Archives for October 2014

‘We now know, years later, that Wilson genuinely cared for professional football in Buffalo as evidenced by his commitment to the most recent lease at the Orchard Park stadium that bears his name. Those familiar with the inner-workings of the negotiations have said repeatedly that Wilson helped craft an agreement that made it difficult, particularly from a financial standpoint, for another owner to buy the team and move it out of Western New York.’

‘”I’ve said many times, to many of you, that this has not been a six-month process — which is very quick in this business to make a transaction of that level,” Brandon said. “This has been an 18-year process for the people on my staff, to put the business in a position, regionally, for this franchise to be successfully (sold) as it was.’

‘Johnson has been connected to Patriots coach Bill Belichick since 1986, when the linebacker was drafted by the Giants, with Belichick then serving as the team’s defensive coordinator. Johnson played for Belichick in New York, then Cleveland, then New York again, this time with the Jets. He joined Belichick’s first coaching staff in Foxborough, coaching linebackers (2000-03, 2012-13) and the defensive line (2004-11). He left the Patriots after last season and is now coaching the Bills’ defensive linemen.’

‘The Pegulas have pledged to keep the Bills in Buffalo, so Sunday could be a raucous celebration at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Patriots have had some tough games, but have lost just once in their last 10 visits.’

‘Schwartz’s scheme, which involves less blitzing from the second level and a wider set-up of the front four, looks a lot like what he ran for years as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator last decade. It hasn’t hurt the pass rush much, with Buffalo accumulating 17 sacks through five games, tied with the Jets for the most in football.’

‘”It’s a great challenge for us to go on the road and a tough place to play,” Brady said of the trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Patriots are 9-2 since a shocking 31-0 loss in the 2003 opener after the release of safety Lawyer Milloy caused a mini-revolt in the locker room.’

‘Yes, there have been close games in Orchard Park. The Patriots won a 23-21 decision there last Sept. 8; lost a 34-31 game there on Sept. 25, 2011, after getting out to a big early lead; and they emerged with a 17-10 triumph on Dec. 20, 2009. But there have also been plenty of big New England wins (52-28 in 2012, 38-7 in 2010).’

‘”Brandon’s in a different scheme, but we know what his strengths are as a player,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “There’s a lot of them. He covers a lot of ground. He’s rangy. He’s big. He’s physical. He’s got those guys playing really well. He’s a signal caller for them, the captain.”‘

‘”We’ve got to bring our own energy. Definitely,” Arrington said on Wednesday. “There’s going to be a lot of energy out there, a hostile environment. I believe it’s the first game under the new ownership so I’m sure it’ll be a great crowd, very energetic, so we just have to stick together.”‘

‘”He was here throughout the whole offseason, worked extremely hard, really showed a lot of good leadership ability, and obviously the team voted him for a captain,” Bills second-year coach Doug Marrone said. “I think he’s come in, he’s performed well for us, so we’ve been very pleased with him.”‘

‘Everybody wants to win. I think I look at it more for what’s on tape. Obviously, I was with New York for four years and obviously we played against them twice a year. I think you rely on those experiences, but more importantly, you rely on what you’re seeing on the film. Making good decisions of putting your players in the best position where you have a chance to win.’

‘It’s definitely been different. Obviously we want to get back to what we want to do, speeding it up and getting our tempo. Obviously we also want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and executing at a high level so hopefully we will get back to that point, but who knows.’

Tom Brady going up against Brandon Spikes, Pepper Johnson (Boston Globe)

Bill Belichick: Patriots preparing for ‘a lot of energy’ in Buffalo (Boston Globe)

Patriots offensive line, run game changes playing field (Boston Herald)

DT Casey Walker makes a loud impression (Boston Herald)

Tom Brady & Co. must improve in red zone (Boston Herald)

Dominique Easley’s shoulder iffy (Boston Herald)

Report: Sammy Watkins says Buffalo Bills ‘found out’ Darrelle Revis will shadow him Sunday (Springfield Republican)

Tom Brady nicknamed ‘The Pharaoh’ by former New England Patriots LB Brandon Spikes (Springfield Republican)

Meet Patriots defensive tackle Casey Walker, a big fish in the big New England pond (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower present at Wednesday’s practice after missing Cincinnati Bengals game (Springfield Republican)

Joe Vellano, Chris Martin added to New England Patriots practice squad; Caylin Hauptmann waived (Springfield Republican)

Downfield blocking critical to New England Patriots running game (Springfield Republican)

True test for Patriots’ offense will be to keep it going against Bills (Providence Journal)

