Bills coach silences heckling fans

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Bills training camp in Pittsford, N.Y., came to a noisy end as Coach Chan Gailey chastised a group of critiquing fans, observers said.

Gailey walked over to the railing at Growney Stadium at St. John Fisher College Tuesday where some young hectoring fans were standing, told them he didn't like their running commentary and said his players would not be signing autographs for them, The Buffalo News reported.

"They said some things during practice that were derogatory to a couple of our players, and if you say something derogatory to one of us, you're saying it to all of us," Gailey said. "So I told (the players) don't go sign for that crew."

Quarterback Trent Edwards was the primary target of the razzing and Gailey said he felt it was over the top. New York's WABC-TV said the caustic fans got on Edwards, who is trying to regain the starting role he lost last season, by telling him he could find himself playing behind third-stringer Brian Bohm. They also chided him for his longer hair and sideburns, and for being a native Californian, the TV station said.

When asked if he regretted his action, Gailey said, "No. In my opinion, if you do something you tell people why. When we make a decision with our football team, I tell them why. I told (the team) why we weren't going to (sign autographs), and I told (the fans) why we weren't going over there."

Edwards didn't seem too bothered by the heckling but said he did appreciate his coach sticking up for him, the News reported.

"Obviously, I'm going to get some criticism," he said. "Hopefully, there's more people praising me, but that's nice that you have a coach that will fight for you."