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08/15/2012 05:59 PM Posted By: Andy Young

Bills close curtains on training camp
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — After three weeks of workouts at St. John Fisher, the Bills hit the turf at Growney Stadium one final time Wednesday morning with light practice before breaking camp and packing up for One Bills Drive.

As one of the teams in the NFL that still holds camp away from home, the Bills feel like they accomplished a great deal during their time out at Fisher.

"It brings your team together where you can focus strictly on football," said head coach Chan Gailey. "They are away from everything else. That is the advantage of it. I see other teams (stay home), I have done it both ways. I see advantages the other way to but this really works well for us.

"It is a great opportunity for us to come (here). If it was spread out all over the place, it might not be ideal. But this is one great camp setup. The best I have been in."

Training camp is not the grind it used to be for the players. Gone are the traditional two-a-day practice and heavy contact. Practices are now shorter and less frequent under the most recent collective bargaining agreement.

"For me, I am out here poppin’ every day so my arm feels a little fresher than it normally would," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. "I know it makes a big difference with the other guys and the season is so long as it is. It is always nice coming out at training camp. I am feeling good and ready to go."

While the Bills have left St. John Fisher, Chan Gailey stressed that camp really still continues, only now in Orchard Park.

The Bills have three more preseason games, starting Friday night at Minnesota.


08/14/2012 10:01 PM Posted By: Kevin Carroll

Hard to believe, but training camp is all but done for the Bills at St. John Fisher this summer. Just one practice remains before the team breaks camp and heads back to One Bills Drive.

The Bills held their final workout open to the public Tuesday night. A little under three weeks total, the Bills still with three preseason games to go. Training camp is a lot different then just a few years back, thanks to the labor deal agree upon by the league its players last summer.

"Yeah, it is a little bit different. We can only practice once a day. There is no such thing as a two-a-day anymore," said Head Coach Chan Gailey. "It is a little bit unique but really the reason we are out so early this year is the way the schedule fell. It just fell that way. So it is one of those things that was great for us but it will be good to get home too."

The Bills with a closed practice Wednesday morning to close training camp.


08/14/2012 04:08 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Vince Young a step closer to Bills number two QB
One of the big questions coming into Bills training camp this summer was who would back up Ryan Fitzpatrick: Tyler Thigpen or Vince Young. One of them appears to have the upper hand with camp winding down.

The battle between Young and Thigpen has been close mostly because both players had trouble this summer grasping and executing Chan Gailey offense. Of late however, Young has come on and Monday put together his best effort of training camp and his coach took notice.

"He (Vince) threw all day. That is the best he has done since he has been here," said Gailey. "We are not holding anything back. He has a better grasp of it than he did at any time in OTA’s and mini-camp and I think he is feeling a lot more comfortable."

Again, the Bills with a practice today open to the public and closed workout tomorrow before leaving St. John Fisher and heading back to One Bills Drive.


08/13/2012 02:27 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

With two days left in training camp, the Bills released offensive lineman Michael Jasper Monday.

At nearly 400 pounds and athletic, the Bills drafted Jasper in the seventh round of the 2011 draft as a project. He did not make the Bills 53 man roster as a rookie and was clearly outperformed by other players at camp this summer.

The Bills with just one more night practice left at St. John Fisher before breaking camp and heading back to Buffalo.


08/13/2012 01:30 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Bills Have Character Players
It's the second to last day of open practice at St. John Fisher. The Bills with one practice Monday afternoon and the final workout set for Tuesday night.

Stealing some of the spotlight from the first full week of NFL preseason games, Chad Johnson's arrest over the weekend. The wide receiver arrested after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument. Johnson was released from jail and later released for his deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Here in Pittsford, Bills head coach Chan Gailey spoke to the media about having quality guys on his team.

"I think that you first have to look at everything as individuals. The character of our football team, in my opinion, is extremely high," said Gailey. "They are human; they are going to make some mistakes. We have just been smart about it. I think our football players have been very smart about how they handle themselves and what they do or what they do not do more importantly. It speaks to the character of the football team, the kind of guys that (GM) Buddy (Nix) and I both want on this football team."


Updated 08/09/2012 06:15 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Bills Host Redskins in First Preseason Game
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After two weeks and eleven practices, the Bills take a break from training camp Thursday night for an actual game.

