Archives for September 21, 2014

‘Running back Bryce Brown and tight end Chris Gragg are among Buffalo’s inactives. Cornerback Ross Cockrell, linebacker Randell Johnson and offensive linemen Cyril Richardson and Cyrus Kouandjio also won’t play.’

‘"Because the game was in Buffalo, I bet you a lot of money that crowd was as loud as anywhere in the league. The reason for that is simple: They feel like they stepped into a time machine, too."’

‘Brown is penciled in as the starter in place of Keith Rivers, who is inactive for the Bills’ Week 3 game against the San Diego Chargers with a groin injury. A third-round pick out of Louisville, Brown is the only Bills player to play every defensive snap so far this season.’

‘Pick: Bills 27, Chargers 24.’

‘”He deserves a lot of credit. He inherited a Chargers roster with poor depth, a crisis on the offensive line, salary cap issues and little pass rush. He’s since developed the roster to a point I actually have them winning the AFC West this year. Telesco’s been terrific.”‘

‘Bills 26, Chargers 24.’

‘”There’s one of those times where they didn’t know what I was talking about,” Morris said with a laugh. “I wasn’t yelling at him. I was just trying to make a point. If you’re not going to use your hands, I might as well have a Venus de Milo.”‘

‘Just look at the 10 brand-new stadiums built with the aid of that NFL loan program, which started in 2001. The average stadium cost $750 million, and the average private-sector share of that was $517 million.’

‘The Wilsons have been extremely generous to the Food Bank of Western New York, but we were just one of many local organizations that quietly received support from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.’

‘The victim told police that he recognized Rivera when his picture was shown on television as the man who sold him two Bills tickets for $250.’

‘”They have a lot of starters on their (special) teams,” Marrone said of the Seahawks, who routinely use players like Percy Harvin, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Doug Baldwin, Malcolm Smith and Kam Chancellor. “For us, (starters) have embraced that role that we talked about. … We feel very comfortable about where our players are right now on our teams’ situation.”‘

‘Bills 23, Chargers 16.’

‘But how do they feel about the long-term future of Ralph Wilson Stadium and the lease running until 2022 they inherited? Until their purchase of the Bills becomes official at league meetings on Oct. 8, the Pegulas are under a self-imposed gag order. But 31 other NFL owners are asking them questions and telling them their opinions.’

‘”Everyone just has attention to detail,” defensive end Jerry Hughes said. “The way we go out every week, notepads and pencils in hand going into our meetings, and everyone is quiet. It’s almost, in a sense, a classroom-like setting. We’re taking notes and trying to learn as much as we can from Schwartz, so that way when we step out on the field, we’re kind of working through him. We know how he thinks and understand how he likes to operate.”‘

‘”I don’t worry about it,” Bills’ quarterback E.J. Manuel said when asked if he was worried his team would experience a letdown in intensity and emotion today. “I think as a process, we enjoyed it Sunday and we moved on to Monday. We knew we had a new opponent. San Diego’s a great team. They just beat the Seahawks, so they’re obviously going to be on a high as well, so we just have to prepare for them.’