National Football League

Bills coach Gailey criticizes fans for heckling

Published Aug. 24, 2010 7:21 p.m. ET

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Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey talked to his team at the end of practice Tuesday, then wanted to address one more issue before leaving the field.

So he marched over to a group of teenagers in the stands and told them what he thought about their heckling.

''If you dog one of us, you dog all of us,'' Gailey said in a stern voice, loud enough to be heard 20 yards away.

Gailey had another message for them, too: He said he'd instructed his players to skip that section of the stands for signing autographs on what was the final day of training camp in suburban Rochester.

Gailey targeted those fans for spending part of the two-hour workout getting on quarterback Trent Edwards, who's attempting to reclaim the starting job he lost last season.

One fan called out for Edwards to prepare to lose his job to third-stringer Brian Brohm. Edwards also was targeted for his haircut - he's grown out his hair and sideburns - and for being a native Californian.

''They said some things during practice that were derogatory to a couple of our players,'' Gailey said later. ''And if you say something derogatory to one of us, you're saying it to all of us.''

The group of fans - part of a crowd that numbered more than 1,000 - did not say anything back to Gailey, and had dispersed shortly afterward.

Edwards appreciated Gailey's support, but took the heckling in stride.

''Obviously, I'm going to get some criticism. Obviously, I hope there's more people praising me,'' said Edwards, who signed autographs but avoided that one section of the stands. ''But that's nice that you have a coach that will fight for you. We obviously have fans that want to win. I definitely want to win. And they're more than willing to say what they need.''

Edwards ended practice by successfully running a 2-minute drill. He capped a lengthy drive by hitting Chad Jackson over the middle for a 13-yard touchdown pass as time ran out.

Doubters aside, Gailey praised the fans who turned out during the 19-day camp.

''We're trying to play the game so that we can get people excited and enthusiastic about pulling for their team,'' Gailey said. ''And their team's the Buffalo Bills. So that's what it's about.''

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