Report: Bills awaiting tests on rookie Dareus' ankle injury

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A person familiar with rookie defensive lineman Marcell Dareus' ankle injury has told The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills are awaiting tests to determine its severity after the first-round draft pick was hurt in practice.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't released any information or confirmed Dareus was hurt.

The injury occurred in practice Wednesday, during a portion that is closed to reporters. Dareus was briefly spotted walking on crutches in the locker room after practice.

Dareus was drafted third overall out of Alabama in April and is being counted on to make an immediate impact in improving what was a porous Buffalo defense last year.

The Buffalo News first reported that Dareus hurt his left ankle.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Bills player rep Wilson 'definitely optimistic' about labor talks

Buffalo Bills safety George Wilson likes what he sees and hears about the players' recent discussions with NFL owners to end the lockout. He also cautions against being swept away by expectations of an imminent settlement.

Leber: Season will start on time

"We're definitely optimistic we're moving in the right direction," Wilson, the Bills' player representative, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "Right now, we feel like we're having meaningful discussions. ... We feel we have the right people in the room, discussing the right things, and both sides want to get a deal done. But even though we're moving in the right direction, we're not there yet."

Wilson said conference calls held in the last two days mark the first time in a while that players have been briefed on a lockout that's in its fourth month.

"That's because there haven't been any developments the last little while," he said.

The players also were told that more updates will come next week, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, several owners and players are scheduled to meet again at an undisclosed location.

"There's definitely going to be talks every week because time is of the essence," Wilson said.

One NFC team executive told NFL Network's Albert Breer on Wednesday night that he believed the sides were "within striking distance" of a deal. However, another AFC team executive said: "There are enough legitimate issues to where it could all fall down still. They're dealing with that stuff."

One such issue is the rookie salary system, which was broached for the first time Thursday since the secret meetings began May 31. The parties have spent much of the last four weeks discussing the biggest issue, which is how to split revenue and account for growth in the players' take.

"The CBA is far from just a percentage of revenue," Wilson said. "There's so much more."

Training camps are scheduled to open in about one month, with two teams -- the Ravens and Jets -- already announcing they will remain at their in-season facilities rather than stage out-of-town camps because of the lockout. The Ravens won't go to Westminster, Md., and the Jets won't go to Cortland, N.Y.

The first preseason game, which pits the Chicago Bears against the St. Louis Rams, is scheduled for Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Fashion forward: Bills unveil brand-new uniforms for 2011

The Buffalo Bills will feature a look that's both new and familiar whenever the 2011 NFL season kicks off.

The team unveiled new uniforms in an elaborate ceremony Friday night at Ralph Wilson Stadium, retaining the charging buffalo logo but going back to white helmets and royal blue uniform tops.

The Bills will wear white helmets next season, and the royal blue uniform tops also will return. (Kevin Hoffman/US Presswire)

"We listened to our fans," Bills CEO Russ Brandon told the team's official website. "We have done a lot of research (and) this is a long process to go through. We just wanted to get back to our storied tradition while we still highlight our brand."

The Bills' new uniforms have several fresh updates, including the placement of the iconic charging buffalo on every article except the socks.

"One of the things we heard consistently was there was really no identifying mark on our jersey," said Marc Honan, the Bills' senior vice president of marketing and broadcasting. "We feel that the charging buffalo is perhaps one of the strongest marks in the league, and why not incorporate it into the look, and we think it looks great on the jersey."

The Bills have added their team logo above the nameplate on the back of the jersey. The Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings are the only other two NFL teams to feature that design, according to the Bills' website.

The team name "Bills" also now appears below the V-neck of the jersey on the front.

"In the last five years, we've seen a real trend in the league with teams moving towards including whether it's a logo or a word mark as part of their jersey makeup," Honan said.

The jerseys, designed by Reebok, are 20 to 30 percent lighter in weight, depending on the player's size.

The most instantly recognizable change is the helmet, which will be white for the first time since 1983. The color has been enhanced with a "metallic flake" to gives the helmet a sparkling quality.

"We wanted something that just wasn't a flat white," Bills director of merchandise Tim Kehoe told the team's website. "For more of a modern type of a look, we wanted to go with this metallic flake, which will add a little bit of reflective nature to the quality of the helmet."

