Archives for November 2012

‘Investigators say 26-year-old David Gerken Jr. attended the game with his younger brother, but was ejected from the stadium during half time. Police say he was found face down in a nearby creek Friday morning.’

‘Gerken was kicked out of the stadium Thursday night around half time. That’s the last time anyone saw him alive. Police still aren’t sure why he was asked to leave. Friend Anthony Latona says the circumstances surrounding Dave’s death shouldn’t cast a shadow on his character, “all of us have done really stupid things he just happened to get thrown out of the stadium you know, that could be anybody,” explained Latona, “but as far as the negative things I really hope all those people could just be human for a second.”‘

‘It is great to win. I do not care how you do it. I do not care how you get it. It is hard to win in this league. It was great to have it on national TV and in front of a great crowd that was really into the ball game. It was great for our organization, for our football team and for everybody involved. You cannot downplay the significance of a win like that. So it was good, but it is one. We know what is ahead of us and what has got to be done.’

‘”A Thursday night primetime game you’re going to have natural adrenaline and be up for this game, but to play on such short notice, you have to rely on your adrenaline to get you over the top because you are tired,” Byrd said. “I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow especially in the predicament we’re in. It’s a must win so we had to go out and play hard.”‘

‘"Missing third downs was the killer," said Gailey. "We’ve got to be more physical and be better, and in the second half I was conservative. I’ll be the first to admit that."’

‘But my beef with Chan Gailey continues. In the first half, the Bills had two 3rd-and-1 opportunities. They failed to convert both. Why? On one of the plays, Gailey decided to send out the wildcat offense with Tashard Choice running the ball up the middle for no gain. Why did he do that, with C.J. Spiller in the lineup? Who knows. But that wasn’t the worst play call. On 3rd-and-1 deep in Miami territory, Gailey went with an empty set. Again, they needed one yard. If you didn’t know any better, you would have thought the Bills needed 20 yards. They didn’t convert and ended up kicking a field goal.’

‘The Bills fan base has a long-established reputation around the league for straddling that fine line between passionate and rowdy.’

‘”That’s how it’s supposed to be week in and week out,” said defensive end Mario Williams. “As long as we go out and play fundamental football, gap sound football, that’ll be the result. It was gap football. Playing our assignments and being where we’re supposed to be.”‘

‘”I wouldn’t say a sigh or relief, I would say it’s what we’ve been expecting out of ourselves since the first day we all came together back at St. John Fisher,” said middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who finished with six tackles. “Just coming off to the sideline looking at all the pictures and everything, I truly believe all 11 guys that were out there trusted each other 100 percent. Everybody was fundamentally sound, technique sound, and we played very aggressive. You saw guys hitting.”‘

‘Williams said one game could be a spark for a late-season run. There’s been good reason to question this team’s competitive character. But they used the night game and an electrified crowd as a spark, and got a desperately needed win. It felt like a start.’

‘”If you were late to the game, you missed it,” Leodis McKelvin said.’

‘Jairus Byrd’s diving interception with 1:54 left at the Buffalo 35 and another by Bryan Scott in the final minute stopped Miami’s last-chance drives.’

‘The crowd showered Gailey with boos for third-down and red-zone decisions.’

‘The damage is “not severe,” the county’s public works commissioner said Thursday, but close to a third of the concrete frames that hold up the upper deck have “minor to medium” deterioration from water and salt that have seeped in over time.’

‘A nation of football fans watching on NFL Network Thursday night got to see how frustrating the Bills can be, but they also got to see that the Dolphins aren’t any better, and Buffalo came away with a 19-14 victory in front of 69,118 enthusiastic and chilled spectators at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’