‘Cordon and her attorney, Tanya Mitchell Graham, on Thursday offered a reward of $20,000, but said other well-wishers and friends had added another $20,000 to the reward.’
BillsBeat - September 22, 2018
Bills don't want to add to Vikings' historic success on third down
‘Not only did Minnesota lead the NFL in third-down defense last season, the Vikings posted the best percentage on third downs of any team in at least the last 42 years, since 1975.’
Vic Carucci’s Take Five: Vikings’ defensive front, receivers figure to be too much for Bills to handle
‘Ryan Groy is struggling at center, but the larger issues appear to be at guard. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Bills decided to replace Groy with Russell Bodine, not so much because Bodine is a better center, but because it would allow them to move Groy to either left or right guard. The biggest problem area seems to be with John Miller at right guard.’
Bills forced into 'big nickel' vs. Chargers, and the personnel package flops again
‘The numbers for big nickel through two games are brutal. Rivers, Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson combined to complete 31 of 36 passes (86.1 percent) for 336 yards (9.3 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns through the air. That equates to a quarterback rating of 133.3.’
After just two games, Buffalo Bills are back to being an NFL doormat
‘Two weeks into the 2018 season, the Bills are once again a laughingstock, a team that looks completely incapable of winning a single game let alone repeating its shocking run to the postseason.’
Roth: Bills coach Sean McDermott needs to let Leslie Frazier do his job
‘After McDermott grabbed the Madden 2018 joystick, the Bills played lights out in the second half against the Chargers, limiting them to 62 net yards and three points on 24 plays vs. 284 yards and 28 points on 31 plays when Frazier was in charge.’
Bills vs. Vikings: How to watch, listen, plus things to know before kickoff
‘The case being made by the Las Vegas oddsmakers this week is a compelling one. The Vikings are clearly one of the best teams in the NFL, the Bills are one of the worst, and the game is in Minnesota where the Vikings have played very well. They are 12-5 since their new stadium opened in 2016, and have won their last six games there by an average margin of 14.3 points.’
Jordan Poyer, Lafayette Pitts on how to deal with Kirk Cousins, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen
‘”Each week you got to play and expect to play at your best,” Poyer said Friday after practice. “I thought we had a good week of practice, especially coming off the type of loss we had last week (against the Los Angeles Chargers). I thought we came in focused. We understand their threats and how they try and distribute the football. I don’t think you change your mindset you just up your expectations a little bit.”‘
Everson Griffen, Dalvin Cook ruled out Sunday for Vikings vs. Bills
‘”I know how Coach Zimmer – I have a pretty good feel, I should say, for how coach Zimmer builds (his defense) as it’s similar to the way we build our defense starting up front,” McDermott said. “They’ve been around each other for quite some time in terms of their continuity. This is a veteran team in a lot of ways and they’re a well-respected team and a well-respected opponent.”‘
Who calls defensive plays for Buffalo Bills, and 7 more things to watch vs. Vikings
‘Sean McDermott took over defensive play-calling in the second half of the Bills’ Week 2 game. McDermott made the change to give the defense a spark, but he didn’t say who would be calling plays on defense in Week 3.’
David Amerson, Tony Lippett among seven players who worked out for Buffalo Bills
‘Cornerback may be the Bills’ biggest need following Week 2. The Bills entered the game with rookie Taron Johnson inactive due to a shoulder injury. During the contest, Buffalo saw Phillip Gaines suffer an elbow injury and veteran Vontae Davis retired at halftime. By the end of the contest, Buffalo was left with Tre’Davious White and Lafayette Pitts. Buffalo addressed the position earlier in the week by promoting Ryan Lewis from their practice squad, but looking at outside options is never a bad idea.’
Saturday's Minnesota Coverage
Is Dan Bailey the stable, productive kicker the Vikings have missed since Mike Zimmer’s arrival? (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Vikings center Pat Elflein expected to make his season debut vs. the Bills (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Vikings center Pat Elflein to return Sunday after working way back from injuries (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly to replace Everson Griffen, RB Dalvin Cook also out (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Vikings ‘repeat offender’ Andrew Sendejo fined $53,482 for hit at Green Bay (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell insists dislocated finger won’t hamper him (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Vikings’ Sendejo fined $53,482 by NFL for hit vs. Packers (AP)
RB Cook, DE Griffen out for Vikings (The Sports Xchange)
Vikings’ Dalvin Cook (hamstring) to sit out vs. Bills (ESPN)
Vikings will be without both Everson Griffen and Dalvin Cook when they host the Bills (CBS Sports)
Dalvin Cook, Everson Griffen ruled out vs Buffalo Bills (KMSP-TV)
Vikings C Elflein ready to return after long offseason recoveryr (KSTP-AM)
Cook and Griffen out, Elflein will ‘have a role’ for Vikings vs. Bills (KSTP-AM)
Will Vikings’ patience with Laquon Treadwell pay off? (KSTP-AM)
Pat Elflein Ready to Make 2018 Season Debut (Vikings.com)
Zimmer Rules Out Cook, Griffen; Says Elflein Will Play vs. Bills (Vikings.com)
Notebook: Weatherly, Bower Ready for Extra Reps in Griffen’s Absence (Vikings.com)
The Skinny Post: Vikings, Bills Meet in Week 3 Matchup (Vikings.com)
Transcript: Zimmer Addressed the Media on Friday (Vikings.com)
What’d They Say: Bills Talk About Vikings (Vikings.com)
$40K reward offered in N. Fulton beating, robbery of LeSean McCoy’s ex
‘Delicia Cordon and her lawyer announced the award during a press conference Friday for anyone who can help police arrest the man who beat her in the face with a gun and stole jewelry that McCoy had given her.’
LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend speaks out about assault claims: 'Every day I live my life in fear'
‘“Every day I live my life in fear, not knowing if I’m walking past the man who savagely attacked me,” Cordon said. “It is unfair that I have to be afraid to do normal things like grocery shop. I have panic attacks. I can’t sleep at night, I can’t. I don’t feel comfort protecting my children. I have my daughter sleep in the bed with me every night. LeSean said that he was going to deal with all of this after his season. I don’t have that option. I have to deal with this every day.’
Bills list running back McCoy questionable for game at Vikes
‘Defensive end Shaq Lawson has been ruled out and will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.’
Ex-girlfriend: Others have alleged abuse by Bills RB LeSean McCoy
‘”In addition to Stephanie Maisonet, the mother of LeSean’s son, other women have contacted me about how LeSean has physically abused them, taken back gifts he has given them and exhibited other aggressive behavior toward them and towards his child,” Cordon said. “I am grateful for everyone who has contacted me about their experiences, and I hope that by seeing myself and Ms. Maisonet come forward, they too will gain the strength to come forward as well.”‘
Bills player shows off gruesome head wound days after taking hit with no helmet on
‘Under NFL rules, all plays are supposed to be whistled dead after a player loses his helmet, but this one kept going, likely because the refs didn’t notice Jones had lost his helmet due to the amount of people who were around him. Once Jones had the ball, he took about three steps before he was hit straight in the head by the helmet of Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.’
LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend implicates Bills RB in assault, offers $40k for information
‘Earlier this week, Stephanie Maisonet, the mother of McCoy’s son, provided an affidavit that was included in Cordon’s case, per USA Today. That affidavit alleged separate abuse from McCoy — that their son would “often come home with bruises” after spending time with McCoy. And Cordon said Friday that Maisonet is not the only woman to back suggestions of an abusive history, with other women contacting her to recount “aggressive behavior towards them and towards his child.”‘
LeSean McCoy’s Accuser Speaks; the NFL Remains Silent. Here’s Where Things Stand
‘Cordon was flanked by her lawyers at the office of a private investigator she has hired to help determine who broke into the five-bedroom home on Hickory Pass in Milton, Ga., where she lived with her two children. Shortly after 3 a.m. on July 10, she says, the intruder entered the house without any sign of forced entry; struck her and Elizabeth Donald, a longtime friend who was staying with her, with a handgun; and demanded specific items of jewelry that McCoy had gifted Cordon for her birthday two years earlier. At one point, she says, the intruder used wirecutters to cut a bracelet off her wrist.’
LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend: 'Every day I live my life in fear'
‘“He’s not helping. He’s not giving up any information with the security cameras that we have asked. He simply is — I don’t know. I don’t know what he’s doing. I am afraid for my children. I am afraid that the intruder will attempt to take the remaining items that were demanded, but did not collect.”’
"I will always be in fear" McCoy's ex-girlfriend speaks publicly for first time since home invasion
‘”I will always be in fear, I wil always look over my back, I will always feel like someones trying to get me.” Cordon said, “I will always feel like im being followed. This is a very violent crime that no one deserves. Please someone anyone contact my lawyers office with any information.”‘
McDermott and Frazier "working through" defensive play calling
‘”We know we have a tough test on the road with a pretty good, playoff contending opponent,” said defensive end Jerry Hughes. “We understand we have to go into their house start fast, play angry, play violent and bring the juice. So, I think that’s what we’ve established now as well as just continue to work on our communication.”‘
Quick Hits: Offensive line changes still a possibility
‘“We’re not going to rule that out. That’s something we always look at for every position,” said McDermott. “I’m not going to get into details, but I’m not going to rule it out. That’s something that we’re looking at.”’
7 things to watch for in the Bills-Vikings game this weekend
‘“Nothing has ever happened overnight and one year in Washington we started 0-2 and we made the playoffs that year so you can’t abandon ship,” Murphy said, in an appearance on One Bills Live.’
Bills injury report: McCoy questionable for Sunday
‘“He’s had a long career, so he’s played hurt before,” said head coach Sean McDermott. “A physically tough player and he played hurt in the playoff game last season. It’s nothing he hasn’t done before. We’ll continue to evaluate him.”’
Bills Today: What McDermott said about Zimmer
‘“Respected, in charge, defensive head coach that’s been on the journey that I feel like I’m embarking on,” McDermott said. “He’s had success, and like any head coach, he’s had some moments where he’s had to steady the ship. I admire that about Coach Zimmer.”’