The team also tweeted Friday that running back C.J. Spiller and defensive back Leodis McKelvin have switched jersey numbers. Spiller now will wear No. 28, and McKelvin will don No. 21.

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Dolphins RB Clay working odd jobs to pay bills during lockout

Charles Clay grew up dreaming about getting drafted by an NFL team then living the good life.

Clay achieved the first half of that dream when the Miami Dolphins selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April. The "living the good life" part, however? Not even close.

With the NFL work stoppage past the three-month mark and no finish line in sight, Clay -- like other rookies -- lives in financial limbo.

To pay his bills, Clay has taken up day labor type work with a company called LPD, which has him cutting grass at oil wells and doing other various odd jobs, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“It’s hard times right now,” said Clay, who starred collegiately at Tulsa. ”I’m working little small jobs and things to get money. Not getting an income right now is tough, especially when I’m trying to have a facility to workout in, and have to pay for things like [trainers].

Clay concedes the pay for his side work is minimal, but it's better than the flat-broke alternative.

“It’s tough, but at the same time you’ve got to get by somehow,” said Clay. “I’m pretty sure there are other guys doing the same thing. Nobody is getting any kind of income. You have to get money some kind of way.”

And in a reality that puts Clay's situation in perspective, he admits he hasn't taken part in the Dolphins' players-only workouts in Florida because he can't afford the trip.

”At one point I actually thought about going down there, but when you go down there and you have no source of income I’d just be down there," he said. "You also take risks of being injured."

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Report: Bills eye fight between Hangartner, Wood at center

Geoff Hangartner has started 28 games in the middle of Buffalo's offensive line over the past two seasons, but the veteran center now finds himself in a battle to keep his starting role at that spot with the emergence of Eric Wood.

Veteran Geoff Hangartner might face stiff competition from Eric Wood for the Bills' starting center spot. (Paul Abell/Associated Press)

When Hangartner went down with a sprained knee late last season, two-year veteran Eric Wood shifted over from his right-guard spot to start the final four games at center -- and turned heads within the organization.

"We think Eric Wood was the best center in the draft coming out," Bills general manager Buddy Nix told The Buffalo News at the Senior Bowl in January. "Obviously he wasn't (fully) healthy. But when he gets healthy, there's a good chance that's where he'll be. We'll just see. We'll play the best ones."

The Bills are enamored with the physicality of Wood, who fought his way back in 2010 from a severe leg fracture. They also treasure Hangartner's intelligent play -- he scored 47 out of 50 on the Wonderlic before the 2005 NFL Draft -- and he has brought consistency to a position long in flux for Buffalo.

Hangartner, who has appeared in 83 games for the Carolina Panthers and Bills in six seasons, plans to continue as the Bills' starter.

"That's my mind-set, yes," Hangartner told The News this week at the team's player-only workout in Elma, N.Y. "I haven't spoken with anybody about it. But that is my mind-set.

"I talked to (offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris) for a little bit. And (switching positions) never come up in our conversations. There's always speculation on this and that in the offseason. So we'll see how it shakes out."

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It's a nice problem to have for coach Chan Gailey, who relishes competition along the offensive line, knowing both will find a way into the lineup if they continue their solid play.

Hangartner this week also addressed the subject of players encountering serious financial problems during the NFL lockout, saying it was hardly indicative of a league-wide epidemic.

"I think you're just hearing more about the problem that guys have dealing with money in this league," Hangartner said Tuesday. "I don't think it's just a problem with the lockout. It's an underlying problem, regardless. I don't think a whole lot of guys have missed money at this point."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jasper winning battle with scale while prepping for Bills career

Michael Jasper has been dropping weight the past few years, and when he embarks on a career as an NFL defensive tackle -- soon, he hopes -- he plans to be quite svelte.

Jasper, a seventh-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in last month's draft, is down to 375 pounds -- still big, even by NFL standards, but nowhere near the 448 pounds he carried not so long ago.

The 6-foot-4½ nose tackle has lost 73 pounds since leaving Middle Tennessee State after his sophomore year to transfer to Bethel, an NAIA school in McKenzie, Tenn., and he has focused on slimming down even more since his college career closed last fall.

