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While it seems obvious that rookie Marshawn Lynch will be the No. 1 back on the team, Bills coach Dick Jauron is standing firm on the issue: The Bills will run a backs-by-committee approach this year.

Regardless of who the No. 1 [back] is, we do still intend to run the ball by committee, Jauron said. We think its better for our team over the long haul.

As we get good enough to win consistently and fight our way hopefully into a playoff spot, you want to be healthy at that point in the year, Jauron said. A guy that gets overburdened carrying the ball constantly at that position will take so many more shots. Wed like to run it by committee.

Jaurons plan makes sense, just as long as the best back is on the field with the game on the line. Bills fans still recall the 2005 game against Carolina when Mike Mularkey had Willis Mc- Gahee on the bench while Shaud Williams played on the potential winning drive at the end of the fourth quarter.

7-11 touchdown

The highlight of Tuesday nights practice was a beautiful, 60-yard touchdown bomb from J.P. Losman to Roscoe Parrish. Losman rolled right and threw all the way across the field to hit No. 11 in stride in the end zone. I still came up like a hair short, Losman said with a smile. Im trying to overthrow Roscoe because right now theres a little joke in the locker room that I dont have the arm. Its that particular route [that is difficult] because its across the field, and they all run it a little different.

Happy Valley, N.Y.

Rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny was a favorite among the sellout crowd of more than 3,000 Tuesday night in part because the Rochester chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association brought a big contingent to St. John Fisher College. The blue-and-white clad throng struck up two rousing chants of We are! Penn State! just like they do in State College, Pa. The Bills wore their throwback 1960s helmets during the two-hour practice. Posluszny started at middle linebacker because John DiGiorgio sat out. The Bills worked a good amount on the run game, and Anthony Thomas had a spring in his step. The team had a full day of work. The morning walk-through, which usually lasts 45 minutes, went about 90 minutes in 90-degree heat.

Late cut-down

NFL teams this year can keep 75 players right up until the last cutdown date of Sept. 1. In the past the final cut was from 65 to 53.

From a coachs point of view its a lot better, Jauron said. It was always painful to have to cut down and then play the last exhibition game with a reduced roster because you just had guys exposed.

Starters make only a token appearance in the fourth preseason game. So key secondstringers would have to play three full quarters of action in that final tuneup. This year key backups wont be exposed to such a degree.

Directions

From Buffalo take the Thruway to Exit 47. Take Route 490 East for 25 miles to Exit 25 (Fairport Road - 31F). Turn right. The shuttle bus lot at East Rochester High School is about a mile down the road. Shuttles run continuously before and after practice.

Schedule

Todays practice will be 1 to 3:05 p.m. Thursdays practice will be at 7 p.m., but free tickets for it only are being distributed at the three Verizon Wireless Communications stores in Rochester. The team will work 2:15 to 4:25 p.m. on Friday. The time for Saturdays session was changed. Now its 10:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

On the Web

Check out the Bills daily blog at buffalonews. com. To post your comments, go to buffalonews.typepad.com/billboard

Quote of the Day

We look for him to put fear in the defense were playing. Jauron on receiver Lee Evans.

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