Archives for September 2014

‘Buffalo may be a long shot to win 10 games this season, but stranger things have happened. Let’s take a game-by-game look at the Bills’ 2014 schedule and envision a scenario by which the Bills could finish 10-6. We’re not predicting the Bills to win 10 games, rather just pointing out how it could happen.’

‘Kyle Orton will start more games than EJ Manuel.’

‘This year, the oddsmakers haven’t been kind to the Buffalo Bills. In addition to giving Bills coach Doug Marrone 8-1 odds to be the first head coach fired in 2014, Vegas has set the over/under on wins for the Bills this season at 6.5.’

‘”It didn’t really surprise me because right at the end, right when we started to camp, Kyle basically came to Dallas and expressed an interest in playing,” Jones said on his weekly KRLD-FM radio show Tuesday. “But we had decided to go in a different direction.”‘

‘Orton considered retiring in the offseason, and if he had, the Cowboys wanted the backup quarterback to repay around $3 million of his signing bonus. Instead, Orton told the team he intended to come to training camp after missing mandatory minicamp, allowing him to keep the money. The Cowboys had already moved on, bringing in Brandon Weeden to be Tony Romo’s backup, and they released Orton on July 15.’

‘Alonso said he first felt discomfort in his knee during a change of direction drill, but the severity of the injury wasn’t revealed until a few days later.’

‘The Bills lack depth at tight end with Lee Smith’s status uncertain because of a toe injury. That leaves Buffalo with only two healthy tight ends – starter Scott Chandler and backup Chris Gragg – in preparing to open the season at Chicago on Sunday.’

‘Two other people familiar with the process say former Sabres owner Tom Golisano is not prepared to submit a bid.’

‘So as Buffalo walks into Chicago, it has a good enough defense to win the game. The question is, how will the offense react?’

‘”I want to be around the team,” he said. “It wouldn’t feel right not to be here.”‘

‘Tialavea originally entered the league earlier this year as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A 6-foot-4, 260-pound Utah State product, Tialavea played in 40 games during his collegiate career – catching 30 passes for 198 yards and five touchdowns. Tialavea is 23 and a native of Salt Lake City, UT.’

‘”I think you’d be surprised of what he can do. I think we’ll go work during the week and see how much he feels comfortable with handling,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said. “Probably more than what most people think because of his experience.”‘

‘Does anybody remember, or even care, who the Bills’ captains were during the ’90s? Of course not. But you wouldn’t have to go too far to find someone who could run down the list of Sabres’ captains. So it’s a bit of a different animal by the nature and tradition in the sport. In fact, the NFL didn’t even start its practice of captain patches until 2007.’

‘”We’ll try just about everything; whatever helps me. We’re just going to see how far I can go. I think it’s just pain tolerance I have to get through and be prepared for,” he said.’

‘”If you’ve got kids I think you kind of know that they just like being around you, but this was the right decision for me,” said Orton, who signed a one-year contract with the Bills, with a one-year player option attached, to serve as EJ Manuel’s backup. “When this opportunity arose, I jumped at it. This was the right team for me. This was the right organization for me.”‘