"(Bills regional scout) Matt Hand made a deal with me initially, saying they wanted me under 400 pounds," Jasper told the Tennessean. "After the draft, I talked with coach (Chan) Gailey, and he said just to keep working hard and keep the weight off."

Jasper has become smarter about his diet while working out with his cousin, Artis Hicks, a nine-year NFL offensive tackle who played for the Washington Redskins last season.

"I've stopped eating so much and pretty much cut eating beef out," Jasper said. "I've minimized my bad carbohydrate intake, increased my vegetables and greens and water intake to kind of confuse my body so that it wouldn't hold onto so much water. It has started to flush some of the excess off.

"I feel brand new. I sleep better, I wake up feeling good, I enjoy being outside and feel like a kid again. I realize God has definitely blessed me."

Because of the NFL lockout, Jasper hasn't spoken with anyone from the Bills since the draft, and he's not sure if the team wants "me to get down to 360 pounds or anywhere near that," he said. "The way my body is, I'm not a regular 360-pound man. But I've done what the Bills asked me to do."

The average NFL nose tackle entering last season was 6-3 and 330 pounds, according to the Tennessean.

Jasper, 24, was listed at 394 pounds when he was drafted -- the heaviest player taken during the three-day process -- but Bills general manager Buddy Nix said that number was wrong.

"He's not as big as you've got him listed," Nix said after the draft. "He's down to 378 pounds, so he's drying up to nothing."

Bethel coach Dino Kaklis believes a slimmer Jasper will be a better Jasper. The lineman posted a 5.34-second 40-yard dash time, a 34-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-5 broad jump in a workout for Bills scouts, and he wasn't as slim then as he is now.

"Everything the Bills and the other NFL guys saw of Michael playing during the year was when he was at 435 pounds, and they were impressed by what he did then," Kaklis told the Tennessean. "He's at 375 now and still as strong and solid as he was. I'd say he has the mobility of a 265-pound player."

Jasper weighed just 240 pounds when he started at Mount Juliet (Tenn.) High School, but he was 380 as a senior.

"When I got bumped up to varsity my freshman year, I started to put on the weight," Jasper said. "I started drinking creatine and protein and didn't know what I was doing. Then once I got to college, the food gets a whole lot better, and I started to get even bigger."

Jasper played two seasons as a nose tackle and offensive guard at Tennessee-Martin, then transferred to Middle Tennessee State but didn't play because of grades. He became a part-time student, and that's when he ballooned to his heaviest weight, before transferring to Bethel, where he played defensive tackle in 2009 and offensive guard in 2010.

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Bills decide to keep Merriman; 'he’ll make plays for us,' GM says

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Ryan weighs playing-time options for Jets QB Sanchez vs. Bills

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has not ruled out playing Mark Sanchez against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17, despite a slight tear in the starting quarterback's right (throwing) shoulder.

"He's in such a groove right now," Ryan told reporters Monday morning, adding that the health of his quarterback is a top priority.

Sanchez seemed fine in the Jets' 38-34 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, after playing during most of last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a shoulder injury. The second-year starter threw for 269 yards and a touchdown, completing 24 of 37 passes, as the Jets (10-5) clinched their second straight postseason trip under Ryan after Jacksonville's 20-17 loss to Washington.

Ryan talked Monday about the possibility of starting Sanchez against the Bills and pulling him early for backup Mark Brunell. Ryan said he hasn't made a final decision on how much playing time either quarterback will receive.

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Bills turn the ball over seven times as Patriots cruise to No. 1 seed in AFC

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Bills safety Whitner wants new deal, hopes to avoid free agency

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner said he's having contract talks with the team in a bid to avoid becoming a free agent after this season.

Whitner said the two sides have been negotiating for more than a month, but no deal has been reached. Whitner hopes a new contract can be reached because he'd prefer remaining in Buffalo (2-10) and help turn around a team that will miss the playoffs for an 11th consecutive season.

The Bills will host the Cleveland Browns (5-7) on Sunday.

Whitner has been a starter since his rookie season in 2006, after being drafted eighth overall out of Ohio State. He's second on the team this season with 111 tackles -- the second season he has had at least 100.

The Bills have a policy to not discuss contract talks.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Merriman's Bills stay likely short after he's placed on IR

Shawne Merriman's first season with the Buffalo Bills ended before it even really began.

