Archives for December 22, 2011

‘That does not mean the Bills have the 16th-most expensive roster overall. Far from it. A News study in August, factoring in the total value of all player contracts, not just money paid in 2011, rated the Bills’ roster as the 29th-most expensive in the league. (Buffalo has moved up several spots since then.)’

‘Jacob Rainey, a high school junior from central Virginia whose football career was ended by a tragic injury, will be flown up to Buffalo with his family to cheer on the Broncos. Rainey, a 6-foot-3, 213-pound quarterback, suffered a broken leg in a scrimmage on Sept. 3, and the leg had to be amputated due to a severed artery.’

‘”Oh I heard them, they were deserved,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. “I wasn’t playing well, we certainly weren’t playing well as an offense. The fans, they’re out there to cheer on our team. But when we aren’t playing well they’re going to let us have it. I thought they were well-deserved at the time.”‘

Denver Broncos are determined to bounce back Saturday against Bills at Buffalo (Denver Post)

Elway and Tebow star in a dickens of an Xmas Eve tale (Denver Post)

Broncos loss to Bills in 2008 set off chain reaction for Shanahan, McDaniels, Fox, Cutler and Tebow (Denver Post)

Tim Tebow third in fan voting for AFC Pro Bowl quarterback (Denver Post)

Denver Broncos tailback Willis McGahee on brink of 1,000-yard season (Denver Post)

Broncos need their rookies to help propel playoff push (Denver Post)

Production for TEs missing from Broncos offense (AP)

Tea Party Tebow Fans To Play Role In Who Wins Iowa Caucus (KCNC-TV)

Learning From a Loss (DenverBroncos.com)

Game notes (DenverBroncos.com)

‘”He’s just wired differently,” Nelson said. “There’s something different about him than anybody I’ve ever seen before. He believes no matter what happens, no matter what the situation, he can get the job done. He thrives on people telling him what he can’t do and then he also tries to prove people right when they say he can do it. Like I said, he’s wired differently. He believes in himself differently than anybody I’ve ever seen and he approaches the game of football differently than anybody I’ve ever seen.”‘

‘Denver QB Tim Tebow is the main attraction, but stopping RB Willis McGahee from getting traction will be Buffalo’s first goal. McGahee (206 carries, 990 yards, four TDs) powers the NFL’s No. 1-ranked running game that averages 163 yards per game and takes pressure off Tebow. Of course, the multi-talented QB is also a terrific runner, complementing McGahee with 610 yards and another six scores. Buffalo’s run defense has fallen to 29th in the league after giving up 200-plus yards to Miami’s Reggie Bush. If McGahee and Tebow run wild, this one will be over before it starts. Offensively, the Bills’ offensive line will need a big game against one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing teams with 36 sacks. Struggling QB Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the league with 19 interceptions and could crumble fast under a Broncos’ onslaught.’

‘The No. 2 and 3 picks in last April’s NFL draft will be on the field Saturday when the Bills host the Broncos. Denver linebacker Von Miller is storming his way toward NFL defensive rookie of the year honors with 63 tackles and 11.5 sacks. Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus should also earn some post-season recognition thanks to his 38 tackles and team-high 5.5 sacks. The Bills very likely would’ve drafted Miller had Denver not. While Dareus has helped Buffalo’s run defense, the team still lacks a game-changing pass rusher like Miller. Denver is overflowing with pass rushers, including Miller, Elvis Dumervil (8.5 sacks) and D.J. Williams (5.5).’

‘The team has traditionally had difficulty selling out games past Thanksgiving. And it doesn’t help that the Bills (5-9) are in the midst of a seven-game skid that’s knocked them out of playoff contention.’

‘Chandler has missed the past two games with a left ankle injury. He’s tied for the team lead with six touchdowns.’

‘”You lose this many games in a row, we all get criticism,” Gailey said. “There’s nobody that escapes criticism when you’re doing what we’re doing right now.”‘

‘”I don’t have any response. I get the ball when they give it to me,” said Spiller. “I don’t have any response to that, and I’m not gonna sit here and bicker about, you know, ‘Can I carry the ball 25-30 times.’ I know what I can do as a player. The times they give it to me I’m gonna try to take advantage of ’em.”‘

‘”If I ever get a chance to play Carolina I’m going to make them pay for passing up on me,” said Dareus. “Denver I’ll get a chance to play them in the regular season and I’m going to make it hell for them every time I play against them.”‘

‘Bills game day activities include the Bills Shredd & Ragan Tailgate Party in parking lot C. The tailgate party features live rock band “Rich and Famous” on stage along with dance performances by the Jills Cheerleaders and the Bills Shredd & Ragan live pregame show. Bills partners will also engage fans with giveaways and interactive games.’

‘The window has closed on the opportunity for NFL fans to vote for who they feel is deserving of Pro Bowl recognition this season. With the fans voting totals counting for one-third of the total tally for the 2012 Pro Bowl, a few of Buffalo’s players were given a good head start with player and coach Pro Bowl ballots being cast this week.’

‘Broncos 27, Bills 19.’