Archives for November 27, 2013

‘Falcons 27, Bills 23.’

‘”It’s difficult, because there’s things like the injuries that you’re not accustomed to,” Johnson said. “Then there’s the new aspect of players coming and trying to build chemistry with certain players, especially when your QB is being interchanged like every other week.”‘

‘Williams and Dareus saw an uptick in their usage after defensive end Alex Carrington was lost for the season in Week Three because of injury. In the first two games of the season, neither Williams nor Dareus exceeded 80 percent of the defensive plays.’

‘Since corporations aren’t allowed to own NFL teams per league bylaws, Bon Jovi would act as the owner/face of the Bills while MLSE would build, own and operate a new NFL quality stadium in Toronto. We’re talking a $2 billion idea, so it might make more sense for the Bon Jovi group to operate the Bills regionally based out of Orchard Park. At least until the lease expires and new digs are built.’

‘”It doesn’t help anybody when you start giving away tickets to any sort of event. Some people will say that there’s a real fine line between selling tickets and giving away tickets to fill a building and create atmosphere. But we think you create atmosphere by creating value in the ticket, so that’s what we’re continuing to do.”‘

‘Though not ready yet to commit to a long-term contract on Tuesday, the two-time Pro Bowl player wasn’t ruling out the possibility, either.’

‘A group that includes Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment minority owner Larry Tanenbaum, may include Rogers Communications heir Edward Rogers, and which is being shepherded by Tim Leiweke, the president and CEO of MLSE, who recently added a Bon Jovi banner to the Air Canada Centre, the National Post reported.’

‘Comelia Williams made the special delivery dressed in her Buffalo Bills gear. While Marcell Dareus couldn’t be there in person for the delivery, Williams says he helped make it all happen from Buffalo, New York. “He has such a great big heart,” said Williams.’

‘”I was fortunate enough to go through something with my right ankle, I know how to maintain and treat it, and just keep it strong,” he said, speaking from experience. “Ice it, pretty much. Keep it in an ice bath after everything. Don’t let it get too bad. Just keep the inflammation down.”‘

‘”To be sitting here now where we are from a health standpoint is a credit to the players, the trainers, the conditioning guys, the weight coaches. They’ve done a good job,” said head coach Doug Marrone. “It’s important. I’m excited because it’s the healthiest we’ve been.”‘

‘They’re a team that offensively and first down they’re ranked eighth in the league. Completing 40 something percent on third down, so obviously they’ve done a good job moving the sticks. They’re one of the best teams at driving the football that I’ve seen with 10-plus drives, I think they might be ninth in the league in doing that. Defensively I think they’ve gotten better on the outside with the two corners, (Asante) Samuel and (Desmond) Trufant. The safeties obviously went to the Pro Bowl. I think that they’ve had some injuries like a lot of teams have and sometimes the ball hasn’t gone their way.’

‘Buffalo and Atlanta will meet for the 11th time in the regular season this week. The Bills are 4-6 all-time against the Falcons and have won three of the five home contests in the series.’