Archives for December 2014

‘Manhertz comes to the Bills from the basketball program at Canisius College. He played for the Golden Griffins from 2010-2014, averaging 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds and leading the team in rebounding for three straight years. Over his final three seasons, the three-time team captain started in 96 of the 98 games in which he played. He is a native of New York, NY and is 22.’

‘The last time the Bills played the Cowboys at home was that unforgettable Monday Night Football event at the Ralph. Though we don’t want to reopen old wounds in talking about the final few seconds of the game, we can certainly reflect about what a wildly exciting game it was. With the Cowboys heading back to Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2015, who knows if the scheduling Gods will put the matchup under the primetime lights once again. Monday Night Football back in Buffalo – wouldn’t that be great?’

‘Quarterbacks the Bills could look to via trade are Washington’s Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins, Chicago’s Jay Cutler, or Philadelphia’s Nick Foles. Among free-agent possibilities are Philadelphia’s Mark Sanchez, Cleveland’s Brian Hoyer, Houston’s Ryan Mallett, Tennessee’s Jake Locker, Tampa Bay’s Josh McCown, and the Jets’ Michael Vick.’

‘”I wouldn’t say it’s disappointing. It’s something that we’re going to have to see,” Whaley said. “He did take a little of a regression back, but we’ve also seen some progression in what he’s been doing at practice. So it’s to be determined. And again, we’re going to do our due diligence and leave every option open at that position.”‘

‘However, league sources familiar with the situation said the clause was included when the Bills hired Marrone in 2013 as a safeguard because of the prospect of the team being sold, which happened when Terry and Kim Pegula bought the franchise last October. If Marrone was unhappy with the new ownership, or anything else, he would be free to seek employment elsewhere after his second season at the helm.’

‘But overall, Orton was an uninspiring presence, an ordinary player whose signature moment was sliding 2 yards short of the first down on third-and-1 in the loss in Denver, the Bills’ biggest game in a decade.’

‘As for Marrone, it was reported that he has a three-day window to opt out of his contract with the Bills, and if he does, he would be paid in full for the 2015 season even if he doesn’t coach the team. Apparently, the clause was written into his contract in the event team owner Ralph Wilson passed away, and a new owner came in and wanted to make changes. Of course Wilson did pass away March 25, and Terry and Kim Pegula took control of the team in October.’

‘This was a team that would have been in the playoffs had it received competent quarterback play this season. The defense was tremendous, and the special teams were vastly improved, but the offense was pathetic at times, and it extended from the quarterbacks, to the running backs, to the offensive line. I’ll give the receivers a pass because you can’t catch what you can’t physically catch.’

‘Orton’s retirement takes him out of the equation, but where Buffalo goes next is uncertain. It’s clear coach Doug Marrone has lost faith in Manuel, the free agent market is filled with mediocrity, and the Bills don’t have a first-round draft pick in 2015.’

‘And call it a day he did. Shortly after noon, Orton drove away from One Bills Drive with a smile on his face. A few hours later, Whaley and Marrone were answering questions from reporters. The quarterback situation was the focal point of the press conference, and a player they thought would be in their plans had unexpectedly called it quits a few hours earlier.’

‘”I always say it’s a Buffalo Bills pick,” Bills general manager Doug Whaley said. “You guys can assign blame wherever you want but when we’re in draft meetings it is a consensus recommendation for our whole organization of where this guy’s valued and where we should pick him in the draft.”‘

‘”They gave me the opportunity to play here and not too many places would,” Hughes said. “I owe the Buffalo Bills organization everything really for that opportunity.”‘

‘”He came to work and prepared every day just as hard as he did at the beginning. As far as thinking that he had already clocked out or anything like that, that’s not even in my mind. I’ve watched how he worked, how he prepared every day, and he did everything he could to come out and prepare himself to get a win.”‘

‘”There was a lot of gains, a lot of things to take away from what Kyle did, as far as, you know, throwing the ball and just his overall command of the offense,” Manuel said. “Also seeing the other young receivers and backs grow, that was really good to see from the sideline. I think we’re all going to continue to grow together.”‘

‘”I just have been going at it for 10 years and it’s just a family decision and I’ve decided to get home and be a dad and call it a day,” Orton said in a news release.’