Archives for December 2014

‘”We’ve got a lot of improvement to do,” said Marrone, speaking specifically about his moribund offense. “I think that records really don’t mean a lot when you watch the film. Obviously, the Raiders are playing much better than they had been playing. They’re very physical. They’re a team that’s getting better each week. It’ll be a great challenge for us.”‘

‘”Once you get that first lick in you’re ready to play ball, and I don’t think it’ll be any different,” he said. “I’m pretty sure if I’m able to go they’re going to take a shot at it and we’ll see how I do. Conditioning will be different because I haven’t played in two months so I won’t be in top-notch football shape, but I think if I’m able to go, I can perform at a high level. I don’t want to get into percentages, but if I’m able to go then I’ll go. We’ll see how these next couple days go and see how I respond every day after practice and then make a decision.’

‘Even without Chandler, the tight end group didn’t slip below three players on the field at one time due to the return of one of their own. Second-year player Chris Gragg returned to the practice field for the first time since he suffered a knee injury.’

‘C.J. Spiller was limited in practice Wednesday, and has not yet been added to the active roster. A final decision is expected later in the week.’

‘The 1999 club won their games in much the way the 2014 team is winning, with defense and just enough offense. They won 11 times that season and the main reason was their defense held the opponent to 10 points or less in almost half of their games (7 games).’

‘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.’