It may not count in the standings, but the Bills host the Washington Redskins in their preseason opener.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the front line starers probably won't see a whole lot of action; maybe a series or two to start things off.

One thing to watch for will be backup quarterbacks Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen, who are competing for the number two spot.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game is blacked out on local TV.

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Abbott Road was closed off starting at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, among other security changes, so many came out early to check out the players and get settled in.

Fans say with the addition of players like Mario Williams, this could be the year for the Bills.

“Our defense really got boosted quite a bit... think we can be a Super Bowl team again,” said Chris Curry of Perry.

“I think we have a lot of new talent coming in, and we had a strong team last year... so I'm really hopeful,” said Cally Graham of Buffalo.

Some of the other security changes include the screening of all fans, employees, and vendors. Fans will have to hold up keys and other objects before heading through.


08/08/2012 06:40 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Mario Williams and RGIII Thursday Night
A couple of first looks for Bills fans Thursday night. Defensive End Mario Williams will take the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the first time, and don't forget about Robert Griffin III.

The second overall pick in this spring's draft is making his NFL debut against the Bills. Griffin and Williams share the same agent, have met, and the trash talk already started earlier this summer.

RGIII said he'd prefer not to get hit in preseason. Williams has other plans.

"I told him I was coming for him, so he knows I will be looking for him," said Williams, jokingly. "But it is all fun. And it is the preseason so it is actually better for him to get hit earlier than later, you know, so it is not a shock. It is just the preseason so I am pretty sure he is going to be running and gunning. He is going to be excited. His team is going to be excited just as we are. I think it will be a good little matchup."


08/07/2012 06:00 PM Posted By: Kevin Carroll

The final workout leading up to the Bills first preseason game of the summer ended early, but not on a high note.

Head Coach Chan Gailey felt the players were not really into practice today. Not in pads for the first time in a while, Gailey said the players treated practice like a morning walk through. Game day is just two days away at this point.

The Bills first tune up will mark the debut of Mario Williams. The big free agent pick up this spring was brought in to pressure the quarterback and more.

“The great thing about him is I believe he will be just as big an asset when we look back on this versus the run as he is versus the pass,” said defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. ”Everyone likes to think, defensive ends, pass rushers, and sacks. Well, the other side of the coin is that you have to stop the run first.

Eleven days of camp down and just four to go. Following Thursday's game against the Redskins, the Bills are back out here on Saturday.


08/07/2012 01:38 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Wannstedt's defense practicing at high level
Tuesday was the final workout before the Bills take the field against the Washington Redskins Thursday night at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the first preseason game of the summer.

The game will provide a first look at the Bills highly touted new defense. The team added pass rushers Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, drafted a strong cornerback in Stephon Gillmore and also switched the defense to four down linemen.

They've looked good out here practicing. Thursday, we'll see how Dave Wannstedt's unit fairs in a game situation.

"What we are looking for in training camp is a high intensity as far as practice," said Wannstedt. "It started off a little bit were we'd have a good day and then the offense would have a good day. The last three or four days the guys have come out and we've practiced at a high level and set a standard."

Don't expect to see too much of the starters on either side of the ball Thursday. Head Coach Chan Gailey only plans to give the first team between 15 and 20 plays.


08/06/2012 01:49 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Camp has a different feel for Jones this year
Going into camp last year, Donald Jones was just hoping to earn a spot on the team. This year, Jones is battling to remain the teams number two wide receiver.

After landing the number two spot following the trade of Lee Evens last summer, Jones appeared in just half of last years games making 23 catches for 231 yards and one score due to ankle injuries.

This year camp is a lot different for the player that looks to be a regular part of the Bills offense.

"last year when I came in I was just looking for a special teams roll again you know just trying to get on the offense," said Jones. "And now I have a roll in this offense and it's just getting the timing down with Ryan Fitzpatrick now. Last year coming in like I said I was trying to just make it."

The Bills with one more workout at St. John Fisher on Tuesday. Thursday night they host the Washington Redskins in the preseason opener.


08/06/2012 01:36 PM Posted By: YNN Staff

Another week of Bills camp is underway. This one a bit different then the first two weeks with an actuall game coming up on Thursday.

