Archives for December 8, 2008

‘Tickets were available at both the box office and online. (You could buy up to 10 together Saturday, according to a couple of online investigators.)’

‘”It’s not bad for a first try, but as far as real tailgates go, you have a long way to go,” Buffalo resident Tyler Runnings, 21, said.’

‘CBS cameras then zoomed in on the Toronto Argonauts’ Grey Cup banners. Mercifully, no mention was made of the past season, though someone might have noted that the presence of the Bills meant that the Argos weren’t the only bad football team to host a game at the Rogers Centre in 2008.’

‘”It’s frustrating because we know we have the talent, the want-to and the work ethic and for some reason we have to find a way to win,” said Losman, who completed 13 of 27 throws for 123 yards, but was sacked four times. “Guys are at a loss for words.”‘

‘Note to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: Can we please pick another team? Seriously. As it is, we’re chock full of teams that don’t make the playoffs.’

‘Even after nearly three hours of football, it was still a bit hard to say. As predicted, there weren’t a whole lot of hard-core Buffalo fans in attendance, the Western New York set having been scared away from one of their team’s great rivalry games by the ticket prices. That became obvious when, after the Bills’ only score of the game, a first-quarter field goal, they played the team’s traditional celebration song – Shout – and it seemed as if only a couple of hundred people understood how to respond.’

‘”Here, it’s a little more controlled – and that may not be a bad thing,” he said. “There can be a lot of hassles in Buffalo in the parking lot, especially after games, a lot of fighting and that sort of thing. The garbage cans all get set on fire.”‘

‘But most of the Canadian content was applied to the game. Analyst Rich Gannon felt the Rogers Centre presented an advantage to the warm-weather Dolphins, who normally would have been shivering outside at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Bills’ home.’

‘For all that money, Toronto got to witness the big-league sight of Buffalo centre Duke Preston snapping a ball to his own buttocks, which would have been fine had quarterback J. P. Losman not been in the shotgun, five yards behind him, rather than under centre. For all that cash, Toronto got to see a second-quarter play in which Losman had the ball knocked out of his hand, recovered it, rolled out and threw a ball to Marshawn Lynch that Lynch bobbled, dropped and kicked out of bounds. You just don’t forget sporting moments like that.’

‘The Bills were not just stagnant on offence; they were frozen, even though the dome was closed and the elements were kept safely outside. The Dolphins scored a touchdown, but in the end all they needed were the three field goals from kicker Dan Carpenter.’

‘Landing the series required approval from not only the NFL, but also from Erie County, N. Y., which is the landlord for Ralph Wilson Stadium. Montgomery said the arrangement then had to be “socialized” through the offices of New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, as well as political offices in Ontario.’

‘”The best word I can come up with is disarray. We have no rhythm on offence. We can’t make plays. We get moving but, when it comes down to putting the ball in the end zone, we just don’t have a clue.”‘

‘The so-called sellout featured broad expanses of unoccupied blue seating, many dark private boxes and a conspicuous absence of lucrative signage. Even with a year to promote and sell space, and much of that before the economy went south, the official sponsors of the Bills Toronto Series were shown only on a rolling electronic sign.’

Fair and balanced Miami Dolphins beat Bills (Miami Herald)

Miami Dolphins’ backfield duo on the move (Miami Herald)

Father of Dolphins legend Marino dies at 71 (Miami Herald)

A winning formula takes shape for Miami Dolphins (Miami Herald)

Miami Dolphins continue to prove doubters wrong (Miami Herald)

Miami Dolphins receiver Davone Bess improves (Miami Herald)

Keys to the game (Miami Herald)

Grading the Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills (Miami Herald)

Audio slideshow (Miami Herald)

Photo gallery (Miami Herald)

Win over Bills puts Dolphins in 3-way AFC East tie (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins’ Anderson a man with a plan vs. Bills (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Bess, Pennington have a connection (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Will Allen has breakout game (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

It’s OK, Dolphins can talk playoffs (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins fight for every inch (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

No kidding: Miami Dolphins are real contenders (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

‘The most impressive defense for a long time’ (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dan Marino Sr., 71, father of Hall of Famer (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Miami Dolphins quarter by quarter (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins report card vs. Bills (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Photo gallery (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins top Bills 16-3, move into three-way tie for AFC East lead (Palm Beach Post)

Will Allen’s interception kills Bills (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins keep Bills’ hot special teams in check (Palm Beach Post)

Bills’ J.P. Losman can’t spark turnaround (Palm Beach Post)

Now, Dolphins’ 1-15 nightmare seems long ago (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins talking points: Davone Bess outplaying Ted Ginn Jr. (Palm Beach Post)

Quarterback’s father, Dan Marino Sr., dies at 71 (Palm Beach Post)

H. Wayne Huizenga Statement On Passing Of Dan Marino, Sr. (MiamiDolphins.com)

Special Dol-Fan Packages Available For Alumni Weekend (MiamiDolphins.com)

Miami 16, Buffalo 3 (MiamiDolphins.com)

A remarkable story rolls on (MiamiDolphins.com)

Two teams, two different directions (MiamiDolphins.com)

Postgame notes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Photo gallery (MiamiDolphins.com)

Photo gallery (BuffaloBills.com)

‘”We didn’t really show up,” Bills center Duke Preston said.’