Archives for December 2013

‘In the final stanza of their games this season New England has outscored their opponents by a nearly 2:1 margin (160-86). Their point differential in the fourth quarter of games (74) accounts for 80 percent of their point differential on the season (92).’

‘”It’s not as easy as people think,” Marrone said. “There’s a lot of things that are involved. Stability. Is it stable enough to do what we want to do? Field conditions, weather. How’s the game plan, how does he know it? The confidence level of the team in doing it. There’s a lot of things that go into the decision. It’s not easy. It’s one that I think about quite a bit because of the importance of the position.”‘

‘”I love Buffalo,” Chandler said. “It’s hard to imagine anything else, but you know, this business is funny. I didn’t imagine myself not being a Charger, but pretty quick I was no longer a Charger. I was Cowboy, wasn’t a Cowboy, was a Giant, wasn’t a Giant, then I was a Cowboy again.”‘

‘”I like it here in Buffalo, I really do,” he said. “It’s the perfect defense for me and everything. I love the community.”‘

‘Sunday in New England, Chandler will wrap up the best season of his career – he already has achieved personal bests with 50 receptions for a team-high 600 yards – and if he catches three balls against the Patriots, he will take over the team lead from Stevie Johnson who will probably be inactive for the game.’

‘Coach Doug Marrone would not name Lewis as the starter, and said he will wait until later in the week, maybe even until game day at New England, to decide. But the more practice time Manuel misses, the less likely it is that he’ll play.’

‘”We have a very difficult challenge, obviously. It’s not a secret,” said Marrone, who will lead his 6-9 team into Gillette to face the 11-4 Patriots in the two teams’ 2013 regular-season finale. “We haven’t won up there in the new stadium. We’re playing an outstanding football team. They’ve been an outstanding football team for quite some time and it’s a great challenge for us and we’ve got to be ready.”‘

Stevan Ridley stays positive between ups, downs (Boston Globe)

Patriots’ point of emphasis: Takeaways (Boston Globe)

Stevan Ridley keeping his fumbling ways in his hands (Boston Herald)

Tough task of replacing Devin McCourty (Boston Herald)

Bills’ D-line big challenge for Pats (Boston Herald)

Aaron Dobson puts best foot forward (Boston Herald)

After rash of fumbles, Patriots’ Ridley hoping to turn things around (Providence Journal)

Injuries leave safety position up in the air (Providence Journal)

Embracing his role (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Dinged up Pats trying to get healthy (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Patriots’ Stevan Ridley holds onto ball (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Patriots reward Worcester Tech with tickets (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Stevan Ridley opens up about fumbling issues: ‘The good ones find a way to shake back’ (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots could be a tough spot if Devin McCourty is unable to play this week (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots injury report: Rob Ninkovich limited with ankle injury (Springfield Republican)

Patriots’ Ridley says he isn’t looking back (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills have gone 0-for-Gillette (Brockton Enterprise)

Patriots’ defense keeps making stops despite injuries (New Bedford Standard Times)

Stevan Ridley Took ‘Big Step’ in Overcoming Fumble Issues for Patriots on Sunday Against Ravens (NESN)

Patriots Need to Be at Full Health for Playoffs, Putting Shane Vereen, Alfonzo Dennard’s Status in Question for Sunday (NESN)

Rob Ninkovich Added to Patriots’ Injury Report on Thursday As Limited With Ankle Ailment (NESN)

Patriots Release Cornerback Marquice Cole for Fourth Time This Season (NESN)

Ridley knows what to do: ‘Hold on tight’ (CSN New England)

Bill pumps the Bills (CSN New England)

Harmon growing up fast in Patriots defense (CSN New England)

Blount, Ridley chewing up yards after contact (CSN New England)

Deep answer for Patriots success (CSN New England)

Ridley aims to get back starting job (AP)

Patriots release Marquice Cole (AP)

You’re Selling Belichick Short If You Think 2013 Is His Best Coaching Season (WBZ-TV)

Bills Playing For Pride, But Also Not To Get Injured (WBZ-TV)

Seven Patriots who have exceeded expectations in 2013 (WEEI-FM)

Patriots release CB Marquice Cole (Patriots.com)

Buffalo Bills: What they’re saying (Patriots.com)

‘The altercation was in the third quarter of Buffalo’s 19-0 win. Woods and Jones became tangled up during a running play and eventually wrestled each other to the ground. Woods was unhappy with how Jones threw him into a pile of players following the whistle. Jones was on one knee and had his back turned when Woods caught him with an uppercut across the facemask.’

‘The Bills were unable to test Manuel’s knee outside becausf snowy conditions in the Buffalo area forced them to practice indoors.’

‘Patriots games come down to the wire on an almost weekly basis, and Week 17 will prove no different with Buffalo able to control the clock against New England’s poor run defense. In the end, the Bills lack the quarterback play to pull the road upset.’

‘”I think there’s a lot of things that go on to that decision. But it’s not easy, it’s one that I think about quite a bit because of the importance of that position,” Marrone remarked. “Is [the knee] stable enough to do what we want to do? You know, field conditions, weather. How’s the game plan? How’s he know it? The confidence level of the team in doing it.”‘

‘”I’m close, but it’s a process,” he said. “He’s one player, like I do with most of these players, you feel for him. Not to take anything away from any other player, but it kills Aaron Williams not to be on that field practicing with his teammates.”‘

‘Patriots 37, Bills 17.’

‘”Where do you want to start?” Marrone responded this week, when asked what his team had to play for in the season finale, given that the playoffs are out of reach for a 14th consecutive season. “We can start with being the only team in our division to have a winning record. That would be important for what we want to be able to build on.”‘