It's the first game week of 2012 for the Bills. Two practices for the team today and tomorrow at St. John Fisher. After an off day Wednesday, the team will take the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Thursday night against the Washington Redskins. And while the starters may not see much playing time, the preparation is the same as any game week.

"It always feels like a game week anytime you are going up against someone else it's a game week even if it is preseason," said cornerback Aaron Williams. "You always want to go out there and do the best you can.

Bills First Game Week Of 2012
Stevie Johnson did take part in morning walk through Monday. The Bills wide receiver was held out of practice on Saturday.


08/05/2012 07:29 PM Posted By: Web Staff

Defensive line looks to be a strength for the Bills
The Bills took a day off from the grind of training camp on Sunday. The team returns to practice on Monday, with the first preseason game fast approaching Thursday against the Washington Redskins.

So far at camp, there has been buzz surrounding the defensive line. Of course, there were some great free agent additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Add the healthy return of Kyle Williams to that, and that unit is hoping to be a strength after the Bills ranked near the bottom of the NFL in sacks last year.

"I think we are all encouraged by what they are doing. Obviously the great players have made a lot of plays in the past. Added to them our defense, and we are glad to have them. We are just taught about building every day, and we still have a long way to until we get to September, but we are getting there," said Kyle Williams, Bills Defensive End.


08/05/2012 07:21 PM Posted By: Web Staff

Bills receivers have their work cut out for them
The Bills had the day off on Sunday. They are now two weeks into training camp, and that means its time for some preseason games. They team will practice Monday and Tuesday this week, and then host the Redskins on Thursday night.

Steve Johnson is expected back on the field when practice resumes on Monday. He missed time both Friday and Saturday with a tight groin. Additionally, David Nelson was held out of practice all last week with a leg injury. In the absence of those two players, it's a chance for other receivers to see some snaps, which Chan Gailey says they need to work on.

"I think that we have a lot of work to do to get them up to speed where David and Stevie are. We have a lot of work to do there to find the right combination of people if we get injuries here or there. And they have got to do it, somebody has got to step up and fit into those spots," said Chan Gailey, Bills Head Coach.


08/04/2012 06:22 PM Posted By: Don Heins

Adventures in the heat
It was a hot one for Bills players. The team spent two and a half hours in full pads, beneath the hot summer sun that pushed temperatures well into the 90s. But for many players, they're used to days like this.

"I'm from Louisiana," said defensive tackle Kyle Williams. "This is like nine in the morning there."

Stevie Johnson was held out of the afternoon session. But Chan Gailey doesn't seem concerned. The head coach noted it was a chance to get his top wideout a little extra rest and expects him to return Monday. Johnson is nursing a right groin injury. He had his left groin surgically repaired in the offseason.

Fred Jackson's ankle was stepped on, and he had to leave the field at one point. Gailey does not expect that injury to be serious.

A couple observations from practice:

Cordy Glenn showed some nice run blocking ability. On a simulated fourth and goal from the two, Glenn opened a wide hole for CJ Spiller. He was into the end zone before any defender was near him.

Naaman Roosevelt had a good showing in goal line drills. He was on the receiving end of two Tyler Thigpen touchdowns. The first was a comeback route at the goal line, and the second was a streak across the back of the end zone.

Da'Norris Searcy delivered one of the most impressive pops of the day. During 11 on 11s, the strong safety unloaded on tight end Kevin Brock causing an incompletion.

The Bills now have Sunday off, returning to the practice field Monday.


08/03/2012 06:17 PM Posted By: Kevin Carroll

Over the last two days, the Bills have been entertaining free agent safety Jim Leonhard, who had been a staple of the Jets defense. The former Bill took a physical earlier today. Leonhard coming off knee surgery last year.

One player that wouldn't mind seeing Leonhard return to Western New York is Bills starting safety George Wilson. After all, Leonhard taught Wilson the position when he made the switch from wide receiver a number of years back.

“It was good to see Jimmy, I'm very fond of Jim,” Wilson said. “I have a high respect for him and have a great deal of gratitude that I always express to him because of the mentoring and the time that he put in with me to help me make the transition from wide receiver to safety. It was good to see him yesterday and I asked him, did he ever think he'd be back here in Buffalo? And he said not until last week.”

The Bills with one more workout this week Saturday afternoon.


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