Archives for June 2014

‘Last season the Bills set a franchise record in sacks (57) to rank third in the league. They ranked fourth against the pass, sixth in red zone defense and finished in the top half of the NFL when it came to third down conversion percentage allowed. A lot of that success was due to Buffalo’s formidable front line made up of three players who had double-digit sack seasons and a fourth with 7.5 sacks. The defensive cast is largely the same, but the defensive scheme has changed for the fourth time in four seasons. So how dominant can Buffalo’s defensive line be?’

‘Marrone said Kelly’s address wasn’t planned. But no team bonding exercise could accomplish what the ailing Hall of Fame quarterback did during those two emotional minutes at One Bills Drive.’

‘I’m getting flashbacks to the dreaded “silver bullet” days of gotta-do-it, taxpayer-subsidized, salvation-promising projects that had little foundation in common sense and, if they were built, did us more harm than good.’

‘Kelly Tough is a selfless toughness. It’s not about being strong in your own strength. It doesn’t mean being strong for the sake of your own suffering. Being Kelly Tough means that you press on because there’s someone else out there who needs you to be strong.’

‘Will the reported interest of Congel and Golisano in purchasing the Bills and building a stadium in West Seneca change the discussions?’

‘Wilson wrote a letter to Allie, which was read June 12, when Allie learned she received the Millie Neville Senior Champion Award at Wilson High School’s Class Night ceremony.’

‘Manuel wanted to start the one-day free camp because he remembers athletes from Hampton Roads like Michael Vick and Allen Iverson providing similar opportunities. “It’s one thing seeing them in video games or on TV, but it’s quite another seeing them in person,” Manuel said.’

‘The poster is a close-up shot of a player holding a New Orleans Saints helmet. Along with autographs, the players and coaches wrote words of encouragement and prayers for Kelly.’

‘”He’s brought in his 4-3 scheme, but as far as what I’m doing it’s pretty much the same thing I did last year,” Hughes said. “My hand is in the ground and I’m coming off the edge trying to create pressure to get to the quarterback.”‘

‘”Terry and Kim Pegula have a deep commitment to Buffalo and Western New York. Their ownership of the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans and the construction of Harborcenter are evidence of that fact,” Gilbert said.’

‘According to Forbes, the NFL’s 32 teams are worth, on average, $1.17 billion, 5 percent more than last year and a steady increase over the last decade.’

‘”Like everyone else in this community, they have a strong desire to have the Buffalo Bills remain a centerpiece of this region,” Gilbert said. “Accordingly, they have been following the developments involving the sale of the Bills.”‘

‘Kaplan believes the deal will be at least $1 billion. “Financials of the NFL continue to improve, and I would expect the Bills to go for $1.2 billion, maybe $1.3 billion,” predicts Kaplan. He says it’s possible the NFL owners could approve a new owner by as early as October.’

‘Here’s a very, very premature look at how things could start off in Pittsford, New York…’.

‘”He’s a big body and it’s a position for that. We have Kraig Urbik. We have Chris there. We have some of those younger guys that are playing that position,” Marrone said. “It’s hard to judge at this time of year in shorts and how it’s going to shake out, especially up front. So we’re putting everyone in there and giving them an opportunity to learn that stuff so they can go ahead and compete.”‘