Archives for November 9, 2013

‘Roethlisberger is the most sacked active quarterback in the NFL. He has been taken down 375 times in his 10-year career, or 2.79 times per game. That’s more than double the rate at which Denver’s Peyton Manning gets sacked (1.13 times a game) and almost double the rate for New England’s Tom Brady (1.93 times a game).’

‘Smith failed to fulfill the vision former coach Chan Gailey had for him when he was signed in 2011. The Bills were targeting him as a key contributor as a Wildcat quarterback and a kick returner. They gave him a four-year contract that averaged $3.67 million a year.’

Heyward progressing at end for Steelers (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Steelers need to win battle along D-line (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Gilbert, Adams listed as questionable for Bills game (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Steelers rookie Thomas to face former coach, Bills (AP)

Countdown: Steelers vs. Bills (Steelers.com)

OTs Gilbert, Adams questionable (Steelers.com)

1st and 10 with Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers.com)

‘He became expendable because the Bills have essentially abandoned running the wildcat under new coach Doug Marrone.’

‘The eight-year veteran has been a dependable starter for the Bills this year, recording 43 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.’

‘Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Shamarko Thomas didn’t take it personally when the Buffalo Bills and new coach Doug Marrone skipped over the hard-hitting safety in the first four rounds of the NFL draft. That’s despite Marrone coaching Thomas at Syracuse for four years.’

‘”If someone told me it was going to happen I’d want it to happen now,” first-year coach Doug Marrone said. “I think that you can see the adversity that’s hit this team early on and the players are working hard and fighting through it.”‘

‘Lawson has 43 tackles and one sack in eight starts this season.’

‘The Bills were 2-2 in the games Manuel started and finished and lost the game against the Browns when Manuel was injured.’

‘The emergence of Easley as a special teams standout likely eased the Bills into the decision to finally release Smith from the roster. The 29-year old never really carved a niche in Buffalo, after having been signed to serve as the team’s Wildcat quarterback under former head coach Chan Gailey.’

‘Lawson missed Friday’s practice to due a non-injury related matter. Marrone said after practice that it was a personal matter that the linebacker is dealing with, and he was excused from the session. He’s listed as questionable for the Pittsburgh game, but the head coach would not commit to Lawson traveling with the team just yet.’

‘It was a parting of ways that likely unforeseen when he was signed as a free agent prior to the 2011 season. On Friday the Bills released WR/KR Brad Smith from injured reserve in an injury settlement making him a free agent. The 29-year old multi-faceted player is now free to sign with any other NFL club and play this season. The only team by rule that he cannot play for is Buffalo.’

‘The Bills did their best job of limiting big plays last week holding the Chiefs to just one play of 20 yards or more. Against the Steelers, who have relied on big plays for points with 37 plays of 20 yards or more (7th in NFL), Buffalo will have to keep Ben Roethlisberger from completing long passes downfield on broken plays.’

‘”He’s done a very good job,” Marrone told Buffalobills.com. “It was a challenge for him not being out there for four weeks. So we worked very hard on the mental aspect and the preparation aspect. He did a great job of that. He came out there this week and had a good week of practice. So we’re excited about putting him back out there on the field.”‘