Patriots ready for new defensive scheme in Buffalo (Providence Journal)

McCourty, Easley and Hightower return to the field, Fleming and Ebner out (Providence Journal)

Patriots sign Joe Vellano and Chris Martin to the practice squad (Providence Journal)

Back to business, Pats ready for familiar Bills (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bills hardly ever make it easy (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Patriots’ Tim Wright settling in as tight end (Nashua Telegraph)

Patriots preparing for well-known foe in Spikes (Brockton Enterprise)

Team preparing to face Bills and an energetic crowd (Brockton Enterprise)

A new role for Walker (Metro West Daily News)

Brandon Spikes, ex-Pats linebacker, fits with Bills (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Patriots’ Tim Wright complements Rob Gronkowski (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Patriots need to match emotion – and execution – of last week (Lowell Sun)

Tight end Wright getting comfortable with Patriots (AP)

Patriots’ improved running game prepares for Bills (The Sports Xchange)

Tom Brady Won’t Say Rob Gronkowski Is Nuts, But He ‘Hasn’t Calmed Down’ (NESN)

Tom Brady: Brandon Spikes Called Me ‘The Pharaoh’ In New England (NESN)

Rob Gronkowski Removed From Patriots’ Injury Report; Devin McCourty Added (NESN)

Brian Tyms, Logan Ryan Among Patriots’ Practice Players Of The Week (NESN)

Devin McCourty, Dominique Easley Practice With Patriots, Shake Injuries (NESN)

Bill Belichick Praises Tim Wright’s Smarts: ‘Learning Is Not An Issue’ (NESN)

Bill Belichick: Brandon Spikes Hasn’t Changed – Except Maybe His Hair (NESN)

Tom Brady: Bills’ Brandon Spikes, Pepper Johnson Know Patriots’ Style (NESN)

Patriots Sign Joe Vellano To Practice Squad, Make Two Other Moves (NESN)

Brady will see more old friends Sunday with Bills (CSN New England)

Belichick dissects Bills offensive keys (CSN New England)

Belichick: Spikes hasn’t changed (CSN New England)

Report: Rookie D-lineman Easley separated shoulder (CSN New England)

Blowout of Bengals doesn’t wipe slate clean (CSN New England)

Patriots-Bills practice report: Pats without Ebner, Fleming (CSN New England)

Will Bills again avoid throwing Revis’ way? (CSN New England)

Patriots prep for d-line coached by Johnson (CSN New England)

Brady: Energy, execution hand-in-hand in Buffalo (CSN New England)

Bills’ defense a far different challenge for Patriots (CSN New England)

Fleming, Ebner not spotted at Patriots walkthrough (CSN New England)

Patriots sign Vellano, Martin to practice squad (CSN New England)

Wilfork leading pack of young defensive linemen (CSN New England)

Brady Preparing For Rowdy Atmosphere In Buffalo (WBZ-AM)

Tale Of The Tape: New England Patriots At Buffalo Bills (WBZ-AM)

Bill Belichick Compares Sammy Watkins To Larry Fitzgerald (WBZ-AM)

Passion Play: Why Brandon Spikes would fit in perfectly with 2014 Patriots (WEEI-FM)

Tedy Bruschi’s big surprise for little Patriots fan (Patriots.com)

Blocking imperative for WRs; Oct. 8 notes (Patriots.com)

Patriots sign OL Chris Martin and DL Joe Vellano to the practice squad (Patriots.com)

Patriots rushing success ran deep (Patriots.com)

Game Preview: Patriots travel to face the Buffalo Bills (Patriots.com)

Tom Brady Press Conference Transcript: ‘It’s going to come down to execution’ (Patriots.com)

Up for whatever: Patriots fans surprised with VIP experience (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Conference Call Transcript: ‘It’s always tough in Buffalo’ (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript: ‘Their defense is playing very well’ (Patriots.com)

CJ Spiller Conference Call Transcript: ‘There is a lot at stake for both teams’ (Patriots.com)

Doug Marrone Conference Call Transcript: ‘We’re doing what we have to do to try to win’ (Patriots.com)

‘”I don’t really feel any different, just really having fun,” Dareus said. “Just let everything roll off my back, ignore a lot of what everybody’s saying, just kind of play my game and not let anybody and anything get in my head.”‘

‘The Bills were last valued by Forbes at $935 million, but their price was well above other recent sales. The Cleveland Browns were sold for close to $1.05 billion two years ago, and the Miami Dolphins sold for an NFL-record $1.1 billion in 2009. Their deal also included their stadium.’