Archives for March 2009

‘Toronto takes a couple of the games, but Buffalo still has six, and they’re still the BUFFALO Bills, and with that $$ boost from Toronto, the Bills’ bottom line can look pretty healthy for the future, no matter what happens with the inevitable settlement on Ralph Wilson’s estate. Speaking of that, Mr. Wilson is still sharp as a tack at 91, so who knows when that scenario comes into play?’

‘”For me, it’s not a matter of what city I go to, whether they have the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys or the following of Philadelphia or San Francisco. I am embracing a team and an organization.”‘

‘Through his personal efforts, the recipient of the award provides leadership and inspiration to others in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Owens is the first ever recipient of the Young Champions Award.’

‘The star receiver is in Washington, D.C., attending the sixth annual National Alzheimer’s Gala, where he’ll receive the Alzheimer’s Association’s first Young Champions Award for raising awareness in the fight against the disease. Owens’ grandmother has Alzheimer’s.’

‘Whether or not the Bills are ready to debut in prime time, the league thinks they are. Being forced to wait an extra day until the first regular-season game will be worth it for fans if they get treated to not just an air show but also of course a greatly-needed victory. This squad enjoys the prospect of concurrently ending their recent tendencies to get smacked by the Pats, find themselves embarrassed on national television, and lose in general.’

‘The status of Jason Peters and Marshawn Lynch, the situation at left guard, linebacker and tight end were among the topics Jauron touched on during the one-hour session at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, site of the NFL owners meetings.’

‘One game shifted north had its merits when assessed from a mega-millionaire’s perspective. But two? Which leads to three? Which ends in “Sayonara Buffalo, nice to have known you.” Is that your desired legacy, Mr. Wilson, sir? Is Buffalo nothing but the ill-fated love in a country western song, inconsolable and left to surmise why it was wronged? You’ve often said the team would never move under your ownership. I guess we failed to ask the pertinent follow-up question: Do you mean all at once, or one piece at a time?’

‘”When you move up to two games to Toronto, I think it improves the economics of the team and makes it a more viable franchise in Buffalo,” said Kailbourne, who has been a prominent banker and chairman of Business Backs the Bills.’

‘”I didn’t talk to anybody,” Jauron said. “There are a lot of reasons. Three of them are: 951 (career receptions), 139 (career touchdowns) and 38 (TDs) in three (years). There’s just as much positive said about him by his teammates and by people who have been associated with him as there is negative. The negatives are all exposed, and are constantly exposed, because we know it sells. So I don’t need any more information on that.”‘

‘”He told me a lot of things he felt and a lot of those things are private between us, but he told me [Owens is] the hardest worker he’s ever seen. He wants to win and has a driving desire to win.”‘

‘”Yeah, we” worry, Jauron said during the AFC coaches’ media breakfast at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. “We’re into our off-season training program and we’re anticipating that he’ll be around for the mandatory parts of it . . . but, yeah, you worry about a lot of things, and that’s another thing to worry about.”‘

‘Jauron is one of the sharpest, kindest and most intuitive coaches in the business, but he’s also one of the most vulnerable. He hasn’t won in three years on the job, and the Bills haven’t been to the playoffs in nine straight seasons. If those streaks are extended another year, it’s “Hasta La vista” for Jauron, and he knows it. He must win, and he must win now.’

‘Said Jauron, “I spoke to him shortly after (Owens was signed) and he called me. We’ve known each other a long time. I asked Calvin, ‘The media will ask who I talked to. Is it OK if I use you on it?’ and he said absolutely. I spoke with Calvin and I have a great deal of respect for him as a person and a football person, and it was obviously positive.”‘

‘Speaking at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday, coach Dick Jauron said the team has been in contact with Peters’ agent and added “we’re trying to get something done.”‘

‘It will be interesting to see whether Buffalo’s front office issues a denial or if, in fact, WNY fans will lose a second regular-season game for the final three years of the “The Ralph’s” contract. In any case, the Bills’ faithful south of the border have very good reason to be worried.’