Archives for November 27, 2014

‘”No, I’m not sorry,” Whitner said. “I’m not sorry that that happened. It’s something that happened and I was called out by somebody that I knew and I responded and they responded and that’s where it went. If anything, I didn’t really say anything too disrespectful.”‘

‘Weaver said we’ll get to see how much the Bills players respect Pettine during pregame warmups. The Browns’ assistant coach doesn’t expect there to be any pregame hugs, but the Bills respected their former defensive coordinator’s poise, his approach to coaching and appreciated the intricate knowledge he brought to them to help elevate their level of play.”

War of Words: Cleveland Browns’ Donte Whitner says he might be ‘in the heads’ of the Buffalo Bills (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Mike Pettine challenges Josh Gordon to be more aggressive in ‘going up and attacking’ contested balls (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Mike Pettine understands Josh Gordon feeling a cool reception by some Cleveland Browns, but ‘he’s well-liked, he’s come a long way’ (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Karlos Dansby on Josh Gordon feeling snubbed by some Browns: ‘You’re going to have that disconnect, you need to find yourself’ (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

As Jordan Cameron continues to practice, Mike Pettine considers him ‘day-to-day’: Cleveland Browns quick slants (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Whitner plays word games with Bills (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

Pettine downplays Manziel ‘altercation’ (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

Josh Gordon quickly adjusting after return (Willoughby News Herald)

Browns key Buffalo pass rush (Willoughby News Herald)

Dansby “close” to returning against Buffalo (Willoughby News Herald)

Browns believe in Gordon as player, person (Elyria Chronicle Telegram)

Brian Hoyer, Joe Thomas believe in Josh Gordon, understand why he felt people treated him differently during suspension (Elyria Chronicle Telegram)

Browns safety Donte Whitner unapologetic about feud with Bills: ‘The goal is to get them talking about things other than football’ (Akron Beacon Journal)

Bills receiver Sammy Watkins holds no grudge over Browns’ trade, strives for greatness (Akron Beacon Journal)

Josh Gordon says he felt some alienation while waiting out suspension (Akron Beacon Journal)

Keys to the game for Browns at Bills (Akron Beacon Journal)

Gordon says he felt alienated during suspension (AP)

Browns’ Gordon, Hoyer must get on same page (The Sports Xchange)

Gordon felt slighted during suspension (The Sports Xchange)

Josh Gordon felt disassociated (ESPN)

Browns get first close-up comparison of Bills WR Sammy Watkins v. CB Justin Gilbert on Sunday (ESPN Cleveland)

Tony Grossi’s Scouting Report: Buffalo Bills (ESPN Cleveland)

Whitner: Just words, nothing personal in spat with Buffalo (Fox Sports Ohio)

Browns’ Dansby aims for Sunday return (Fox Sports Ohio)

Browns S Donte Whitner Not Sorry For War Of Words With Sammy Watkins, Bills Fans (WKRK-FM)

Johnny Manziel’s Status Unchanged Following Incident Early Saturday (WKRK-FM)

Mike Pettine and the Browns gearing up for emotional game in Buffalo (ClevelandBrowns.com)

‘Whitner says he isn’t sorry.’

‘Thigpen who doubles as a return specialist has appeared in 36 NFL career games. The 28-year-old appeared in four games this year with Tampa Bay, and spent the previous two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.’

‘Buffalo allowed a season-low 218 total yards against the Jets, though, and increased its NFL-leading sack total to 46 with seven during its most-lopsided victory since a 38-0 rout of Indianapolis on Sept. 20, 1992.’

‘QB Kyle Orton has completed 156 straight passes without interception. Team record is 175 by Drew Bledsoe in 2002.’

‘Browns head coach Mike Pettine was the Bills defensive coordinator in 2013. Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil coached the Bills linebackers. Pettine has fond memories of his days with the Bills. He said six feet of snow piled up in his former neighborhood last week.’

‘Wednesday, the Bills claimed wide receiver Marcus Thigpen off waivers, and it looks as if that move is designed to get him deep on kickoffs, a role Goodwin has had when he’s been healthy, a further indication that Goodwin’s days in Buffalo could be numbered.’

‘”[The Toronto Bills comment] wasn’t excessive. It wasn’t a joke. I knew that it would get to them. I knew it would ruffle a feather. If they’re over there talking about this, maybe we are in their heads. Maybe I’m in their heads. Maybe. We don’t know, but the goal is to go 1-0, the goal is to get them talking about things other than football, and I guess that’s what they’re doing.”‘

‘The Bills (6-5) and Browns (7-4) are both in the midst of a high-traffic playoff race in the AFC, which makes Sunday’s conference clash a crucial one for both parties. The Bills haven’t won at Ralph Wilson Stadium since the October 19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.’

‘”Donte is a guy that likes to ruffle feathers. He found any way he could to try and ruffle Buffalo’s feathers, knowing he had to come up to us,” Jackson started. “That’s just him doing what he does, at the same time, I mean, it’s annoying. It’s just dumb for him to do, and talk about people like that, and talk about the city of Buffalo like that. But at the same time, you’ve just got to take it with a grain of salt and say it’s just some dude that’s being an idiot about some stuff.”‘

‘The team took the field with only two healthy players at the position, with both Chris Gragg and Lee Smith unable to participate. Gragg suffered a knee injury Monday night against the New York Jets, but a timetable for his return has yet to be revealed. Smith didn’t practice due to an illness. Without the duo, the Bills only had Scott Chandler and MarQueis Gray as their healthy options.’

‘There’s been writing that Marrone and his two organizational superiors, Doug Whaley and Russ Brandon, have butted heads. Could that be what happens in the natural order of things, a coach disagreeing with his front office? To me, of course. Could Brandon be frustrated that Marrone as a face of the organization struggles to explain, well, anything, and, further, makes Brandon look bad any time analytics gets mentioned? You bet.’

‘The Buffalo Bills also announced that the team has released DE Bryan Johnson.’