By Tim Graham
When it comes to setting goals for the upcoming season, Buddy Nix and Rex Ryan aren't cut from the same cloth.
Nix, the Buffalo Bills general manager, doesn't see any point in making a Super Bowl declaration like Ryan has done with the New York Jets. Nix's objective is to win the division and then see what happens from there.
"Every really good coach I've ever been with, they emphasize [winning the division] strongly, and we always have," Nix told reporter John Kryk for a Q&A interview in the Toronto Sun. "I think it all starts there. You start depending on the wild card, and you might win 11 games and not get in. But if you win your division, even by winning eight games, you get in. So that's what ya gotta do."
Nix and Ryan can find common ground when it comes to the New England Patriots. Ryan famously said he didn't become Jets head coach so he could kiss Bill Belichick's rings.
"No, I like high expectations," Nix said. "I've never been many places where if you didn't have 'em, that good things happen. So I think they oughta expect a lot of us. We expect a lot out of ourselves. New England, the AFC -- they don't scare me. I think we can compete with any of 'em, and our intention is to try to win the division."
In other Bills stories around the cyberyard ...
* WGR's Joe Buscaglia spoke with receiver Stevie Johnson, who explained his surgically repaired groin remains sore and he intends to ride a sideline stationary bike all season to keep it loose.
* Buscaglia and CBSSports.com reporter Mark Ludwiczak made Bills 53-man roster projections after Shawne Merriman's release. Looks like Buscaglia's toughest cut came at linebacker. Ludwiczak predicts the Bills won't keep kickoff specialist John Potter.
* BuffaloRumblings.com editor Brian Galliford throws Bills defensive end Mario Williams a napkin to wipe off the drool caused by the Jets' problems at right tackle. The Jets have benched Wayne Hunter and will now try Austin Howard there.
* Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com reports cornerback Justin Rogers could play in Saturday night's preseason game. Rogers has been bothered by a hamstring issue.
* ESPN.com blogger James Walker does a "Hope and Concern" post on the Bills' preseason. He sees hope in the wide receivers' development, but is concerned by the Bills' slow starts in their two exhibitions.
* In case you missed it, Buffalo News reporter Mark Gaughan gave an update on Bills season-ticket sales. They are up from last year, but remain under the total sold in 2010.
