Tough Week for Soliai

Paul Soliai's mind this week hasn't been solely on practice and getting ready for the Buffalo Bills. Soliai has been keeping tabs on developments in American Samoa, which was hit by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami Tuesday morning. Soliai and his wife have relatives among the more 130 people who have been confirmed dead, and other relatives who are among those missing.

"It has been crazy, but that's Mother Nature," Soliai said Thursday after practice. "I hope everything is OK with my family back home.

"I've been talking to some of my family members. They say there's too much damage. They're still finding more bodies."

Soliai was born in Orange County, Calif., but attended high school in Pago, Pago, American Samoa.

"Pretty much all my family is there," Soliai said. "There are still people missing — cousins, relatives. They keep me updated."

Soliai hasn't been back in Samoa since the 2008 offseason when he conducted a football camp.

The backup nose tackle said the tragedy in Samoa would provide extra motivation for Sunday's game.

"I'm going to play for my people back home and my family," Soliai said. "It's going to be a special week for me."