Archives for January 2018

‘Perhaps significantly, the community’s generosity caught the attention of national media outlets across the country, with the likes of CBS and ESPN talking up our positives instead of talking about our snowy weather and recent history of professional sports calamities. It is, in a region so often devoid of them, a true feel-good story and one we can’t help but embrace.’

‘Like I said, I was expecting something Billsy … with all of these games starting at 4:25 p.m. Sunday, it seemed inevitable that everything would fall Buffalo’s way — the Ravens, Titans and Chargers all lose — just for the Bills to lose to the Dolphins and miss out on the playoffs.’

‘Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that Bills fans would do something so over the top. How they’ve stayed with that team during a dark period that’s basically spanned two decades sets them apart to begin with is stunning, that they’d react this way to a simple playoff berth is just a continuation of that, I suppose.’

Jaguars’ defensive front preparing to limit Bills scrambling QB Tyrod Taylor (Florida Times Union)
In second stint as NFL head coach, Doug Marrone has mostly pushed right buttons for Jaguars (Florida Times Union)
Jaguars Notebook: Bills running back LeSean McCoy misses practice Wednesday (Florida Times Union)
Bills-Jaguars Key Match-Up: DT Malik Jackson vs. LG Richie Incognito (Florida Times Union)
Jaguars playoff ticket prices rose quickly (Florida Times Union)
‘If anybody’s going to be hyped’ for Jags-Bills it’s Dareus (AP)
Jaguars head coach Marrone knows Bills well (The Sports Xchange)
Jaguars WR Lee misses practice (The Sports Xchange)
Bortles keeps calm, Jaguars’ young WRs carry on (WJXT-TV)
Jaguars preparing as if Bills RB McCoy will play on Sunday (WJXT-TV)
More Jaguars playoff tickets go on sale Thursday (WJXT-TV)
So you think you’re a big Jags fan, huh? (WJXT-TV)
Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette faces ideal matchup against Bills’ run defense (WTLV-TV)
Jaguars News: Marrone preparing for McCoy to play, two starters miss first practice of playoffs (WTLV-TV)
Jaguars OT Cam Robinson feels better heading into postseason after missing Week 17 (WTLV-TV)
Playmaking Pals: Jaguars’ Gipson and Bills’ Poyer still exchange notes, will also trade jerseys (WTLV-TV)
Several former Jaguars playing in the playoffs (WTLV-TV)
Jaguars to sell unused playoff game tickets Thursday (WTLV-TV)
Even the beer will be showing its Jags pride at the playoffs; Anheuser to deliver teal beer (WTLV-TV)
View from the O-Zone: Big stage, big opportunity for Bortles (Jaguars.com)
Notes and observations: “A kid on Christmas” (Jaguars.com)
Wednesday update: “It’s been a challenge for us” (Jaguars.com)
Shad Khan and the Jaguars Foundation announce ticket donations (Jaguars.com)
Bills talk: Chris Brown, Bills.com Insider/Lead Reporter (Jaguars.com)

‘“The emotion was raw, and it was real, and it was overwhelming,” said Murphy, the Bills’ radio play-by-play man who was born and raised in nearby Lockport and has covered Buffalo sports his entire career. “And it was just the beginning.”’

‘The WPYAA donation goal was set at $20,000 but more than $30,000 had been received by Wednesday night from over 1,500 donors. Many donated in $17 increments, one dollar for each year since the Bills last reached the playoffs.’

‘One recent Halloween, a kid showed up at the Forrest residence dressed as Tyrod Taylor. So elated was Kevin Forrest to see a kid in Grand Island trick-or-treating as the Bills’ starting quarterback that he ran up to his office and grabbed a mini helmet signed by the team’s then-running back, CJ Spiller. “This kid’s like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Forrest said. “I’m like, ‘You picked the right house to go to.’”’

‘“We are blown away by everybody that’s donating,” he said. “Thank you to all the Bills fans, thank you for anybody that’s just supporting our foundation. Let’s keep it going.”’

‘Two other Oilers teams advanced to the AFC Championship game, so those Bum Phillips Oilers teams were actually closer to the Super Bowl, but Oilers fans old enough to remember still can feel what it was like to see their team demolishing a foe in the playoffs and setting up such great hopes.’

‘After the Bills clinched a playoff spot on Sunday for the first time in forever by beating the Dolphins and getting some improbable help from the Cincinnati Bengals moments later, I reverted to my default secondary position of rooting for the Bills. If you don’t have a horse in this NFL postseason race, the bet here is that you’ll come off the top rope and bodyslam this flaming bandwagon.’