Archives for February 2012

‘The inductees were chosen during a seven-hour meeting of the 44 members of the Hall’s board of selectors. Reed had been a finalist more times than any of the other men considered today.’

‘During an interview Friday with NBC Sports, the Buffalo Bills’ receiver confirmed long-rumored suspicions that Fitzpatrick suffered cracked ribs in the Washington Redskins game in Toronto, an injury caused by a hit by former Bills linebacker London Fletcher.’

‘The 17 names before the cut to 10 included fellow wide receivers Cris Carter and Tim Brown. The three outstanding candidates at the same position have been splitting support and votes for years. The advocates for each of the three players have not been able to collaborate to throw their support behind one candidate per election for three straight years.’

Along to help was Buffalo Bills cheerleader Jill, of Hornell. She said that the Jills often help throughout the area with fundraisers. “That is part of what I like about being a Jill,” she said.’

‘It was such a good blue print, Belichick’s written gameplan ended up in the Hall of Fame.’

‘And perhaps most shocking of all was that no wide receiver was chosen.’

‘Well-schooled on today’s participants, Moats offered The Pilot defensive insight on both as well as an opinion on which team he thinks will prevail.’

‘In an all too familiar scenario three receivers counting Reed made the list of 15 finalists for the 2012 Hall of Fame as Tim Brown and Cris Carter were again finalists this year. None of the wideouts however, earned induction.’

‘As of Friday, the Bills were in second place with 1,144 wins and 227 losses, with a total of 23,157 points. They trail only the Green Bay Packers, who tallied 1,388 wins, 399 losses and 23,637 points.’

‘The 15 finalists are to be whittled in a reduction vote from 15 to 10 and then to five during the course of the meeting. At that point the selectors vote up or down on the final five candidates. Reed has made it to the final 10 each of the past two years, and this is his sixth straight year as one of the final 15.’

‘The two-time AFL All-Star played for 11 seasons, most of them with the Bills. He then retired to raise a family and start a consulting business in Western New York. At age 74, Jacobs is again immersed in football, but this time as a plaintiff in one of 22 concussion-related lawsuits in six states brought against the NFL by more than 500 retired players and their spouses, including former Bills Joe DeLamielleure and Rob Johnson.’

‘”The series has been very helpful to the Bills, I think, in building that fan base,” Goodell said. “We have seen the kind of response and what it has done for season-ticket sales for them down in Buffalo and to try and help that franchise broaden their appeal. In those discussions, I have talked to both sides, and I believe there is a willingness and an interest to extend the agreement, and we will work to try and help support that.”‘

‘It’s now clear that Toronto was never more than a life-support system for the Buffalo Bills in Roger Goodell’s mind. The city has been a mild success in that regard.’

‘When asked about the Bills in Toronto series, meanwhile, Goodell said he expected the deal between the Bills and Rogers Communications to be extended, and left any potential future team in Toronto – a longtime dream that has never quite materialized – unaddressed.’

‘While Reed will be at Super Bowl headquarters in Indianapolis at the time of the announcement, his family will gather, as they have for several years, at Starters Riverport in Bethlehem. They will watch “Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2012” at 5:30 p.m. on The NFL Network and hope to celebrate after the selections are revealed.’