Archives for October 8, 2014

‘”It’s extremely comforting,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said of knowing that Gay can give the team a touchback when needed. “That’s why you’ve seen us now keeping the specialists.”‘

‘”They’ve conducted themselves as a class act throughout the process,” Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said Tuesday at the Conrad Hotel, where the meeting is being held. “We’re delighted to approve them, and I think they’ll be great for Buffalo.’

‘”Well, you know certainly we recognize they have a need for a new stadium there,” said Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, chairman of the league’s finance committee. “They’ve indicated that they recognize that that’s a top priority and they’re going to work on it. We will support them any way we can.”‘

‘It was a “terrible gesture” and a “total douche move.” And, he said, “If I knew I wasn’t going to get fined I would have snatched him right down off the shoulders and threw him on the ground.”‘

‘But consider this too: No one knows football like the professional gamblers in Las Vegas. The New England at Buffalo game opened as a pick’em, too close to call. If the line holds through the week, it would be the first time in 11 years that the Bills have been anything other than an underdog against the Pats.’

‘For official NFL purposes, Terry will be principal owner.’

‘Now the Patriots will get their first look at Orton since Oct. 11, 2009, when he led the Broncos to a 20-17 overtime win in Denver. In that game, Orton threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns, both to Brandon Marshall.’

‘With a schedule that looks like it was put together by Bills GM Doug Whaley, this team has set itself up to hang around for a while. Following Sunday’s game with the Patriots, the Bills won’t play another team that currently has a winning record until Dec. 7 at Denver. Between the games with the Patriots and Broncos, they’ll play the New York Jets twice, Minnesota, Kansas City, Miami and Cleveland.’

‘”Fred Jackson is a phenomenal football player,” Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia raved Tuesday. “I think age has nothing to do with his ability right now. He is running the ball extremely hard, very powerful. He’s still very explosive through the line of scrimmage. He’s also a big threat and a great target for their offense in the passing game.”‘

‘”They do a good job getting the ball out to their running backs and in the screen game, and Fred Jackson does an excellent job of creating those yards after the catch,” Patricia said. “Just creating a lot of offense from both the backfield alignments and then when he gets the ball out in space in the passing game. He’s a very, very good football player. He’s a very difficult player to defend.”‘

‘The Patriots have recorded 66 wins over the Bills, the most by the Patriots against any one opponent – 10 more than they have over the Jets.’

‘Campbell was the New York Jets’ sixth-round pick in the 2013 draft but didn’t play a down. He was cut before the start of this season.’

‘The league will share the results of its investigation with police, Signora said. All four North American major professional sports leagues bar the use of laser pointers at their facilities.’

‘In the midst of this maelstrom, the Pegulas’ offer of $1.4 billion for the Bills was approved by the NFL’s finance committee. Promising to keep the franchise in Buffalo – honoring the wishes of the team’s only previous owner, Ralph Wilson, who died in March, helped the Pegulas’ pursuit. Paying far more than market value pushed them to the front of the bidding.’