Archives for January 2009

‘”The tickets were overpriced. We told them that to begin with, but that’s what they wanted to do,” said Wilson, the 90-year-old owner of the Bills who cashed the wildly generous $78 million (U.S.) cheque that Rogers Communications paid for the eight games, including three exhibitions, over five years. “They’re going through the process right now of evaluating the whole thing and make it better.”’

‘”We are constantly striving to make the Bills Toronto Series better year over year,” Montgomery said. “In light of that commitment, and in light of the economy, we – like every sports enterprise – are looking at all aspects of our business, including pricing, with the goal of making this year a better overall experience for the fans.”‘

‘The NFL will announce here today the Titans have been selected to play in this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame, according to sources familiar with the situation. Their opponent in the league’s first preseason contest will be the Buffalo Bills. The game is scheduled for Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio, and will be nationally televised.’

”’A wide receiver is supposed to catch the football, score TDs, be a difference-maker on the field,” Kelly said. ”And there is not a better receiver in the National Football League who had a better run-after-catch [ability] than Andre Reed.”’

‘”Mr. Wilson, 15-20 years ago, could easily have taken the big bucks and moved this team, or wanted this team to go somewhere else,” said ex-Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, another Hall of Famer. “But no, he was committed to making sure this team stayed in Buffalo. He has had this franchise here since day one, and he’s never moved it anywhere.”‘

‘But that partnership now seems strained after the Buffalo Bills reached a US$78-million agreement with a Toronto group to play eight games – five regular season, three exhibition – through 2012 at Rogers Centre. Many fear it’s the first step in the Bills eventually relocating to southern Ontario, a move that could have dire consequences for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.’

‘”I’ve had so many memorable experiences and wonderful relationships that I’ve built over the years,” Smith said. “And certainly I’m not being presumptuous to the extent that I’m saying this is automatically going to happen. But just the experience alone of being categorized as one of the best ever and certainly at my position."’

‘The two games up in Toronto were tremendously successful for us. We said the objective was to regionalize the Buffalo Bills, and it achieved those objectives. We were able to increase our season-ticket sales in the Toronto area significantly, over 40 percent. And I think from that standpoint we achieved what our initial objective was.’

‘Between games, Sallisaw will retire Derek Fine’s No. 20 high school jersey. The former Black Diamond recently wrapped up his rookie season with the Buffalo Bills after a successful college career at Kansas.’

‘Lynch was first alternate at running back in the voting. He finished his second season with 1,036 rushing yards and an average of 4.1 yards per carry. He was fifth in the AFC in rushing yards and seventh in scrimmage yards. Lynch also caught 47 passes, 29 more than in his rookie season. He scored eight touchdowns.’

‘Apparently, the Bills, in their Bills way, weren’t frightened off by the implosion Sanders engineered. Perhaps they were impressed by strategy rather than results: Sanders was known for using mainly only his front four as pass rushers out of a 4-3 alignment, which sounds familiar as Buffalo’s supposed plan for centuries.’

‘”Even if I was not a Buffalo Bill, it’s hard not to (admire) what Mr. Wilson was able to do,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. “He’s a guy that has meant not only a lot to this organization, but a lot to the NFL.”‘

‘Here’s my list of all-time Bills. If you think I’m way off, let me know…’.

‘Lynch is the first Buffalo running back to reach the Pro Bowl since Travis Henry following the 2002 season.’

‘Lynch finished fifth in the AFC with 1,036 yards rushing and ninth with eight touchdowns rushing in 15 games last season. Lynch was named a first alternate when the Pro Bowl selections were made last month, and replaces Johnson, who is unable to play because of an ankle injury.’