(WGR 550) -- Over fifty players were on hand for the start of the Bills' voluntary conditioning program, ranging from practice squad members to the team's starting quarterback.
Paul Posluszny, Donte Whitner and Trent Edwards were among the Bills to address the media at the Ralph C. Wilson Fieldhouse, and expressed disappointment at last year's outcome and excitement at new additions to the roster and coaching staff alike.
Here are some notable quotes:
Safety Donte Whitner on playoff expectations:
“This is a must year. If you go back and watch the past two seasons we had a lot of close football games. Everybody was talking about this being a young team. My third year being here, we’re not a young team anymore. Last year Marshawn and Trent got their feet wet and played well and now this year is the time to put it all together. With the new acquisitions that we have and new guys coming in, guys that have experience, guys that have been drafted high, this is the year to make the playoffs. We’re not shooting for anything less than the playoffs and a great playoff push.”
Defensive end Chris Kelsay on if he was disappointed by his play in 2007:
"Yeah. You have to be. Anybody that’s competitive, anybody that feels responsible for the investment the team’s made on you, as a leader of this defense. We fell short. I can speak for my fellow defensive ends. We didn’t get to the passer enough, we didn’t play well enough on first and second downs against the run; we let our team down. There were several situations throughout the season where we could’ve been off the field and we didn’t (do that). I put a lot of that on my own back and that’s what this time is for – to try and correct those mistakes, use this as fuel for the fire, strive that much harder to get the job done now so when training camp rolls around, you’re physically prepare, you’re mentally prepared for a long season and hopefully winning in February."
Linebacker Paul Posluszny on the defense's comfort level:
"I think with the new guys we brought in, this being the third year our coaches have been in this system, everyone is more comfortable, everything will be more fluid, when we’re on the field we’ll know a lot more and I think with the new talent that we have our defense is going to be a lot better. We’ve got great playmakers now, we’re going to more comfortable with our scheme so I think everything will be better off."
Back-up running back Fred Jackson on the cut of Anthony Thomas:
"I think it was definitely a show of faith in my part. Anthony was a great guy, a great leader. He taught me a bunch of great things while he was here. I was in contact with him after I heard the news. It lets me know that they have some faith in me. I know that nothing's a given here, so I still gotta come in here and work hard during the offseason, and I'll be able to step up and show that I can still compete next year."
Conditioning coordinator John Allaire on offseason conditioning:
"They stay in good shape. We encourage them to take some time off at the end of the season. It is a long season and we let them recover mentally and physically, so when they do get back here we don’t expect them to be in great shape. But hyopefully they do stay in some kind of shape."
The Bills also announced the re-signings of safety Dustin Fox, wide-out Scott Mayle and restricted free agent defensive tackle Jason Jefferson.
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