Archives for August 15, 2014

‘Perhaps with those memories still in their minds, the Bills have constructed a roster deep at cornerback this year. Buffalo native Corey Graham was added to the mix as a free agent, while the team also selected Ross Cockrell out of Duke in the fourth round of May’s NFL Draft. They join holdovers Gilmore, McKelvin, Brooks and Nickell Robey to give the Bills a strong top six at the position.’

‘”The legacy that is here with the Steelers’ defense, coach Dick LeBeau, I just felt really comfortable with the situation,” he said. “Buffalo will always have a special place in my heart, but this was what’s best for my career.”‘

‘Buffalo Fan Alliance was tipped off last week about the documents, which included a short bio of Rai in a public securities and investment statement filed with the Canadian government, said Matthew Sabuda, a real estate investor and director of the Buffalo Fan Alliance.’

‘Long lines at the gates and crowding in the concourses should be nothing but J.P. Losman-like memories.’

‘”I really can’t at this point,” Brandon said. “There’s no timetable on anything. It’s a process, and that’s why we handed that to the investment bank and to the investment counsel. So we’ll leave it with those two fine firms.”‘

‘”(Wednesday), outside of seven-on-seven, was probably his best day if you charted it,” Marrone said.’

‘”That’s pretty much what everybody calls me nowadays,” Dixon said. “It was already like that when I came. You know, when I came to talk to them. That’s one of the reasons I came because it already felt like family.”‘

‘Instead of betting on Manuel, Whaley and Marrone are betting on the surrounding cast. They’re hoping that Watkins will turn a few 3-yard slants into 20-yard gains, or that Williams will make a play to catch a less-than-perfect throw.’

‘Two sources with knowledge of what transpired at Morgan Stanley’s offices on Broadway have told QMI Agency the management presentation was drama-free. Purely perfunctory. Matter-of-fact. No emotion. And permeating the room was an unspoken, shared sense that, yeah, we all have to go through with this, so let’s just get through it.’

‘The Bills are expected to sell for at least $1 billion. They were valued by Forbes at $870 million. Pegula recently sold land for $1.75 billion and his net worth is reportedly $3.3 billion. Donald Trump reportedly has bid $1 billion. Bon Jovi’s group has created ill will in Buffalo with rumors they eventually want to move the team to Toronto, which Bon Jovi attempted to quiet with a letter to Bills fans.’

‘Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes combined for 41 sacks last season, most than all but a dozen teams in the league.’

‘A person familiar with the sale process told The AP that the Toronto group attended a presentation on Tuesday during which Bills officials provided extensive financial and background information on the franchise. A second person said Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula attended a similar presentation on Wednesday.’

‘”Well what I can say, unfortunately, is pretty much what I’ve been saying in that the process is ongoing. It’s a private transaction and I’m not really at liberty to discuss it at any length or form,” he said. “We know the level of interest, but we also appreciate the private nature of this moving forward.”‘

‘”I told EJ, man, to be honest I told, my exact words: It’s the best I’ve ever seen him,” said wide receiver Mike Williams. “I don’t think he incompleted a pass today. Everything was on time, we got everything we wanted, it was like perfect. Coming out of our breaks, the ball right there… this is the best I’ve seen him. If he keeps getting like this, we’re going to be something to play with.”‘

‘”You see the way he works, the way he wants to get better, you see the plays that he makes” Chandler said. “Obviously he needs to make those plays in regular season games and hopefully playoffs but he’s made them pretty consistently in practice. You watch the way that he runs routes and you can tell that there are details he’s paying attention to and he does things the right way.”‘