Archives for July 2014

‘Anyone moving the Bills from Buffalo before their lease expires in 2022 would be hit with $400 million in penalties (although there’s a $28 million escape clause after the 2019 season). But the involvement of Rogers and Tanenbaum – and a report earlier this week that their bid group had explored Toronto-area stadium sites – gives hope to NFL fans in this city.’

‘”I put in a bid in which the team would absolutely be kept in Buffalo,” Trump told The Post.’

‘As for Reed, his contempt goes far beyond rock stars-turned-potential NFL team owners. The seven-time Pro Bowl receiver saved his harshest criticism for Cleveland Browns rookie Jonny Manziel.’

‘I respect Bon Jovi. Always have. That’s why I’d suggest to him to sit this one out.’

‘Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen tells The Associated Press the Trump bid package will be submitted Tuesday.’

‘”Man, (expletive) Bon Jovi!” Reed told New York Magazine. “You might as well just take this city, throw it in the river, and let it go down Niagara Falls.” Reed also was critical of Manziel, citing a recent tweet by Johnny Football calling LeBron James “my guy” after the Akron native announced that he was returning home to Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers.’

‘He arrived here with 71 cents in his bank account.’

‘Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula, rocker Jon Bon Jovi (along with MLSE’s Larry Tanenbaum and Edward Rogers of Rogers Communication), former Sabres owner Tom Golisano and Donald Trump are the four most publicly known names linked to the sale of the team. It is likely that the Bills will receive other nonbinding bids by the end of the business day on Tuesday in addition to those four.’

‘But as rich as Bon Jovi is-his band ranks 13th on Forbes’ “Celebrity 100,” and his personal estimated net worth approaches $300 ­million-NFL ownership is reserved only for the wealthiest: The Bills are the NFL’s third-least-valuable ­franchise, ahead of only Jacksonville and Oakland, but are still expected to sell for more than $1 billion. Bon Jovi couldn’t buy the team on his own, so he has teamed up with a group of businessmen in Toronto who own the Maple Leafs, the Raptors, and the Air Canada Centre, where he has played 19 concerts since 2000.’

‘”Mike is going to be a huge asset for us out wide,” Manuel said. “He’s a guy who, in the red zone, teams will know we’re going to him, and even though they’ll know I’m throwing to him, he’ll still be able to come down with some balls. Sammy (Watkins) is showing it too. He can go up high and get the ball, and as a quarterback, that’s awesome. It gives me a lot more room for error as far as when I throw the ball up to a guy, just wanting to give him an opportunity to make a play.”‘

‘Manuel has not looked great the first week of training camp. He has looked good at times. He has made some sharp, impressive throws. His arm strength is excellent. But there are enough times in every practice in which he doesn’t get the ball out of his hands quickly to make one pause. Should he look more sure of himself?’

‘A sign the Bills aren’t in crisis mode at left tackle is their reluctance to acquire veteran help such as free-agent Eric Winston. Rookie tackle Seantrel Henderson, a wild card with a checkered past that caused him to plummet into the seventh round, has held down the fort quite well so far.’

‘WR Chris Hogan caught everything in sight. The starting defensive line was stellar. Ron Brooks had a great interception. EJ Manuel hit a pretty bomb to Marquise Goodwin.’

‘Expected to submit notifications are Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula; the Toronto-based group with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment executive Larry Tanenbaum and rock star Jon Bon Jovi; former Sabres owner Tom Golisano; and billionaire developer Donald Trump. Other possibilities include bond investor Jeffrey Gundlach of Amherst and Pabst Brewing Company owner C. Dean Metropoulos.’