Archives for October 9, 2014

‘Bills 31, Patriots 28.’

‘"Brady always has a chip on his shoulder," Spikes said. "Me, I refer to him as ‘Pharaoh’ because he’s amazing. I always respect him because he comes out every year with that edge. That’s what the great ones do."’

‘”We addressed it with the team this morning,” Marrone said. “We’re excited about that, but we understand that our focus is on the game.”‘

‘The Pats game will complete the trifecta. It will be like a second home opener, the maiden voyage for the Pegulas. It’s only too fitting that it come against New England. You can only imagine how emotional that crowd will be if the new ownership era begins with a win over the hated Pats.’

‘”I ain’t gonna say nothing like that,” Spikes said with a big smile as a reporter jokingly suggested he could rip New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “It’s my former team. Got friends still over there, so you know, I’m excited. I’ve been waiting for this for a while now.”‘

‘Normally, prospective owners face questions and then are asked to leave the room while the teams vote. The Pegulas expected to outline a few team issues, including their stadium plans.’

‘The fact that the Pegulas also own the Sabres just isn’t the perfect situation from the league’s standpoint.’

‘Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, said: “We celebrate and welcome Terry and Kim Pegula’s tenure as the next owners of the Buffalo Bills. For the last three years, as owners of the Buffalo Sabres, they have demonstrated their genuine commitment to Buffalo fans and the Western New York community.”‘

‘Yes, it’s an investment that will produce income for them, but the project is under construction here, in downtown Buffalo, where it will not only provide a hockey home for Canisius College, Erie Community College and the Junior Sabres, but is also expected to host college and amateur hockey tournaments. Some events are already scheduled, and the center will also host the NHL’s annual Scouting Combine for the next two years. It will be a magnet for visitors.’

‘”That’s really more for the higher ups,” said linebacker Manny Lawson. “(The Pegulas) have been part of a good franchise with the Buffalo Sabres and we expect them to run this team as such. As far as my role, my job is to play football. For us, we play ball, and do what we’re told.”‘

‘”I’m waiting for the doctors to say they can go ahead and play full, but right now they’re limited,” Marrone said. “As the week goes on and they progress, they’ll tell me later in the week. So we make plans with those players, but we make more plans being without them.”‘

‘re they in favor of retrofitting the 42-year-old current stadium or having a new one built in downtown Buffalo.’

‘When asked if the victory over the Bengals was a source of vindication for his team, Belichick conceded, “It was good to win, but we’re really past that now. I don’t think that has anything to do with this week. We’re just focused on Buffalo.”‘

‘”It goes back further than you may think,” Pegula said. “I obviously said when I was asked when I bought the Sabres, ‘Are you interested in the Bills?’ Did you expect me to say yes? But it goes back further than you may imagine.”‘

‘”You guys know how it ended,” Spikes said of his time in New England. “I don’t think he held a grudge or anything. It is what is. Players change teams every year, every week. That’s just what it is.”‘