Archives for September 10, 2013

‘However, Manuel’s solid showing is reason to have hope. This season will be judged on how he develops, and whether or not Manuel is a better quarterback in December than he is today.’

‘What’s clear is that the Bills’ first season-opening rookie starter at QB since Joe Ferguson in 1973, wasn’t awed. The game wasn’t bigger than him and he played poised, calm and composed.’

‘”The reaction is as expected: Everybody placing blame on me. It’s OK, you know? I felt like I put myself in that position,” he said. “But that’s not me putting on a front for anybody … pretty much being who they’ve grown to love. I feel like there’s no one who can guard me. Obviously it showed, but when you don’t win a game, that’s when you get that negative attention, and I deserve it.”‘

‘Still, Jackson looks capable of a larger role than many people expected. There was talk in training camp of him serving mainly as a blocking back and goal-line specialist. That wasn’t the case Sunday. He was a dual threat, a pounding inside runner and a threat in the passing game.’

‘Brooks’ absence leaves four healthy players at the position – Leodis McKelvin, Justin Rogers, Nickell Robey and Brandon Burton, who was claimed on waivers from Minnesota last week. Top corner Stephon Gilmore is expected to miss at least a few more weeks because of a fractured wrist.’

‘Team officials say they’re also heartened by the success of the new Blue Team Tailgate Patrol, the prohibitions against drinking and smoking in the security lines and the universal use of one-space, one-vehicle parking in all stadium lots.’

‘And what happened Sunday is merely the first of several times we’re going to need to do this.’

‘”We’d love no arrests but five arrests on the inside versus 65,000 plus is very good,” said Scott Joslyn, Chief of Road Patrol with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.’

‘Sure, we can understand why Bills fans might not like Bill Belichick. If New England fans are honest, they’d admit they wouldn’t like him either, if he weren’t coaching the Patriots.’

”’When you don’t win a game, at the end of the day, that’s when you get negative attention,” Johnson said. ”And I deserve it.”’

‘Brooks’ injury further depletes Buffalo’s defensive secondary, which is already missing starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore (broken left hand) and starting safety Jairus Byrd (feet).’

‘”He’s going to be out for some time, but he’s going to have foot surgery (Tuesday) and then we’ll know the exact amount of time,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said of Brooks. “But it’s still not a season-ending injury, but he will be out for some time.”‘

‘Goodwin sustained a broken hand in the first half of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots and sat out the rest of the contest. He underwent surgery Monday and his return is unknown. For now, he won’t be placed on injured reserve, or short term IR.’

‘”It looked like the play should have been made, but with me extending how I did, it was like my length just got my hands on the ball. I felt like it was harder than it was, what really happened,” Johnson said. “Looking at the film, yeah, I was wide open. I beat the guy … It was tougher than what it looked.”‘

‘Welcome back, football. I love you. Assuming love should make me want to duct tape my mouth to a bus tail pipe. And in my experience, sometime love is like that.’