Archives for October 2014

‘”Last year, this defense made a lot of big plays; a lot of sacks and turnovers and things like that,” said Schwartz, who was hired as defensive coordinator in January, shortly after he’d been fired as head coach of the Lions, and Mike Pettine left Buffalo to become head coach in Cleveland. “We just needed to be able to play some of the other plays better.”‘

‘One of the few things Pegula has said since he and his wife were cleared for ownership earlier this week is that, “I got a hell of a deal.” And so did the Wilson estate, which was paid a record-breaking $1.4 billion for an NFL team. Remember, the Pegulas, who were virtually unknown four years ago, and now have a fortune worth $4.6 billion, became super rich mainly from natural gas drilling and controversial hydraulic fracturing.’

‘”I have to represent,” Dareus said. “That’s my other half. We’re salt and pepper. We’re going to do the best we can to shake ’em up. With him not being out there it does take a hindrance on us, but we’ve still got good players.’

‘”It’s a lot of fun,” Tuel said. “It makes it more interesting guys like it. It’s a good time.”‘

‘Cyril Richardson was running with the first team at left guard during the portion of practice open to the media, and Bills coach Doug Marrone noted that he is still weary about Williams’ back because of the way back injuries can fluctuate on a day-to-day basis.’

‘I know fans are already celebrating the Pegula era and will do so at Ralph Wilson Stadium this Sunday. But, it’s important to recognize what Mr. Wilson did for the region.’

‘”He’s also a big threat and a great target for their offense in the passing game. They do a good job of getting the ball out to the running backs and on the screen game. Fred Jackson does an excellent job of creating those yards after the catch and just creating a lot of offense from both the backfield alignments and then when he gets out in space in the passing game. He is a very, very good football player.”‘

‘The Bills found a way to lose. The Patriots found a way to win.’

‘”Absolutely, absolutely, but you know what I’m saying, I ain’t going to go . . . what’s done is done,” Spikes said. “We can’t change it. It is what it is. Everything happens for a reason. Whatever, man, I’m here with the Bills now. I’m happy. I’m loving the game. I’m loving my teammates, the entire organization, the city, your fans. It’s all great, man. It just reminds me of when I was in Gainesville with the Bills Mafia and the Gator Nation. It’s kind of the same, honestly.”‘

‘If they can do that to the growling Bengals, what might they do to the long-suffering Bisons of Buffalo, who have not made the playoffs in so long there is a generation of fans in western New York who don’t know they exist? They think the NFL is like the Premier League – regular season and done.’

‘”That’s one of the reasons why I came over here to the Bills – to face my former team, Bill and his squad,” Spikes said. “At the time I was a little upset on how things went down. But I have forgave and forgotten. I feel like that’s truly how you achieve happiness – you can’t have no grudges. You can’t have stuff like that. You just have to move on and put it behind you.”‘

‘”No, I talked to him on the phone last week,” Ridley continued, “and he’s going to be gassed and excited. It’s going to be a little different, but I ran against him a lot in practice and kind of know how he plays. But it’s going to be exciting to get out there and talk a little bit of trash with him. I know he’s going to be doing that.”‘

‘”He’s the real deal,” the Patriots’ veteran defensive tackle said Thursday of veteran Bills’ running back Fred Jackson. “I remember when he was a backup we used to talk all the time about how hard he runs, what a good back he is. He finally got his chance and he’s making every bit of it count. He’s a tough back. C.J. (Spiller), the same thing. They’ve got a very, very explosive offense with the backs and receivers.”‘

‘”Obviously, he’s a great receiver, but he’s still learning the game and learning the system,” Bills running back C.J. Spiller said. “But you can definitely see that he’s going to be special.”‘

‘”A lot of things happen a lot quicker,” the Patriots defensive lineman said Thursday, speaking of the change veteran quarterback Kyle Orton has had on the Buffalo Bills’ offense. “He’s getting the ball out. He’s making reads before the snap.”‘