The Bills placed Merriman on injured reserve Saturday because of a nagging Achilles' tendon injury, culminating a tumultuous year for the one-time feared linebacker.

The Bills claimed Merriman off waivers earlier this month, three weeks after the San Diego Chargers placed him on IR because of a calf injury.

At the time, Merriman also was nursing a strained Achilles' tendon. In his first practice with the Bills on Nov. 10, he lasted just 15 minutes before re-injuring it.

The Bills also placed linebacker Keith Ellison on injured reserve Saturday. Ellison couldn't practice all week because of an unspecified knee injury.

"We felt it was still going to be some time before Shawne and Keith were healthy enough to return to the field, and we certainly were not going to have them return to action until they were physically ready to do so," Bills general manager Buddy Nix said, according to the team's official website. "Knowing that we needed the roster spots, we felt this was the best move for our team and it's also best for both players. The most important thing at this point is for them to get healthy, and this gives them that opportunity."

To fill the two open roster spots, the Bills promoted wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt and linebacker Thomas Williams to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Merriman, a 2005 first-round draft pick and three-time Pro Bowl selection, also sat out most of the Chargers' offseason workouts and part of training camp to protest his contract, which expires following this season. He finishes the year with six tackles in three games for the Chargers.

Merriman expressed his eagerness for a fresh start when he made his first public appearance in Buffalo, one day before the Bills' Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears in Toronto.

The following Wednesday, Merriman walked onto the practice field for the first time with his new team, but that's when things went awry. During a harmless-looking individual drill, he backpedaled, then pivoted to his left before pulling up and hopping on one leg.

Merriman immediately pulled down his right sock and limped to the sideline, where a trainer spent a few minutes checking the linebacker's ankle. Merriman then consulted head trainer Bud Carpenter at midfield before being escorted to the Bills' fieldhouse, where the team's training room is located.

Merriman was inactive for the Bills' next two games against the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals. On Friday, Bills coach Chan Gailey declared Merriman out for Sunday's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24 hours before the team officially cut short his season.

Merriman sounded resigned about his situation when asked about it Friday.

"It's coming along, but it's still the same situation it was a few weeks ago. Just wait and see what happens," Merriman said after practice, according to the Buffalo News. "My main thing is just to get it healthy. It's been there for a year. I haven't had many other problems other than that. It's been there constantly -- on and off -- for a year now, and I never really had a chance to take care of it. I've been pretty healthy the last couple of years -- other than that. It's unfortunate, but I have to get it taken care of."

Nicknamed "Lights Out" for his aggressive and hard-hitting style, Merriman has 43.5 sacks in his 60-game NFL career. But his production has substantially dropped over the past three seasons, largely because of nagging injuries, including reconstructive knee surgery that forced him to miss most of 2008.

Since the start of the '08 campaign, Merriman has just four sacks in 18 games.

Merriman received a four-game suspension in 2006 after testing positive for steroids. He blamed the positive test on a tainted supplement, which he never identified.

Merriman also brought unwanted attention off the field after being arrested just before the 2009 season when reality television star Tila Tequila accused him of battery and false imprisonment at his suburban San Diego home. No charges were filed, and Merriman and Tequila settled dueling lawsuits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Steelers' Harrison penalized vs. Bills for roughing the passer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison incurred a costly roughing-the-passer penalty against Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on Sunday.

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With 4:45 to go in the third quarter, Harrison came untouched up the middle of the line on a Pittsburgh blitz. The linebacker drove Fitzpatrick into the ground, and Harrison was flagged for leading with his helmet.

Harrison stomped his foot on the ground following the play.

"It's not going to change the way I play," said Harrison, who's already been docked $100,000 this season. "There was nothing wrong about the play."

The penalty negated an incomplete pass on second-and-10. Three plays later, Fitzpatrick hit Bills running back Fred Jackson for a 65-yard catch-and-run TD.

Harrison recently was called to the NFL office in New York regarding how rules designed to protect players from injury are being enforced.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Feisty Bills let game slip through their hands vs. undisciplined Steelers in OT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson was inconsolable for letting a victory slip through his hands. The Pittsburgh Steelers weren't going to let him or Buffalo get a second chance.

With his head down at the end of the bench, Johnson couldn't watch as Shaun Suisham hit a 41-yard field goal with 2:14 left in overtime to secure the Steelers' 19-16 victory Sunday.

