Archives for March 2013

‘Deputy County Executive Richard Tobe said the Governor’s Office provided assurances to the Buffalo Bills and the National Football League that there were no changes to the penalties agreed to in an earlier “memorandum of understanding” that set the terms of the lease deal.’

‘There is a penalty of $400 million if the team were to leave Western New York in the first seven years of the agreement. However, after the seventh year, the Bills have a one-time option to buy out the remaining three years of the deal for $28.4 million.’

‘The Bills want 128 more Erie County sheriff’s deputies or officers from other agencies to patrol Ralph Wilson Stadium on game days, with the team picking up the cost.’

‘”I’ve said from Day 1 there’ll be two quarterbacks in this draft that will be long-time starters in this league. And that’s a fact. The key is figuring out which two it is, and that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”‘

‘”I’ve had four major surgeries in the last two years,” Kelly says matter-of-factly. “Major back surgery, plates and screws in my back two years ago. Five months after that double-hernia surgery. Then 12/12/12 at 12 o’clock I had major neck surgery where they had to replace three disks in my neck and put a plate and six screws in my neck. And then a week and a half ago they found a major cyst from my gums to my nasal cavity and they had to cut that out – the size of a nickel – and they had to pull out all of my front teeth.”‘

Tennessee Titans release quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, agree to terms with Ryan Fitzpatrick (Nashville Tennessean)

Titans set for another two-year run with another veteran quarterback (Nashville City Paper)

Titans AP source: Titans agree to deal with Fitzpatrick (AP)

Fitzpatrick agrees to two-year deal with Titans (The Sports Xchange)

‘The approval was granted by NFL owners at league meetings held in Phoenix on Monday, and announced by Bills president Russ Brandon.’

‘The Bills had reached an agreement with the state and county on a 10-year lease extension in December that will provide $130 million in renovations to the stadium. The current lease was set to expire July 31.’

‘He’s the third member of the 2012 Buffalo roster to hook on with Tennessee this off-season. Safety George Wilson and left guard Andy Levitre each signed with the Titans as unrestricted free agents in 2013.’

‘”On behalf of Ralph Wilson and the entire Bills organization, we are pleased to announce that NFL ownership today approved the financial terms and conditions of our new lease for, and the renovation of Ralph Wilson Stadium,” said President and CEO Russ Brandon in a team statement. “This is another important step in the process toward finalizing the related definitive agreements and remaining on schedule to begin the improvements this year. We anticipate the final approval by the Erie County Legislature and the New York State Legislature in the next couple weeks.”‘

‘”Working closely with Buddy and just seeing how he handles everything we’ve all had great communication and been on the same page on a lot of things,” said Bills head coach Doug Marrone. “Just trying to see what he’s looking for as far as the roster and the personnel moves. Fortunately, Buddy has asked us in the coaching staff to do some write-ups. That’s great. It’s an honor because at the end of the day, we’re coaches and whoever’s on the roster, our job is to coach them and win football games. To be able to write a report and have it be part of the process is something that I have a lot of respect for, because our scouts do a great job.”‘

‘Philosophically, it’s hard to argue with the point that the Bills should repay all the state has put into this agreement if the team breaks the lease. As a practical matter, though, it doesn’t seem helpful. If $400 million isn’t enough to keep the team here, then $453.9 million, plus a few more million, won’t make the difference either.’

‘I can cut GM Buddy Nix some slack on this free agent malaise, though, because he and his personnel entourage have been burning through the coffee studying the crop of quarterbacks that will be available in next month’s college draft. Nix is promising to deliver on a quarterback this year, but we’ll see. This is the same guy who took a pass on the likes of Russell Wilson, Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick after round one the past two years.’

‘The Bills have lacked inspired management since the remnants of the Bill Polian era left at the start of this millennium. The years since have been pockmarked with abysmal personnel decisions, notably a continuing failure to acquire an elite quarterback, the main ingredient for success. The Bills bypassed prime prospects in recent drafts because they overcommitted to Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was cut this week. Let the vicious cycle continue.’