Archives for November 18, 2013

‘Both men were treated at the scene, then taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. They were released from ECMC early Sunday evening, authorities said.’

‘”When you look at quarterbacks that have thrown well in bad weather, it’s mostly guys that have a good arm – it doesn’t have to be great – and big hands. EJ had the first or second biggest hands (at the Combine) and that was one of the factors in picking (him).”‘

‘”We knew if we got after him, we could get in his head and he would throw us the ball some,” said Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. “That’s exactly what happened. He’s a young quarterback, and we just had to get after him.”‘

‘”I’m having a lot of fun,” he said. “I’ve kind of gotten comfortable and a feel for everyone in the locker room. There are just great guys in here. … A lot of people use that saying of ‘family,’ but it really is. You can go out there and just play with your brothers out there and just have fun. There’s nothing like it.”‘

‘”Those guys are very good vertical receivers,” Manuel said. “They stepped up huge for us.”‘

‘Instead, on a day when his running game was stagnant and his top wide receivers (Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods) were out with injuries, Manuel played his finest game as a Bill, soundly outplaying his rookie counterpart, Geno Smith.’

‘”All losses sting, but I can’t tell the lie and say it didn’t matter. It hurt,” Pettine said of the first meeting. “Just like I can’t tell the lie that this one didn’t mean a little bit more today. It wasn’t about me the last time, and it’s not about me this time. I have a great staff who did a really good job preparing the guys this week.”‘

‘Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone suggested after Sunday’s game that Spiller should get into his offensive linemen’s grills about blocking better.’

‘Gov. Cuomo was watching from the press box. Jim Kelly and his nephew, Clemson QB Chad Kelly, watched from the sidelines. Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas were in the house.’

‘The Erie County Sheriff’s Office said that a report on the incident would be issued today.’

‘An announced crowd of 68,036 watched on a warm, windy and gray day as the Bills offense, ranked 24th in scoring in the NFL, erupted for 20 points in a 2:50 span before halftime.’

‘”The team hasn’t been to the playoffs in 13 years, and everything is based on that kind of perspective,” he said. “So when things don’t go right, I think a lot of the fans revert back to that. Patience, I’m telling you. This is how the league is. If you aren’t Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or Drew Brees or any of those dudes, it’s not going to happen overnight.”‘

‘”I don’t know if I was any different,” said Byrd, who missed the season’s first five games battling plantar fasciitis in both feet following his long summer holdout. “You are who you are it’s just that I hadn’t played the game in awhile. It was just a matter of feeling comfortable in the system and in the game. Hopefully I’m headed in the right direction.”’

‘Now, the trick is to keep building. Bad time for a bye week.’

‘Snapping a three-game losing streak at home against an AFC East rival made for a pretty nice day for the Bills, who finally had a slew of breaks go their way. Seeing Manuel prove himself in challenging November conditions, throwing the deep ball, was a positive development as was the attacking play of the defense that set the day’s tone. Coach Doug Marrone’s team really needed this one.’