Archives for August 2008

‘"I am just trying to do my part," Royal said. "Whatever coach calls up, I am just trying to go out here and prove to them and let them know that I am capable of doing what I need to do to try and help this team get to the next level."’

‘The NFTA has charged a flat $7 round-trip fare for its Game Day Express regardless of where riders board the shuttle. The switch to route pricing will drop the price to between $3.50 and $5.20 per rider, depending on their trip.’

‘As the next in a long line of Buffalo Bills quarterbacks trying to escape the shadow of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Trent Edwards had his work cut out for him last night.’

‘A Bills game in Toronto is not like the Bills in Buffalo. For instance, enjoy tailgating? Not in Toronto. Yesterday there was a beer tent selling beer for $6 a pint. Anyone trying to light up the bumper bar-b would set off alarm calls at fire stations all over town.’

‘Dorian, 43, was surprised that more people didn’t turn out. “In Buffalo, thousands of people would come for the tailgate party,” he said.’

‘It was a late-arriving crowd for the Bills-Steelers game last night at the Rogers Centre. By kickoff it was obvious organizers had done a good job rounding up bodies to fill most of the unsold seats. While the visual of a stadium jammed with 48,434 people was a good one for the NFL, revenues were likely not what had been hoped for.’

‘While Doyle spoke, a scalper passing by paused to inform him that he had been ripped off, and that seats that retailed for $300 were available outside the Rogers Centre for $20 or less.’

‘Bills fans who were hoping to see their team open the offensive playbook up just a bit got their wish as the first-team offence moved the ball down the field on successive drives to grab a 14-0 lead.’

‘The first of eight Bills dates to be played on Canadian soil over the next five years didn’t have an electric atmosphere and lacked the kind of buzz that accompanies an NFL regular-season game.’

‘While the mood was exuberant and sudsy, some in attendance lamented Toronto’s inability to mimic the football-tossing, eat-for-free, pull-up-and-park atmosphere found in football stadiums, such as the Bills’ regular home, Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘And despite the giveaways and the smattering of empty seats — which included a number of corporate suites — the game may actually have helped to bolster the case for the NFL in Canada.’

‘”The fans were good,” said Bills’ coach Dick Jauron. “They got loud when we let them get loud. You have to give them something to cheer about and luckily we did that early.”‘

‘It just seems that after years of trying and failing to make inroads into the Canadian market, the Bills finally got a business offer that was too good to turn down ($78 million from the well-heeled Rogers Communication Group). It will help pay for players.’

‘”By 9:30, I’m usually in full tailgate mode,” Cloutier said. “(Thursday), I sat in a pub all day in the financial district. “I’d prefer the other.”‘

‘Along with getting Royal involved, another positive sign for the Bills offense was the emergence of Lee Evans. The team’s top wideout caught three passes for 55 yards after not catching a ball against Washington. That included a 23-yard pass on Buffalo’s first play.’