Archives for August 27, 2014

‘But with $130 million just spent to bring The Ralph back to modern standards, why not squeeze the most out of it first?’

‘Palmer is often praised more for his work as a coach than he is for his work as a player. He’s worked with countless young quarterbacks at the Elite 11 camp and most recently tutored Bortles, who has been the surprise of the preseason for Jacksonville.’

‘”My conversation with Jordan was, ‘Hey, listen. I’m happy to see you. I’m happy to meet you. I’m going to give you an opportunity and you have an opportunity to get a position and we’re going to do whatever we can to get you ready for this game and play you.’ ”‘

‘Freshmen in college weren’t even born the last time the Bills’ actually won a playoff game, in 1995. They’re part of a younger generation in which the Bills were a punchline, a team they largely ignored after being born and raised in a proud football town that once had lofty standards.’

‘The team’s work in practice and the fact that the squad is in generally good health made Marrone a happy man. “Not a lot of guys on the injury report. There are a lot of guys practicing, a lot of guys playing,” Marrone said. “That’s good this time of year, and we’ll do what we can to make sure we get our guys healthy and ready to go.”‘

‘”We haven’t been able to get any information or update from the New Stadium Working Group,” Kearns said, “and the voters have a right to see its recommendations and communications and know about the possibility of a new stadium. This is important not only to me, but to other elected officials, as well.”‘

‘Interestingly, it seems as if Palmer – who is the younger brother of Arizona starter and former Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer – is being brought in to serve more as a mentor to Manuel and Tuel than he is to compete for the backup job.’

‘Although Thursdays game will not air live, it will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. Friday on WHAM-TV (Channel 13) and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.’

‘For the Bills, Gay could provide competition both at punter and as a kickoff specialist, both areas in which Bills coach Doug Marrone has said the team will try to improve. Punter Brian Moorman has had a few rough punts in the preseason.’

‘We’ve given ourselves an opportunity, meaning that we’ve given ourselves an opportunity for what we’ve been watching on tape of everyone for Jordan to come in here and show us what he has. I think that’s something that, obviously, Doug (Whaley) and I have talked about quite a bit.’

‘Just three years ago, the Bills had the lowest season-ticket sales in recent history with 37,555. The Bills sold 36,354 season tickets back in 2001 but had a string of eight consecutive seasons of selling more than 42,000 season tickets leading up to 2011.’

‘”There’s some things that he showed that I have no doubt, having coached that position before, to say that he’s a future starter,” Marrone said. “I’m happy about that, but I’m not happy that I feel the way I do about Chris and his availability.”‘

‘Bills fans will be able to watch the game on tape delay. It will air at 7 p.m. Friday on WTVH-TV (Syracuse) and WKBW-TV (Buffalo); at 7:30 p.m. Friday on WHAM-TV (Rochester); and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on Time Warner Cable Sportschannel. NFL Network will air a tape delay of the game at 7 a.m. on Sunday.’

‘”It’s been like that ever since I’ve been in the NFL,” Lewis said Monday. “It’s nothing new, but at the same time, it’s football. There’s always going to be competition. If you’re scared of competition, you shouldn’t play the spot.”‘