Archives for November 2010

‘As you can see it really wasn’t bad, but in the end, it wasn’t a win. If the Bills want to win a game somebody the defense is going to have to make game changing plays.’

‘Not a great game for Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’s not the reason the team lost. Fitz made the best of a mediocre performance from his offensive line and worked himself into decent passing positions on several left-for-dead plays. The game plan with him at quarterback rarely states “throw 51 times.” Hopefully, we’ll get a mid-week email alerting the media that his 299 yards passing have been changed to 300.’

‘Nobody should expect any quarterback to play an error-free game, and Fitzpatrick has made the Bills fun to watch again; he knows how to read the blitz and get the ball out, he has great courage under pressure, and is always the smartest guy in the building. What is baffling, is that when it seems to matter most, whether it’s fair or not, Fitzpatrick is being thought of as the guy who just doesn’t have the “right stuff” to make THE play when the game is on the line.’

‘”The bottom line is I’ve had a number of people contact me over the years, and there’s serious interest about keeping the Bills in Western New York… I can’t name those people… but major, major business people that want to see the Bills stay in Western New York. To be honest with you, with Roger Goodell as commissioner, and the State of New York, I can’t see how they’d let a team in Buffalo go… at least not without a serious fight and and I’m one of those guys who will fight… but again, this is Mr. Wilson’s team.”‘

‘It is the same old story, the Bills don’t know how to win.’

‘Kicking game failed them in this one.’

‘Buffalo’s defense appeared to safely protect a five-point lead midway through the fourth quarter sending Chicago’s offense three-and-out, but on the first play of the ensuing Bills possession, Ryan Fitzpatrick was picked off at the Bears 38 by Tim Jennings. His interception return to the Bills 23 led to a two-yard touchdown reception by Earl Bennett and subsequent two-point conversion by Matt Forte to stake Chicago to a three-point lead with six minutes remaining, and that lead stood up for a 22-19 final dropping Buffalo to 0-8.’

‘Buffalo lost to Miami in 2008 in a dreadful 16-3 game, and then fell to the New York Jets last year, 19-13. As if the losses aren’t bad enough, given the state of the roster – which is littered with non-productive draft choices and middling veteran free-agent signees – it would seem that the $78 million the Bills netted in the deal is going to waste.’

‘Let’s face it, the timing of this Bills Toronto Series couldn’t have been much worse. Toronto is catching the Bills in a period of dysfunction and losing. This year, it’s even worse because Buffalo brings an 0-7 record into the game. Home game? That might be a stretch.’

‘The saddest thing about more Bills games in Toronto would be the prospects of Canadian fans getting a chance to watch playoff-caliber Bills teams after fans in western New York paid the freight for 10 years (and counting) of non-playoff football.’

‘”I can tell you that from the first time we played against the Steelers up there the very first time [in 2008], it was a completely different atmosphere all the way up until we played the Colts this past preseason,” said safety George Wilson. “I think the Toronto fans are continuing to embrace our team more and more each and every time that we come up there.”‘

‘Bills, 23-20.’

‘”I’ve been working out doing everything, and I’m just ready to get on the field as soon as possible,” he said. “And whenever they feel like I’m ready to be on the field and I fit good in the system and I’ve learned everything, I’ll be ready to go. … I’ll probably get out here early next week and start practicing. Whatever they need me to do. I’m ready to work and be a piece of the puzzle.”‘

‘He has been a revelation. I’ll admit, I was wrong about Parrish. I dismissed him as too small and slight, a receiver who struggled with press coverage and didn’t run the best routes and would never be more than a marginal fourth wideout.’

‘Martz is truly the modern-day Gillman and Coryell. He’s the brilliant professor. His head is in the playbook. He’s committed to his philosophy. His problem at times is he’s too opinionated. In the NFL, if you’re the smartest, most strong-minded person in the room, it’s hard to survive if you’re not the head coach. Here’s hoping both Martz and Smith survive this year for the Bears.’