Bills Regular Season Schedule Released

For the seventh time in eight years, the Bills will open the season in Ralph Wilson Stadium when the team hosts the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 9th at 1:00 pm. It’ll mark the first time since 1970, the Buffalo Bills will open at home against the Denver Broncos. Buffalo has an 18-14-1 overall record against Denver.

The 2007 schedule will feature Buffalo’s first home Monday Night Football Game since 1994. The Bills will host the Dallas Cowboys on October 8th at 8:30 pm on ESPN. It marks the first home Monday Night Football Game since September 26, 1994 when Buffalo defeated Denver 27-20. The Bills have an overall 17-20 record on Monday nights.

Buffalo will host its annual Kids Day preseason game on Saturday, August 24 when Buffalo hosts the Tennessee Titans. The game time will be announced at a later date.

Highlights of the home schedule include the following:

Four of the first six home games will be played at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo will play three consecutive home games in weeks four, five and seven. Buffalo’s bye week falls in week six. The last time Buffalo hosted three consecutive home games was in 1996 in weeks four through six.

Former Bills RB Willis McGahee will return to Buffalo on October 21st when the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens at 1:00 pm. The game will also mark the Ravens first trip to Orchard Park.
Buffalo will host two home games following Thanksgiving after hosting four in 2006 in the last six weeks of the season.

Miami will make its fifth December trip in seven seasons to Orchard Park. Buffalo shutout the Dolphins 21-0 in 2006 on December 17th. The Bills are 5-2 all-time against Miami at home in December. Buffalo has won five of the last six overall meetings against Miami.

The Dallas Cowboys will make their first trip to Buffalo since 1996.

Bills sign him to multi-year deal

The Buffalo Bills rewarded Shaud for all his hard work, patience and character on Wednesday by signing him to a multi-year deal that will keep him in upstate New York past the 2007 season. Since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004, Shaud has proven his versatility by playing several roles for the Bills. In 2004, he found playing time behind Willis McGahee and Travis Henry and in 2005 provided a change of pace for the Bills attack. This past season he played a vital role on special teams.

Williams, a restricted free agent, was set to become an unrestricted free agent Friday had the Bills not presented him with a one-year qualifying offer. The Bills however, decided to go a step further locking the running back up beyond the 2007 season. The multi-year deal comes with a signing bonus and several playing time incentives.

"I'm excited about the future of the Buffalo Bills and am very excited have been signed to a long term deal," said Williams.

The level of opportunity for Shaud this coming season could be different. With Willis McGahee set to enter the final year of his contract and veteran Anthony Thomas set to become an unrestricted free agent at week's end, the offensive staff needed some dependable depth at running back.

Offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild has expressed a desire for versatility in his backfield and Shaud has proven he's capable. In the 2005 season the former University of Alabama standout served as the team's third down back contributing 17 receptions for 188 yards (11 yard avg.) and 45 carries for 161 yards.

"It's encouraging to hear that's what the offensive staff is looking for especially for a guy like myself that's not viewed as an every down back," said Williams. "Maybe there's a way I can get on the field and make the kind of contributions I believe I can make."