Archives for October 9, 2014

‘”We actually found out that he’s gonna be following me around the field,” Watkins said. “So I’m gonna have to be prepared for his jams. He’s very smart. I have to be very competitive and aggressive off the ball.”‘

‘”It wasn’t scary as much as it was annoying for me,” Brooks said. “I was ready to get back on the field. I told them that I had full use of my limbs, didn’t feel any tingling anything like that, so I was just ready to get back on the football field.”‘

‘While defensive tackle Kyle Williams (knee) and linebacker Nigel Bradham (knee) returned to practice, both were limited on Wednesday. The Bills also added linebacker Brandon Spikes (ribs), safety Da’Norris Searcy (knee), running back Fred Jackson (ankle) and safety Aaron Williams (wrist) to the injury report, and all were listed as limited participants.’

‘Though he said he’s not been given any official information on what the Pegulas might want to do in terms of a new stadium, Dyster acknowledged there has been speculation about a new stadium in downtown Buffalo, close to other investments the Pegulas have made in the Buffalo Sabres and the Harbor Center project.’

‘We now know, years later, that Wilson genuinely cared for professional football in Buffalo as evidenced by his commitment to the most recent lease at the Orchard Park stadium that bears his name. Those familiar with the inner-workings of the negotiations have said repeatedly that Wilson helped craft an agreement that made it difficult, particularly from a financial standpoint, for another owner to buy the team and move it out of Western New York.’

‘”I’ve said many times, to many of you, that this has not been a six-month process — which is very quick in this business to make a transaction of that level,” Brandon said. “This has been an 18-year process for the people on my staff, to put the business in a position, regionally, for this franchise to be successfully (sold) as it was.’

‘Johnson has been connected to Patriots coach Bill Belichick since 1986, when the linebacker was drafted by the Giants, with Belichick then serving as the team’s defensive coordinator. Johnson played for Belichick in New York, then Cleveland, then New York again, this time with the Jets. He joined Belichick’s first coaching staff in Foxborough, coaching linebackers (2000-03, 2012-13) and the defensive line (2004-11). He left the Patriots after last season and is now coaching the Bills’ defensive linemen.’

‘The Pegulas have pledged to keep the Bills in Buffalo, so Sunday could be a raucous celebration at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Patriots have had some tough games, but have lost just once in their last 10 visits.’

‘Schwartz’s scheme, which involves less blitzing from the second level and a wider set-up of the front four, looks a lot like what he ran for years as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator last decade. It hasn’t hurt the pass rush much, with Buffalo accumulating 17 sacks through five games, tied with the Jets for the most in football.’

‘”It’s a great challenge for us to go on the road and a tough place to play,” Brady said of the trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Patriots are 9-2 since a shocking 31-0 loss in the 2003 opener after the release of safety Lawyer Milloy caused a mini-revolt in the locker room.’

‘Yes, there have been close games in Orchard Park. The Patriots won a 23-21 decision there last Sept. 8; lost a 34-31 game there on Sept. 25, 2011, after getting out to a big early lead; and they emerged with a 17-10 triumph on Dec. 20, 2009. But there have also been plenty of big New England wins (52-28 in 2012, 38-7 in 2010).’

‘”Brandon’s in a different scheme, but we know what his strengths are as a player,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “There’s a lot of them. He covers a lot of ground. He’s rangy. He’s big. He’s physical. He’s got those guys playing really well. He’s a signal caller for them, the captain.”‘

‘”We’ve got to bring our own energy. Definitely,” Arrington said on Wednesday. “There’s going to be a lot of energy out there, a hostile environment. I believe it’s the first game under the new ownership so I’m sure it’ll be a great crowd, very energetic, so we just have to stick together.”‘

‘”He was here throughout the whole offseason, worked extremely hard, really showed a lot of good leadership ability, and obviously the team voted him for a captain,” Bills second-year coach Doug Marrone said. “I think he’s come in, he’s performed well for us, so we’ve been very pleased with him.”‘

‘Everybody wants to win. I think I look at it more for what’s on tape. Obviously, I was with New York for four years and obviously we played against them twice a year. I think you rely on those experiences, but more importantly, you rely on what you’re seeing on the film. Making good decisions of putting your players in the best position where you have a chance to win.’