BillsBeat - September 21, 2018
Bills are NFL's second-most sacked team, but Daboll says that's not all on O-Line
‘“Obviously, more than half of those sacks aren’t the offensive line,” Daboll said this week. “We can do a good job with setting the table, getting things set to where we need to get them set to. Those guys have protected inside out for the most part in pass protection. There have been some free runners that you guys have seen. It’s not all on the line, no question about it.”’
Bills Notebook: Taiwan Jones 'blessed' to walk away from scary hit
‘”It’s kind of one of those day-to-day things,” Jones said. “Each day I’ve been feeling pretty good. As you can imagine, I’ve got a lot of soreness in my neck.”‘
Mark Gaughan's Xs and Os: Bills offense bringing knives to gunfight against Vikings
‘The Vikings’ defense last season ranked No. 1 in the NFL in the following categories: yards allowed, points allowed, third-down percentage, yards after catch allowed and big-play passes allowed.’
How we see it: Predictions for Bills-Vikings in Week 3
‘This matchup reminds me of the first career road start for Trent Edwards in 2007 (a 26-3 loss at Pittsburgh) and J.P. Losman (a 19-3 loss at Tampa in 2005).’
View from Vegas: Bills sinking to new lows among bettors
‘Egad. The Buffalo Bills are sinking to new lows and sinking rapidly at that.’
LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend offers reward to find attacker, blasts McCoy
‘”Ms. Cordon strongly believes that Mr. McCoy was involved in this crime, and she has never wavered on that belief. The violent nature of Mr. McCoy is well-documented, and he believes he can continue his abhorrent behavior with impunity,” a news release issued by Graham’s office said. “Mr. McCoy claims that he was not involved in the home invasion and attack that occurred in a home that he owns, but he has vehemently refused to participate in the investigation or cooperate with the authorities. His actions before and subsequent to the home invasion do not reflect the actions of an individual who was not involved.”‘
Voice of the Fan: Have we been sold a Bill of goods?
‘I am a buyer, not a seller. We may not win but just when you think this team has sold out, they often surprise.’
Falling to your death, dating a millionaire are better odds than Bills making playoffs
‘Those are odds of about 1 in 333.’
Life as an NFL kicker for Stephen Hauschka: 'It’s all about making kicks'
‘“I guess tolerance level,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said when asked about the fickle nature teams have with their kickers. “I remember growing up in Philadelphia, Paul McFadden, I think, was the kicker we had, and just watching him for years on the television set on Sunday afternoons. I don’t know, maybe the tolerance level has declined in terms of (the fact that) if you miss a kick, you’re out. I don’t know, media pressure, social media pressure, you name it.”’
LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend now offering $20,000 reward for info regarding beating
‘The release then went on to reiterate Cordon’s contention that McCoy is abusive to his son. “Ms. Cordon has witnessed Mr. McCoy physically abuse his son from another relationship, as well as his dog. Ms. Cordon is further aware of Mr. McCoy’s penchant for demanding the return of expensive jewelry and gifts from multiple women at the end of a relationship. Mr. McCoy has a history of attempting to resale the gifts he had previously given to a girlfriend, to friends or teammates. There is no doubt in Ms. Cordon’s mind that Mr. McCoy had some involvement with the attack.”’
Kelvin Benjamin says Bills offense 'has to get on same page' and start fast vs. Vikings
‘”(We have to) get on the same page. But I think we didn’t get that fast start that we wanted,” Benjamin said. “This week we’re focusing on starting fast, manage to go out and pitch and catch, get the ball moving and get a good drive going down the field. Try to put some points on the board.”‘
Buffalo Bills to work out veteran offensive lineman Matt Tobin (report)
‘Tobin, 28, was released by the 49ers when the team activated linebacker Reuben Foster from the suspended list. Before joining the 49ers, Tobin spent the offseason with the New England Patriots.’
Friday's Minnesota Coverage
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins doesn’t have to boast, his teammates do it for him (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Mike Priefer: ‘I felt partly responsible’ for Daniel Carlson’s missed field goals (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Vikings long snapper Kevin McDermott is one constant amid endless change with team’s specialists (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Pocket presences establishes Vikings’ Kirk Cousins as ‘legitimate tough guy’ (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Vikings’ running game ‘good enough,’ but for how long? (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Mike Priefer: Vikings would have signed Dan Bailey last offseason had he been available (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
Dalvin Cook appreciates moonlight role at reciever (KSTP-AM)
DeFilippo Says Vikings Doing ‘Just Enough’ in the Run Game (Vikings.com)
Notebook: Vikings Staying Focused on ‘Dangerous’ Bills (Vikings.com)
Presser Points: DeFilippo on Bills D, Edwards on Johnson’s Return, Priefer on Bailey (Vikings.com)
Vontae Davis and the Magic of Quitting Early
‘Movies, too. Who hasn’t wanted to Vontae halfway through a bad movie? Conference calls—has anyone actually listened all the way through a conference call? By the end of the 45-minute call, everyone on the line is looking at dog photos on Instagram.’