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It was a dramatic turn of events for the Bills and Johnson, in particular, after he could've ended the game in Buffalo's favor on the previous possession but dropped what would have been a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

"I had the game in my hands and I dropped it," Johnson said. "Humbled. Humbled."

Then, growing emotional, Johnson added: "I'll never get over it. Ever."

In a game the Bills (2-9) proved they're not all that bad, the Steelers (8-3) showed why they're better.

Suisham hit all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarder. His decisive kick capped a 13-play, 58-yard drive which Ben Roethlisberger kept alive by hitting Mike Wallace for a 17-yard catch to convert third-and-8.

As the Steelers celebrated, not far from their minds was how close they came to losing.

"I had my helmet on and I was going to the locker room," defensive tackle Casey Hampton said, when he saw Johnson 2 yards in the end zone, having sneaked in behind defensive backs Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark.

"You're talking about a guy who's been extremely hot," Clark said of Johnson. "Luckily for us, he didn't (catch it)."

Rashard Mendenhall had 151 yards rushing and scored on a 1-yard plunge in helping Pittsburgh prepare for a AFC North first-place showdown at Baltimore next weekend. Hines Ward had seven catches for 107 yards, and Roethlisberger finished 20 of 33 for 246 yards

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Buffalo proved feisty in facing one of the NFL's elite teams by overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit and forcing overtime with 2 seconds left in regulation when Rian Lindell hit a 49-yard field goal. Fred Jackson had five catches for 105 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown, and added 59 yards rushing.

The Bills had a two-game win streak snapped. Each of their past four losses have been by 3 points, including two in overtime, after they lost 37-34 at Baltimore on Oct. 24, and 13-10 at Kansas City the following week. Buffalo was also coming off a 49-31 win at Cincinnati, in which it overcame a 21-point first-half deficit.

"We fought so hard out there, yet again, it's one of those overtime heartbreakers," said Fitzpatrick, who finished 23 of 45 for 265. "There's not much to say than the guys in that locker room, including me, are really hurting over that one."

In a game the Bills looked out of by halftime, credit Fitzpatrick for showing he could not only take a vicious hit, but also punch back.

Down 13-0 late in the third quarter, linebacker James Harrison broke in untouched and, with his head lowered, struck Fitzpatrick just beneath the chin just as the quarterback got off a pass.

Harrison was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer -- and faces another potential fine from the NFL for leading with his helmet.

"It's not going to change the way I play," said Harrison, who's already been docked $100,000 this season. "There was nothing wrong about the play."

Though knocked a little woozy, Fitzpatrick responded three plays later by hitting Jackson for his 65-yard touchdown catch and run.

The score gave the Bills life, as they eventually tied it at 13 when Lindell hit two field goals 2:07 apart -- the second set up after Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd stripped Mendenhall of the ball at the Steelers 23.

Ahead 16-13, the Steelers got a big defensive play from Troy Polamalu, who made a diving interception at the goal line after Fitzpatrick's pass bounced off Johnson's fingertips with 2:51 left in regulation.

Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall had his way with the Bills' league-worst rushing defense. Find out where his impressive outing puts him among the week's top performers.

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Pittsburgh couldn't finish Buffalo off, even in front of a large contingent of Terrible Towel-waving Steelers fans that made the three-hour trip north.

The undisciplined Steelers were penalized 10 times for 107 yards -- including five offensive holding penalties, three called against guard Chris Kemoeatu.

"We can't make those mistakes as an offense," Roethlisberger said.

At least Big Ben could chime in on a victory, and couldn't help but comment on Johnson's drop.

"When he dropped it, I said, 'Well, hopefully that's new life for us,'" Roethlisberger said.

Notes: The Steelers dominated the entire first half in which they had edge in score, 13-0, time of possession (23 minutes, 55 seconds to 6:05), first downs (18-4) and yards offense (225-51). ... Bills coach Chan Gailey said DE Dwan Edwards is out indefinitely after hurting his left hamstring on the Steelers first possession. ... Fitzpatrick extended his TD streak to 12 games, the Bills' longest since Doug Flutie's 12-game streak in 1999.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bills lose WR Parrish, LB Davis to injuries

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Not only have the Buffalo Bills been losing games, they just lost two significant players to injuries.

