Archives for September 10, 2014

‘The Buffalo Bills reportedly worked out Sammy Watkins’ old quarterback on Tuesday.’

‘Preston Brown played every snap: Rookie linebacker Preston Brown was the only player to play every snap on defense for the Bills. With Nigel Bradham suspended, the rookie third-round pick got his chance to shine. There were positives (a fumble recovery) and negatives (a blown coverage on Cutler’s first touchdown pass) but overall, the experience should help him moving forward.’

‘The community owes much thanks to Wilson as well. He demonstrated his commitment to the Western New York community for decades as Bills owner. He helped work with Erie County to develop a lease for Ralph Wilson Stadium that made it more difficult for any outside investor to buy the team and move it away. He also left the franchise in the hands of a trust that included his wife, Mary, and other key advisors who seemed to respect his desire to keep the team in the Buffalo area beyond the bidding process.’

‘For as long as I’ve been able to understand what the Bills mean to this community and in my own life there’s been a doomsday scenario looming. There would come a time after Wilson died when someone in a board room somewhere would decide whether some carpetbagger would take the Bills away to a richer, more glamorous place where they could never be loved the way we love them here.’

‘The bottom line is, once Pegula receives the NFL’s approval, the Bills are here to stay. The cynics, pessimists and worry-warts can calm down. The sale could settle well before Sunday’s home opener, setting up an unbelievable celebration as the improbably 1-0 Bills return to Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The Bills thus won’t be relocating to Canada’s most populous city — the prospect of which surprisingly few Torontonians seemed to give a buffalo’s butt about since the spring.’

‘But cheering for the Bills is an emotional thing, and keeping them is, too. Callers phoned in to the sports radio station, WGR550, with those blunt clipped local accents that make you imagine a man with a frozen moustache. They thanked Terry Pegula and his wife, Kim. They called it the best day in Buffalo sports history. A lot of them talked about their fathers. Some wept.’

‘Now that the Toronto group is out of the running for good, Sunday’s home opener against the Miami Dolphins will be a lot louder and happier, Pellien vowed. “It’s gonna be a madhouse,” said Pellien.’

‘Terry and Kim Pegula repelled the would-be plunderers of the city’s NFL franchise. A team that once seemed certain to depart for richer, more fashionable locations in Toronto or Los Angeles will stay in beleaguered Buffalo: The billionaire owners of the local NHL team stepped up to buy the Bills from the estate of the late Ralph Wilson for a reported bid of $1.4-billion (U.S.).’

‘”Ralph Wilson left an indelible mark on our community, and we will strive every day to honor his legacy,” the Pegulas said in a statement. “Our interest in owning the Bills has everything to do with the people of Western New York and our passion for football.”‘

‘”It is gratifying to reassure these great fans that two franchises (Bills and Sabres) so important to our region are both here to stay,” Pegula wrote in a statement via the team.’

‘The sale needs to be approved by a three-quarters majority of the NFL’s owners, who are scheduled to meet on Oct. 8, and is also subject to “the satisfaction of customary closing conditions,” according to the team’s statement.’

‘”On behalf of Myself, Larry Tanenbaum and Edward Rogers (who were part of Bon Jovi’s purchasing team), we wish Terry and Kim Pegula all the best as they continue the legacy and tradition of the Buffalo Bills and the Wilson family,” Bon Jovi said.’

‘Buffalo ran for 193 yards to win 23-20 in overtime at Chicago, and to no one’s surprise, running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson had plenty to do with it. This means the Dolphins’ focus this week is the opposite of last week, when Tom Brady was in the cross hairs.’

‘”This is a very important day in the history of the Buffalo Bills franchise,” Mary Wilson, the widow of Ralph Wilson Jr. who assumed controlling interest in the team after her husband’s death in March, said in a statement issued by the team.’