Archives for December 23, 2014

‘Here’s a look at each of those players, along with the projected chances of him re-signing.’

‘If that means firing Marrone and getting a better, higher-priced coach, fine. But they also need to take a hard look at Doug Whaley, the first-time general manager, who traded two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder for Sammy Watkins in a reckless attempt to bolster the offense and make the playoffs.’

‘As much as it might sting, I am obligated to perform an Upon Further Review of the debacle, a Raiders Redux, if you will. However, as is befitting for a loss that ranks as one of the very worst in recent memory, it’s not possible to come up with one thing I liked, let alone three. So rather than make stuff up, I’ll just double down on the things I didn’t like.’

‘Expectations were high for the former Syracuse wide receiver when he was traded to his hometown of Buffalo. But he ended up catching only eight passes and spent a handful of games as a healthy scratch for the Bills. Once Buffalo went to Kyle Orton at quarterback, Williams had a tough time getting on the same page with the veteran. Despite his lack of playing time, Williams’ career in Buffalo was eventful, including a trade request and demands for more playing time.’

‘”It just sucks,” Dixon said. “Hats off to them. They took it to us. I just wish we could have took it to them a little bit more. Tried to force it just a little bit more. But we didn’t, and that’s just something we have to try and get in our heads. When you’re playing against teams like that that’s going to play with power, we got to play with power. We have to take what we want and not let them take it to us. I think we did a little bit of that today.”‘

‘”As a player who’s always been to the playoffs, who’s never lost over eight games, it hurts,” Watkins said. “I’m not used to losing. And hopefully, we fix it next year and get back on the right page.”‘

‘The decision means the Bills won’t have to pay the final four years of his contract, including the $5.2 million base salary he’s due to next season.’

‘In a five-year career mostly with the Buccaneers, the 27-year-old Williams has 223 catches for 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns.’

‘The Bills have a huge void to fill at quarterback because it’s clear Orton isn’t the answer to the decade-plus black hole at that position. But the offensive line is inept, and if quarterback is priority 1A in the offseason, then the line is 1B. Both guards need to be replaced, and rookie right tackle Seantrel Henderson has a long way to go before he becomes a polished, reliable player. Even the supposed competent players, left tackle Cordy Glenn and center Eric Wood, haven’t been all that good this year. As for depth, if the Bills had any, they’d be playing.’

‘The Bills acquired Williams from Tampa Bay for a sixth-round pick before the season, but he played in only nine games and caught just eight passes.’

‘Head coach Doug Marrone cited weekly game plans and needs on special teams among the reasons Williams was one of the seven inactive players on those four occasions this season. He also was candid in stating there were other receivers who were performing more consistently for the offense.’

‘”We knew we were going to go up against a good defense. I thought they’d been playing well and certainly have a good front. I think it’s all gone back to the same thing. When we go out there and do our jobs and execute we look pretty good. When we don’t we struggle so ultimately that falls on the quarterback and it’s my job to get everybody on the same page and make sure it looks good and we score points so I’m certainly disappointed in myself.”‘

‘The Bills never ran a single play in the Raiders’ red zone … not one inside Oakland’s 20. Orton’s other two TD tosses were 30 yards to wide receiver Robert Woods and 29 to tight end Scott Chandler.’