Starting receiver Roscoe Parrish won't play again this season after sustaining a right wrist injury in Buffalo's 22-19 loss to the Chicago Bears in Toronto on Sunday, and starting inside linebacker Andra Davis is done for the year because of a nagging shoulder injury that he originally sustained in the season-opening loss to Miami.

Parrish, who finished with 33 catches and a career-high 400 receiving yards, will need surgery to repair the damage.

"You don't just replace guys that have been that productive," coach Chan Gailey said Monday. "It's an opportunity for somebody else to step up."

Parrish was hurt on Buffalo's next to last drive. On third-and-10 from the Chicago 44 with 2:31 left in regulation, he dove along the right sidelines to try and haul in Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass, and wound up falling awkwardly on the wrist.

It's the same wrist that forced Parrish to miss the first six games of his rookie season in 2005 when he broke it during training camp.

Parrish's injury is a blow to an offense that has been improving. The diminutive receiver had emerged as a solid option for Fitzpatrick after a forgettable 2009 in which he had only three receptions. Parrish was also Buffalo's best punt returner, averaging just under 11 yards on 12 returns this year. He came into the season with the fourth-highest punt return average (12.2 yards) in NFL history.

Gailey said the team will consider all of its options before either promoting Naaman Roosevelt, a Buffalo native, or Paul Hubbard from the practice squad, or simply signing a free agent to replace Parrish.

"We'll see what the best fit might be for us at this point," Gailey said.

Davis missed two games because of his shoulder injury, including Sunday's loss to Chicago. The nine-year NFL veteran signed with the Bills this offseason to serve as the defensive play-caller as the team made the switch to a 3-4 defense.

The damaging news comes a day after Buffalo dropped to 0-8, the worst start since losing 11 straight to open the 1984 campaign. Fitzpatrick, though, has been part of a second-half turnaround, and thinks history can repeat itself.

In 2008, he played on a Cincinnati Bengals team that lost its first eight games, but the Bengals were able to salvage some respectability by going 4-3-1 over their final eight. That recovery helped set the tone for a 2009 campaign in which they won the AFC North at 10-6.

"This team, at least from an offensive standpoint, is probably more talented," Fitzpatrick said when asked of the similarities between the two winless clubs. "That's something that I look as a positive. We haven't given up on the season."

To the Bills credit, they haven't rolled over in their last three gut-wrenching losses that included two straight overtime defeats. But one can't take away the "bumbling" description when talking about the Bills quite yet, as big turnovers at inopportune times have kept victory No. 1 from their grasp.

"It's the first time I've ever been through something like this in my career," receiver Lee Evans said. "It's trying on you mentally and physically."

Notes: The Bills also signed RB Quinton Ganther and released RB Andre Anderson and practice squad RB Rodney Ferguson Monday. Ganther has 262 yards rushing on 71 carries in 28 career NFL games. He was released by Seattle last Tuesday. ... Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions will be the first played in Buffalo since the Bills lost 36-26 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 10. ... Newly acquired LB Shawne Merriman said on Monday that he expects to practice Wednesday. The team didn't practice on Monday. ... Receiver Steve Johnson had his franchise-tying five-game touchdown reception streak snapped. ... Fitzpatrick has thrown a touchdown strike in nine straight games dating back to last season, the longest franchise TD stretch since Drew Bledsoe threw at least one pass for a score in 10 consecutive games in 2002.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Cutler's two touchdowns lead Bears past winless Bills

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Missed point-after try vs. Bears is first for Bills kicker Lindell

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Merriman brings 'Lights Out' attitude to slumping Bills defense

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Shawne Merriman is hoping for a fresh start in Buffalo. The Bills want to plug their porous defense. The two hope it's a perfect match.

Three days after the Bills claimed the 2005 first-round draft pick off waivers from the San Diego Chargers, the once-feared pass rusher expressed his readiness to turn the page and resurrect a promising career that had turned sour.

"They have high expectations for me to come in and make some things happen, and I'm going to do that," Merriman said Saturday before he and the rest of his new team departed for Toronto for their game Sunday against the Chicago Bears (4-3). "I've been working out, and I'm just ready to get on the field as soon as possible. Whatever they need me to do, I'm here to work and kind of be a piece of the puzzle."

