Archives for December 19, 2013

‘”Tell me about it,” Manuel said. “When it happened in the game I just kind of said to myself, ‘Is this really happening again?’ I just taped it up and kept playing. Obviously … after that happens it’s going to get stiff and sore on you.”‘

‘Fans have every right to be concerned. Many were dubious about Manuel to begin with. They’re looking for reasons to believe in the guy. The win in Jacksonville was a good sign, but people wanted to see him lead the Bills to their first back-to-back wins of a disappointing season.’

‘”He’s a brother to us,” said receiver T.J. Graham. “He’s a leader in our room. Any time it affects one of us, it affects all of us. Our hearts go out to him. We communicate with him all the time. There’s not much you can say, but he knows we have his back.”‘

‘”Obviously, people are going to think that and write that,” Marrone said of quarterback EJ Manuel. “I totally understand that. But from my personal opinion, he’s not injury-prone.”‘

‘The handwriting is on the wall, times have changed and the NFL needs to show they care about Bills fans as much as their profit margins.’

‘”Everybody needs a little luck sometimes,” Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes said. “Nobody in this [league] can say they got no lucky breaks. Some people get more bad breaks than good ones. Sometimes you get a lucky break at the right time.” Said offensive tackle Tyson Clabo: “How’s it go? You’d rather be lucky than good? If it takes a little bit of luck to win a football game, I’ll take it.”‘

‘”When we watched the cutups this week Thad Lewis was on them,” said Dolphins coach Joe Philbin after practice. “He’s a good football player, we’ll have our hands full. [He’s got] poise; he sat in the pocket and delivered a shot to our bench, a 15-20-yard route, took a hit. He’s a tough guy.”’

Bills QB E.J. Manuel out vs. Miami Dolphins (Miami Herald)

Miami Dolphins claim cornerback Chris Owens off waivers (Miami Herald)

Dolphins claim former Browns cornerback Chris Owens (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins to face Bills backup QB again (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Five keys for the Dolphins against the Buffalo Bills (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Even at 5-9, struggling and depleted Bills have Dolphins’ respect after Oct. 20 win in Miami (Palm Beach Post)

Miami Dolphins are in playoffs if they control their ‘situation’ (Palm Beach Post)

Miami Dolphins’ Michael Thomas named AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Palm Beach Post)

Tannehill making late-season strides for Dolphins (AP)

Hoping for playoffs, Dolphins look for revenge vs. Bills (Fox Sports Florida)

New Miami CB Michael Thomas earns AFC defensive honor (Fox Sports Florida)

Buffalo’s Pass Rush Has Got Dolphins Attention (MiamiDolphins.com)

Jenkins Making Waves; Other Notes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Dolphins-Bills Wednesday Injury Update (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘Bills coach Doug Marrone made the decision to sit Manuel early into practice on Wednesday after the rookie first-round draft pick showed difficulty with his mobility. Manuel practiced inside the team’s fieldhouse, and was then held out once Marrone shifted the session outside on the slick turf at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘”We were not able to get that swelling to respond with the treatments the way we wanted,” said Marrone. “We went out there today — I think you saw, you saw him where he’s able to throw the ball in the pocket, but the stability in that knee with the swelling, he does not have the escapability or the ability to run after the fake or zone read or those type of things that we feel is important for us to win.”‘

‘Lewis was signed off the Bills’ practice squad in early October and has a 1-2 record as a starter this season. The one win came in Miami — a 23-21 victory over the Dolphins on Oct. 20.’

‘Due to the unexpected death of his mother, the outlook for starting wide receiver Stevie Johnson to play on Sunday is murky at best. “I don’t believe that he will be available for our game on Sunday,” head coach Doug Marrone revealed on Wednesday.’

‘Marrone would not rule out Manuel for the final week against New England.’

‘”The situation with EJ is this; after I talked to you guys Monday there was swelling on the knee,” said Marrone. “We were not able to get that swelling to respond with the treatments the way we wanted. We went out there today, I think you saw, you saw him where he’s able to throw the ball in the pocket, but the stability in that knee with the swelling, he does not have the escapability or the ability to run after the fake or zone read or those type of things that we feel is important for us to win.”‘

‘”I’m feeling more comfortable in the offense,” he said. “It was my second time starting and it was six, seven, eight weeks I had only been here. Now the season is almost over. It’s just become routine and very, very familiar with the offense now than I was then.”‘