Archives for November 2014

‘Thigpen who doubles as a return specialist has appeared in 36 NFL career games. The 28-year-old appeared in four games this year with Tampa Bay, and spent the previous two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.’

‘Buffalo allowed a season-low 218 total yards against the Jets, though, and increased its NFL-leading sack total to 46 with seven during its most-lopsided victory since a 38-0 rout of Indianapolis on Sept. 20, 1992.’

‘QB Kyle Orton has completed 156 straight passes without interception. Team record is 175 by Drew Bledsoe in 2002.’

‘Browns head coach Mike Pettine was the Bills defensive coordinator in 2013. Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil coached the Bills linebackers. Pettine has fond memories of his days with the Bills. He said six feet of snow piled up in his former neighborhood last week.’

‘Wednesday, the Bills claimed wide receiver Marcus Thigpen off waivers, and it looks as if that move is designed to get him deep on kickoffs, a role Goodwin has had when he’s been healthy, a further indication that Goodwin’s days in Buffalo could be numbered.’

‘”[The Toronto Bills comment] wasn’t excessive. It wasn’t a joke. I knew that it would get to them. I knew it would ruffle a feather. If they’re over there talking about this, maybe we are in their heads. Maybe I’m in their heads. Maybe. We don’t know, but the goal is to go 1-0, the goal is to get them talking about things other than football, and I guess that’s what they’re doing.”‘

‘The Bills (6-5) and Browns (7-4) are both in the midst of a high-traffic playoff race in the AFC, which makes Sunday’s conference clash a crucial one for both parties. The Bills haven’t won at Ralph Wilson Stadium since the October 19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.’

‘”Donte is a guy that likes to ruffle feathers. He found any way he could to try and ruffle Buffalo’s feathers, knowing he had to come up to us,” Jackson started. “That’s just him doing what he does, at the same time, I mean, it’s annoying. It’s just dumb for him to do, and talk about people like that, and talk about the city of Buffalo like that. But at the same time, you’ve just got to take it with a grain of salt and say it’s just some dude that’s being an idiot about some stuff.”‘

‘The team took the field with only two healthy players at the position, with both Chris Gragg and Lee Smith unable to participate. Gragg suffered a knee injury Monday night against the New York Jets, but a timetable for his return has yet to be revealed. Smith didn’t practice due to an illness. Without the duo, the Bills only had Scott Chandler and MarQueis Gray as their healthy options.’

‘There’s been writing that Marrone and his two organizational superiors, Doug Whaley and Russ Brandon, have butted heads. Could that be what happens in the natural order of things, a coach disagreeing with his front office? To me, of course. Could Brandon be frustrated that Marrone as a face of the organization struggles to explain, well, anything, and, further, makes Brandon look bad any time analytics gets mentioned? You bet.’

‘The Buffalo Bills also announced that the team has released DE Bryan Johnson.’

‘In response to a critical need for blood following the recent storm, Unyts will host a blood drive in Ralph Wilson Stadium’s Paul Maguire Club on Tuesday, December 2 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. All presenting donors will get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the newly renovated gameday locker room and the first 300 presenting donors will receive a One Buffalo t-shirt. For more details, visit www.unyts.org, click “Give Blood,” and use sponsor code 1925.’

‘This is Dixon’s first player of the week award. Dixon is the third Buffalo Bills player to win the special team player of the week award in 2014.’

‘The Bills completed their first season sweep of the Jets series since 2007. The Bills have won four out of their last five games against the Jets. Buffalo’s 81 combined points in this year’s two games are the highest by a Bills team in a season series since posting 87 vs. Miami in 1966.’