Merriman was waived three weeks after he was placed on injured reserve because of a calf injury. The injury was designated as minor, meaning he was to be released once the Chargers deemed him healthy.

"I had a great six years out in San Diego and have a bunch of teammates that will be lifelong friends," Merriman said. "They made a decision, and it happens. Whether someone thinks that you can play or not, if the team decides to move in a different direction, they do that. For me, I'm more excited to get here and be in a position that I am right now, and contribute to a team that really needs me to go out and play. I plan on doing that."

Merriman passed his physicals, declared himself healthy and will begin practicing Monday. Whether or not he makes his Buffalo debut next Sunday when the Bills (0-7) host the Detroit Lions remains to be seen.

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"The faster I learn, the faster I get on the field," he said.

The Bills added Merriman in a bid to improve a defense that had struggled mightily this season. The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker joins a unit that ranks last in the NFL against the run, allowing nearly 189 yards per game. Buffalo's pass rush isn't much better, registering just 11 sacks, fifth-fewest in the league.

"You see the guys and the talent on the field, and you wonder how is this team 0-7? This doesn't look like an 0-7 team," Merriman said. "A lot of the things they have going on defensively are things that I'm accustomed to doing."

Nicknamed "Lights Out" for his aggressive and hard-hitting style, Merriman has 43.5 sacks in his 60-game career. His recent drop-off has been largely due to nagging injuries, including reconstructive knee surgery that forced him to miss most of the 2008 season.

This year, Merriman was slowed by an Achilles' tendon injury, then the calf injury. He sat out most of the Chargers' offseason workouts and part of training camp to protest his contract status.

Merriman was suspended four games in 2006 after testing positive for steroids. He blamed the positive test on a tainted supplement, which he never identified.

Merriman also brought unwanted attention off the field after being arrested just before the 2009 season when reality television star Tila Tequila accused him of battery and false imprisonment at his suburban San Diego home. No charges were filed, and Merriman and Tequila settled dueling lawsuits.

All that, though, is in the past, according to the 26-year-old.

"I'm more than happy to be in the position that I am to be going forward with these guys, and as being a Buffalo Bill," he said. "Bottom line, I love playing football."

The Bills hope they'll love Merriman just as much.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bills DT Williams skips practice with ankle injury

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams missed Thursday's practice because of an ankle injury sustained in practice Wednesday.

Williams' status for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh is unclear, but Bills coach Chan Gailey said the lineman has "a legitimate chance" to play.

The Bills have been gashed by opposing rushing attacks, ranking last in the NFL against the run. They converted to a 3-4 scheme this offseason but appear to be moving back to a four-man front that Williams helps anchor.

Williams has been one of Buffalo's most dependable and versatile lineman since being drafted in 2006 in the fifth round, starting all but five of the 67 games in which he played.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Garrard-Lewis connection lifts Jaguars past Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Tight end Marcedes Lewis caught two touchdowns passes as the Jacksonville Jaguars rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the winless Buffalo Bills 36-26 on Sunday.

David Garrard shook off an interception and a lost fumble to throw for three touchdowns as the Jaguars (3-2) stopped a four-game road skid. Mike Sims-Walker's 7-yard touchdown catch put the Jaguars ahead for good, 27-20, late in the third quarter.

Lewis scored on 1- and 27-yard receptions to give him five TDs on the season, breaking the Jaguars' franchise record for scores by a tight end. Josh Scobee made all five of his field-goal attempts.

The Bills, who squandered 10-0 and 13-3 leads in the game, are 0-5 for just the fourth time in franchise history, the first since 1985. Buffalo has allowed 30 points in four consecutive games for the first time.

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Bills game to be blacked out on local TV for first time since '06

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will be blacked out on local television for the first time in nearly four years after failing to sell out Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars by the NFL deadline.

The Bills didn't reveal how many tickets were unsold by Thursday afternoon to avoid the blackout over a 75-mile radius. Games need to be sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

The blackout is the first for Buffalo in 27 games, dating to Dec. 24, 2006.

After selling out their first two games, fans are showing disinterest in a team that's 0-4.

Last month, the Bills announced they sold just under 44,000 season tickets. Though it marked the team's fifth-highest total since 1995, it was about 11,000 short of last year.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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