Post by jenny123 on Jan 17, 2014 1:41:33 GMT -5
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- It didnt take Ryan Fitzpatrick very long into the Bills first voluntary minicamp practice Tuesday for the quarterback to notice Mario Williams imposing presence on the other side of the line. At 6-foot-6 and 292 pounds, the defensive end is so big and showed such great burst that Fitzpatrick likened his new teammate to someone cooked up by a video gamer. "He looks like a Madden character you create when you sit there and up-up the strength, and the guy keeps growing," Fitzpatrick said with a smile, referring to the popular NFL video game. "And then hes the fastest guy on the field, too." No need to adjust your TV set, Bills fans. As first impressions go, Williams made a big and immediate one among his new teammates in his practice debut. Lining up on the left side, Williams showed off an array of moves that have made him one of the NFLs premier pass rushers, and led to Buffalo making him the leagues highest-paid defensive player by signing him to a six-year, $100 million contract in free agency two months ago. Williams showed power with a bull-rush that had tackle Chris Hairston back-pedaling into the pocket. And then there was Williams speed, in which he twice burst past Hairston around the outside. "Im doing pretty good right now," Williams said. "To get a chance to come back out and run around with the guys and finally step foot back on the field, it was great." Just dont ask him to make much out of participating in practice, even though this was Williams first on-field team session of any kind in some eight months since a chest injury forced him to miss the final 11 games with Houston last season. "Honestly," he said, "I dont think of anything else but going out and working." More important, he shrugged off a scare that happened late in practice, when Williams knocked knees with fellow defensive end Chris Kelsay during a team drill. Flexing his left knee, Williams was held out of a few plays before returning to finish practice. "Ill be fine," Williams said. "Thats the last thing Im worried about. Little things like that happen." Williams is the centerpiece of a revamped defence thats making the switch back to the 4-3 system, and now being overseen by Dave Wannstedt, who took over as co-ordinator after George Edwards was fired after last season. Selected by Houston with the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, Williams is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who set the Texans record with 53 career sacks. He joins a defence that allowed a franchise worst 5,938 yards, and struggled in pressuring opposing quarterbacks last season, managing just 29 sacks, 10 of which came in one game. With Williams playing the left side, the Bills line will be filled out by tackles Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus. Kelsay and Mark Anderson, another free-agent addition, are expected to split time at right defensive end. The Bills pass rush could improve further if linebacker Shawne Merriman is able to recover from surgery he had to repair both his right Achilles tendon and shoulder last season. Coach Chan Gailey said Merriman could be cleared to begin practicing as early as this week after the linebacker had a medical checkup on Tuesday. Aside from Mario Williams, several other Bills newcomers made their practice debuts. They included quarterback Vince Young, who was signed earlier this month to compete with Tyler Thigpen for the backup spot. Young showed off a strong and accurate arm by completing a deep pass up the left sideline to Naaman Roosevelt. Rookie cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Bills first-round pick, split time with the first-team defence. Much of the buzz, however, focused on Mario Williams, and what his addition has meant in raising the hopes of a team thats attempting to snap a 12-year playoff drought -- the NFLs longest active streak. "Just the atmosphere in the facility: He brings that it factor," Kelsay said of Williams. "Wed be lying if we said we didnt expect a lot out of him. And I think hes just the guy to do it. Hes a giant of a man. Hes strong, hes fast, hes quick. "Everything you expect out of the guy, he is it." NOTES: Coach Gailey doesnt expect WR Stevie Johnson to be cleared for practice until the start of training camp. Johnson, who had groin surgery earlier this month, worked out on his own Tuesday. ... DT Kyle Williams (foot surgery), CB Terrence McGee (left knee) and RT Erik Pears (undisclosed) were among the veteran who also did not practice. ... The Bills close this weeks voluntary minicamp with practices Thursday and Friday. Anquan Boldin Super Bowl Jersey . Brandon League (0-4) served up a leadoff double to Michael Brantley which sailed over the head of Mariners left fielder Carlos Peguero. Brantley scored when Asdrubal Cabrera doubled again over Pegueros head, then a groundout moved Cabrera to third. Bruce Miller Super Bowl Jersey . But Friday night, theyll enter the ring and fight each other. In a sport where training partners often refuse to face off for real, the Treadwells arent letting the bond of blood get in the way of their pursuit of mixed martial arts. www.the49ersnfljerseys.com/Michael-Wilhoite-Youth-Jersey-Super-Bowl/ . -- Stephen Curry is still holding out hope to return this season. Anthony Davis Super Bowl Jersey . - St. Louis left wing Magnus Paajarvi has left the Blues game against the Nashville Predators with an upper-body injury. Vernon Davis Super Bowl Jersey . Bottom of the table with just two points, Toulouse seemed to be heading for its first win of the season after Wissam Ben Yedders 66th-minute strike.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to terms with right wing Jared Boll on a two-year, $2.1 million contract. The club said that Boll will earn $950,000 in 2012-13 and $1.15 million in 2013-14. The 26-year-old Boll had two goals and one assist with 126 penalty minutes in 54 games with the Blue Jackets in 2011-12. He ranked second on the club and 15tth in the NHL in penalty minutes.dddddddddddd The year before he had a career-high seven goals and five assists with 182 penalty minutes in 73 games. Columbus also signed defenceman Nick Holden to a one-year, two-way contract. It will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. He played five games with the Blue Jackets last season. ' ' '