Archives for July 3, 2014

‘Defense, however, still does matter in The League, and Buffalo’s has been suddenly diminished. No Kiko is no good. And just like that, the Bills – who will open their exhibition campaign a month from today in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton – have become long shots to bust into the postseason field.’

‘The obvious candidates for fans to consider are newcomer Keith Rivers and Nigel Bradham, the third-year pro who started two of the last four games at that spot.’

‘Drury agreed that the Bills exercised control over the cheerleaders. He rejected a similar motion by Citadel to dismiss the lawsuit.’

‘Next stop: depositions.’

‘”We feel badly for Kiko because he has worked very hard this offseason in preparation for the upcoming season, but we look forward to his return with his style of play that made him one of the league’s outstanding rookies in 2013,” Whaley said.’

‘The losses of Alonso and Byrd mean two of the defense’s top playmakers — and maybe the top two — are gone. Dareus could be looking at an NFL suspension after his involvement in an offseason traffic accident, and the Bills don’t want to play too long without him. Spiller was probably as good last year as he’s been at any time in his pro career, but he still only scored two rushing touchdowns and his career high is six. The best thing for a young quarterback like Manuel might be a running game and a defense that sets the offense up in winning situations, but the Bills have to prove they have the pieces to make that formula work.’

‘After he left UT, any major running company would have been lucky to sign the seven-time All-America. So why did Goodwin go with football? “I always knew I was going to choose football-just statistically, the things I wanted to do for my family financially, I knew I could do them with football,” says the 23-year-old Texas native. “But that’s not the only reason I chose football. I also wanted to be around my family and not traveling out of the county as a track athlete.”‘

‘The Pegulas have not publicly said whether they will try to buy the NFL team, which is on the market after the team’s owner and founder Ralph Wilson died in March. But The Associated Press has reported the Pegulas were among prospective buyers who received a non-disclosure agreement and background on the Bills from a law firm representing Wilson’s estate.’

‘The Bills did not provide any details as to how Alonso was hurt.’

‘The Buffalo Bills confirmed that linebacker Kiko Alonso suffered a torn ACL and will likely miss the 2014 season.’

‘”We have updated information regarding Kiko Alonso,” said Whaley in a team statement. “Unfortunately he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and will most likely miss the 2014 season. He will be scheduled for surgery in the near future and begin a rehabilitation program at the appropriate time. We feel badly for Kiko because he has worked very hard this offseason in preparation for the upcoming season, but we look forward to his return with his style of play that made him one of the league’s outstanding rookies in 2013.”‘

‘Preston Brown is already a favorite of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The middle linebacker is a sharp player with good football instincts and on field awareness. Lining up as one of the first team nickel linebackers and handling pre-snap calls and checks, Brown’s role is even more important now that Alonso won’t be lining up next to him in that subpackage.’

‘”Probably the secondary is where I’ve been the most impressed,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “I think we have some depth at corner, at nickel and we have a really exciting young player in Aaron Williams here. I’m excited with all three levels of the defense, but probably more so the secondary than anything else.”‘