Archives for December 17, 2014

‘No Bills coach has improved the team by three victories in one season since Mike Mularkey did it 10 years ago.’

‘The Clemson product has set franchise rookie records with 59 catches and 850 yards to go with five touchdowns. In just about any other year, those numbers would be considered an enormous success. But expectations for Watkins are at another level, partly because the 2014 wide receiver class is already being discussed as the best in history.’

‘Cutler has been accused of being a coach killer. He has a reputation for being smug and arrogant and immature, a poor leader and worse teammate. He has infuriated his own offensive line while publicly admonishing them. In 2010, he was ridiculed for not returning to the NFC Championship game after hurting his knee.’

‘Defense attorney Michael P. Caffery said he and his client will return to court Jan. 13 for further proceedings as they continue “to try to resolve the case without going to trial.”‘

‘Upon releasing Summers, the Bills now have four running backs on the active roster. Spiller’s return would further crowd a running back rotation that has been led by Fred Jackson with Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown serving as change-of-pace backs.’

‘Late Bills owner Ralph Wilson, a Michigan resident, would certainly be glad to see the relationship between the franchises continuing to grow.’

‘”(Everything) they took out was cancer-free, and it had not spread. So I’m in remission.”‘

‘The car wreck is one of two off-the-field incidents that Dareus is trying to resolve. On May 5, he was arrested after being stopped for speeding on Interstate 20 in Cleburne County and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance — “spice,” also known as synthetic cannabis. For the Alabama arrest, Dareus was allowed to enter a pretrial-intervention program. If he completes the court-ordered requirements, which include participation in the NFL’s substance-abuse program, the charges will be dropped and the arrest could be erased from his record.’

‘Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold called the food delivery a “small token of our appreciation for the (Lions’) generous hospitality.”‘

‘The Bills’ 2011 first-round draft pick was charged and also issued numerous traffic violations after crashing his 2012 Jaguar into a tree during an alleged race with teammate Jerry Hughes not far from Ralph Wilson Stadium on May 30.’

‘Summers became expendable after his playing time began to dwindle. The third-year player started seven of Buffalo’s first nine games before being listed inactive in each of the past four.’

‘Summers started six of the first seven games this season, but has been inactive for the past four weeks. Used mostly as a blocker, Summers had six carries for 17 yards and a touchdown.’

‘Summers was signed by Buffalo as a free agent on April 18, 2013 and entered the NFL as a fifth-round (169th overall) draft selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009.’

‘Easley is often overlooked, but he was missed when he was out of the lineup. And he’s one of the reasons the Bills special teams continue to shine.’

‘”We knew all week that special teams wasn’t their strong point,” TE MarQueis Gray said in the locker room following Sunday’s win. “They gave up some blocked punts this year and we figured if we went after them and made some plays then we would have a good advantage this week.”‘