Niagara Gazette

‘“Even if I weren’t a Bills fan, when they do well, Western New York does well,” Casale said. “Everyone’s happier and more energetic when they win on Sunday and it’s easier to go to work, as opposed to suffering a loss.”’

‘“I don’t root against the Bills unless they are against my team,” he said. “This town, this city needs a championship. Whether it comes from the Sabres or Bills, this town deserves a championship 100 percent.”’

‘It beats the alternative — trying to convince themselves that a dysfunctional organization with a parade of flawed quarterbacks might actually shock the world and make a title run, when it became yet another heroic run to 7-9 or 6-10.’

‘“Trust me, I do get tired of it,” McKenzie said. “But at the same time, I know it’s not going to go away. I know each and every day, I’m going to have to come out on the field and I’m going to have to prove (GM Brandon) Beane wrong. I’m going to have to prove Coach (Sean) McDermott wrong. I might have to prove the media and the doubters wrong.”‘

‘I expect them to go 12-5 and win the AFC East, then fall short of the Super Bowl again.’

‘The 1980s Browns, the 1990s Chiefs and the mid-2000s Chargers all had loaded rosters, but never made a Super Bowl. That doesn’t include all of the superb teams that reached one Super Bowl and never returned.’

‘The only position of need the Bills didn’t address in free agency was cornerback. The options available are older and likely too expensive to be a Band-Aid. Booth and Elam are the two most likely to be available at No. 25.’

‘Beane is the tip of the power structure now. He built this team, and he’s more invested in Allen than anyone. The Bills led the NFL in defense last year, but in a passing league, it’s more and more about the offense. Beane can never do enough to support Allen, both now and in the future.’

‘“New York’s hostile and shameless greed was laid bare for the world to see yesterday,” Pagels said in his statement. “After intentionally and unnecessarily holding the Seneca people and thousands of Western New Yorkers and families hostage for several days, by strangling various bank accounts held by the Seneca Nation and our businesses, Governor Hochul couldn’t contain her excitement to boast about using her Seneca ransom money for a new stadium.”’

‘The biggest hurdles for the project could come in the form of politically strange bedfellows: progressive Democrats generally opposed to what they call “corporate welfare” and conservative Republicans who have traditionally frowned on using taxpayer dollars for projects benefiting private investors.’

‘So, splash! He went all-in on Miller, who turns 33 today and is presumably one of those pass rushers who maintains his skills into his mid-30s. The window is open. They’re favored to win the Bowl on most sportsbooks. But the quarterback talent in the AFC keeps getting stronger. Beane had to do it.’

‘You can’t blame Bills fans for sitting through Sunday’s game and thinking their team would have beaten either the Rams or Bengals. It is a bit provincial, and conveniently ignores the fact that Cincinnati’s coaches figured out what Sean McDermott and his guys could not — how to slow down Patrick Mahomes.’

‘He hopes to make it until next fall, not just to reach his 70th birthday in October, but to see Buffalo finally win a Super Bowl. The Tim Russert-popularized phrase, “Just one before I die,” has become common for Bills fans, but hits a bit too close for the Shufelts.’

‘That’s what makes the promotion of Ken Dorsey to offensive coordinator so critical. Daboll wanted to bring Dorsey to the Giants to be his OC, but apparently the thought of sticking with a superstar quarterback was more appealing than coaching a mediocrity like Daniel Jones.’

‘The parallels between the last two years and the 1988 and 1989 Bills are numerous, including a rapid ascent to the doorstep of the Super Bowl, regular-season revenge followed by a baffling skid ending with another division title, only for championship dreams to end with a thud despite the play of a strong-armed fourth-year quarterback.’