Archives for August 2016

'Two people with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the deal will run over the remainder of the team's seven-year lease. New Era also has the right of first refusal to continue the agreement once the current lease expires in 2022, and also if the Bills elect to build a new facility.'

'Buffalo starter Tyrod Taylor played just one series, completing 2 of 3 passes for 7 yards, before backup E.J. Manuel replaced him. Manuel was 10 of 18 for 91 yards, finding Chris Gragg for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 4:08 left in the first quarter for a 9-0 lead.'

'Ryan said Lawson is expected to return by Week 1, but the coach indicated last week that veteran Lorenzo Alexander would receive the start if Lawson was not able to play.'

'New Era is the world's largest outfitter of team caps, having struck 500 licensing deals worldwide, including with the NFL, MLB, the NBA and the NHL.'

'Jones provided some late excitement under center, leading the Bills an 83-yard drive in a little over a minute. For the game, Jones — in his pro debut — finished 11 of 21 for 162 yards and the 4-yard scoring pass to Boykin.'

'As the ball was snapped I was really surprised the poise Jones showed in the pocked. He ripped the ball on a slant to Boykin and it was 19-18. The poise that Jones showed on that last TD pass wasn’t lost on Rex Ryan, “We saw a guy that has poise and he’s a sharp young man, he’s really smart. Is he maybe improving faster than we thought, maybe so. This is a young man that just keeps getting better and better.”'

'The more things change, the more they stay the same. What plagued Rex Ryan's team last year showed up right away in their first time back on the field. 11 penalties for 106 yards is unacceptable to have happen right away. Several of those flags were on special teams, where there are players trying to make the team who may be more prone to making mistakes, so that can happen sometimes. But, that's still not an excuse for the lack of attention to detail overall once again. Ryan tried push-ups last year. He tried wristbands with reminders. This training camp, he's having players run a lap when they have a false start or go offsides. So, I'm not sure what the answer is, but he has to come up with one and it has to work soon.'

'According to the team, a press conference will come at some point this week.'

'While it may be a new season, against the Colts on Saturday, it was the same old Bills. Buffalo was flagged 11 times for 106 yards. They were flagged a league leading 143 times in 2015, tied for the most with Tampa Bay.'

'First the injury bug attacked the outside linebackers with both Shaq Lawson and Manny Lawson, then it hit the inside linebackers with Reggie Ragland and Jamari Lattimore, and it once again hit the outside linebackers with the loss of IK Enemkpali on Saturday.'

'The Buffalo Bills and the New Era Cap Company reached an agreement on the naming rights for the stadium, the team announced on Saturday.'

'Tyrod Taylor played one series, going 2-3 with 7 yards passing. Backup EJ Manuel played just more than two quarters, completing 10 of 18 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown to tight end Chris Gragg. Gragg also blocked a Colts punt in the first quarter that resulted in a safety and a 2-0 Bills lead.'

'But just like it was in 2015, the yellow laundry was once again all over the field. Buffalo committed 11 penalties for 106 yards. They also appeared to lose linebacker I.K. Enemkpali, who left the game in the second quarter with what Rex Ryan said was likely "a serious knee injury."'

'Buffalo has not had a stadium naming agreement with any company since their 25 year deal with Rich Products expired in 1998.'

'Buffalo used special teams to open the scoring and an early touchdown drive to stake themselves to a 9-0 first quarter lead, but they couldn’t make the lead stand up. Indianapolis outscored the Bills 19-3 over the final three quarters until the waning seconds when a last ditch touchdown drive by Cardale Jones pulled Buffalo to within one (19-18). But Jones two-point conversion attempt for the win on the game’s final play fell incomplete, giving the Colts the one-point win.'