says the results of the election have no bearing on the negotiations, which for all intents and purposes have yet to begin. He also says expectations that the Bills will ask for in excess of $100 million in taxpayer money for stadium upgrades as part of the deal are "premature." He said the same about a more restrictive clause.

Ex-cop Chris Garbarino gives tribute to one tough Cookie Gilchrist - NY Daily News
Here's a profile of the relationship between Chris Garbarino and Cookie Gilchrist that resulted in the former writing the latter's biography, due out in a couple weeks. You should recognize Garbarino's name from the Cookie articles I've written.

Bills look ahead to Sunday at Miami - RochesterHomePage.net
"The Bills returned to work Wednesday looking ahead to Sunday's game at Miami. Beginning with Head Coach Chan Gailey, below is a transcript from today's news conferences in Orchard Park:"

Ryan Fitzpatrick Wednesday Press Conference - BuffaloBills.com
Fitzpatrick talks about getting back on track.

Stevie Johnson on his status - BuffaloBills.com
Johnson talks about getting back to the team's winning ways, as well as his shoulder injury.

Bills Roundup: Players Eager to Right the Wrongs - BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown's trippy shirt goes over the injury report.

Searcy shows well in Wilson's absence - BuffaloBills.com
"I sit by him every week and we go over all the plays together and anything the coaches say I write it down," said Searcy. "If I have any questions I ask him, or he’ll come to me to see if I have any questions or if I need to discuss anything. He tells me what’s going to happen in the game and reminds me that you never know when your number is going to be called and to be prepared."

Inside The Bills | Johnson, Wilson won’t practice
"He won’t practice today and we hope we’ll get him out there a little bit Thursday and a little bit Friday and hopefully he’ll be ready to go Sunday," Gailey said.

Inside The Bills | Nesbitt update
"I think it will all be predicated on George’s health," said Gailey. "If George is healthy then I don’t see Josh making the 45 (game day roster). If George isn’t healthy then Josh will make the 45 and he’ll probably get in the game in some way shape or form."

Inside The Bills | A couple of roles for Moore
"We’re playing the hybrid thing right now so he is going to be both," said Gailey. "What we think he brings to us is he can run and he can be a special teams player and we think he can rush the passer from the outside. As soon as we get him incorporated into the system and watch him in practice for a couple of weeks we’ll see what he can bring to the team."

Inside The Bills | Mixed bag on O-line
"Though preparations for Eric Wood were made with Andy Levitre in the pivot, Erik Pears was a surprise non-participant. Hopefully what is keeping Pears sidelined is nothing significant, otherwise the line could have a different player at every line position from opening day."

Inside The Bills | Day 1 goes well for Bell
"It went pretty good," Bell told Buffalobills.com. "It’s been too long. What was it? Six weeks? Way too long."

Inside The Bills | Fred tops in Pro Bowl balloting
"Jackson is first among AFC running backs and eighth overall in the NFL (see below)."

McKelvin keeps the faith despite struggles - The Buffalo News
"I've got confidence in myself," McKelvin said Wednesday. "I'm gonna bounce back. I'm a fighter. I know I'm a great athlete, period. I just gotta go out there and just play. I just gotta get ready to play."

Fitz on losing star center - The Buffalo News
"Our heart goes out to Eric, it’s a really tough situation for him just to have to go through that whole rehab process again. He was playing at such a high level and had really become a leader not only on that offensive line group but for the team and he’s a guy that we look at as a leader. So it’s hard to lose him but like we’ve done all year long you’ve got to move on from it and have the next guy step up and play."

Levitre covers the line - Jerry Sullivan
"Versatile. Durable. Tough. That's what the Bills saw when they made him the 51st pick of the 2009 draft. Levitre has justified their faith. He is the only non-kicker who has started all 41 games for the Bills since the opener of his rookie season."

Bills' Johnson, Wilson questionable against Miami - The Buffalo News
"We'll see what happens when we make it to Sunday," Johnson said. "I'm definitely making progress. In the training room we've been doing a lot of treatment. Hopefully we get everything we need so once Friday or Saturday comes around I'm fully confident in going out there and using my arm and throwing people by and all that stuff for the game. ... I should be all right."

Chan Gailey Wednesday Press Conference - BuffaloBills.com
Gailey talks about everything under the sun in his Wednesday presser.

Bills' McKelvin Aims To Battle Out Of Struggles - WGR 550
"With both Donte Whitner and Aaron Maybin out of the way, the spotlight has fallen over the shoulders of 2008 first round pick Leodis McKelvin this year due to his struggles on the field. Now in his fourth season, McKelvin has been victimized almost weekly to the point in which fans are touting him as the latest first round bust the team has had in recent memory."

Bills OL Shuffles Even More - WGR 550
"Heck, none of the players even took snaps with the first team last week at the positions they assumed on Wednesday."

Buffalo Bills rolling out discount plan for final home games | Democrat and Chronicle
"We looked at it as a great opportunity for a holiday gift, it's that time of the year, a lot of people come back to the region, family and friends, so we tried to put our creative foot forward in trying to get these games to move," said Brandon. "We have a lot of inventory with these last three games."

Andy Levitre will play center for Buffalo Bills on Sunday | Democrat and Chronicle
"We've talked about how valuable it was for him to be able to move from guard to tackle and do an admirable job out there at tackle," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. "Now to have to move back in to center, it's hard to shuffle around, but he does a really good job with it. I'm sure he's going to do just fine there."

Is Fitzpatrick the next Schaub or Kolb? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"This week we check in with our resident scout -- Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. -- to get his take on Fitzpatrick's struggles and his prospects for the future."

Bills WR Steve Johnson's status uncertain - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Bills (5-4) need Johnson to play this week. Buffalo is in the middle of a two-game losing streak and the offense is averaging just nine points per game in that span. Johnson leads the Bills with 44 receptions for 531 yards and four touchdowns."

Q&A with Nick Bakay | Buffalo Wins
Nick Bakay talks Bills with Joe Pinzone.

Fred Jackson has gone from Division III standout to NFL star. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"It's something that we do talk about," Jackson said of the discussions with other longshots. "How we want to go out and play for each other and show that undrafted and low-drafted guys can play with the best of them."

In roundabout way, Bills running back Fred Jackson leads NFL in rushing - Palm Beach Post
And now? "He's playing the best of anybody in the league," Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby said. "I'm not sure he's the best, but he's one of the best."

Miami Dolphins heading in different direction than division foe - MiamiHerald.com
"The Bills, who were a surprise at the start of the season, are slumping while the Dolphins talk of running the table."

Countdown To Kickoff: Bills At Dolphins - Dolphins.com
Taking a quick glance at Sunday's game.

Bills Offense Slowing Down | wgrz.com
"We're searching for answers," said Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. "Really, the only way to figure it out and get over it is to get back out on the field, get some good practice in this week and to go out and do it this weekend."