Archives for December 2008

‘Each grand prize winner received a behind the scenes tour of the Bills practice facility and were VIP guests at the November 29th closed practice. They also had the opportunity to meet and greet Bills punter Brian Moorman who is the spokesperson for the M&T Bank Built for Bills campaign. Finally, a personally autographed life-sized cardboard cut out of Moorman was given to each grand prize winner that they could take home with them.’

‘”I’m hopeful that I’ll play before the year is out,” said Schobel. “I’m not saying this week, but it’s definitely improving and that’s the main thing because this is a deal that can (affect) you for two years. At this point it’s almost a career issue. You get up in age and the (stuff) starts bothering you all the time… I don’t know. I’m glad the thing is going to heal on its own and I won’t have to have surgery.”‘

‘Beebe, who was downfield after running a pass route, raced after Lett, who held the ball in his right hand, arm outstretched and thinking six. But, just before the big defensive tackle lumbered across the goal line, Beebe reached in to knock the ball out of Lett’s hand and out of the endzone, resulting in a touchback. “We’re out of the game. What’s the difference if you lose 52-17 or 59-17?” said Marv Levy, the Hall of Fame coach who coached Beebe in Buffalo. “That was the signature of what the Buffalo Bills were like – fantastic resilience and play until the clock ends.”‘

‘In a special ceremony with the Russert family and friends before the Bills vs. 49er’s game, the Bills renamed the 12th Man Walk of Fame, “Tim Russert Plaza” and dedicated the plaza in his honor.’

‘The Bills announced that John Faller, head football coach at Sweet Home High School, and Curt Fischer, head football coach at Maple Grove High School are the 2008 Bills High School Football Co-Coaches of the Year.’

‘Of course, blame for the franchise’s incredible descent into oblivion since then can be passed around like a bottle of hooch in the 300 Level’s corners, but at best the third phase isn’t making life easier. Sneaky plays, solid coverage, and steadfast kicks recently combined to serve as a weapon for the Bills, but the unit has quickly become a liability; its fine play is currently as much a part of the past as are talks of the Bills winning a divisional crown.’

‘”They won all those games and you think, ‘Ah, this is the year,’ ” Sally Munschauer said. “Discouraged, we are. . . . It’s like chasing a rainbow.”‘

‘And that’s where Losman, strange as it sounds, is capable of making a difference. It would mean Jauron coming to his senses and shortening the leash on Trent Edwards with the idea Losman deserves another chance. Hold off on your “Subject: stick to hockey” e-mails because it’s no crazier than maintaining status quo.’

‘This season, the Bills gave their fans more hope than ever this century, and the fans gave them just enough rope. And they’ve used all of it.’

‘There are also questions about whether the changing leadership structure at Rogers would be willing to foster a long-term partnership with the Bills, especially given the insiders who claim Rogers overpaid for the games, which include three pre-season contests. “It’s one of the dumbest deals ever, certainly for Rogers,” a source familiar with the arrangement said.’

‘The first Bills game in Toronto was a debacle, with giveaway tickets papering the Rogers Centre for the pre-season meeting with Pittsburgh in August. The regular-season game, against Miami on Sunday afternoon, is not yet a sellout, and Rogers has had to pound on doors and work the phones and sweat to sell the tickets, which were ludicrously overpriced. And now Ted is gone, dead at 75 of a faulty heart, and the vision of a permanent NFL move would seem to be following him out the door.’

‘With the exception of a handful of NFL head jobs, most coaches walk into a situation that needs work. Over time, the good ones figure things out, and point their teams in the right direction. Contrary to what goes on with the Buffalo Bills, some even keep their jobs for more than three years (Remember that Marv fella? The one from Chicago? He went to Coe College? Yeah, you got it, Fred Jackson’s school).’

‘When errors are replicated, there are two likely possibilities: either the players are untrainable dunces who can’t or won’t learn, or they aren’t getting good enough coaching. It’s hard not to blame the latter.’

‘It has already been determined, though, that the Rogers Centre will keep it’s roof closed. This will make things much easier on the fans but, in essence, the Buffalo Bills have lost their “home field” advantage in two different ways: by playing the game in Toronto, and by playing in a temperature controlled environment.’