Archives for March 2015

'The team is expected to do an extension that would provide a hefty payout of guaranteed money to Dareus, but would also allow the Bills to amortize those dollars to fit under their salary cap. The Bills reportedly are $5.28 million under the cap.'

'True to the breakfast theme, he urged the audience to keep a smile on their face when they're visiting someone like him in a hospital room. "The worst thing they can do is walk in with a frown," he said, adding "I feel pretty good."'

'The one area the Bills may have concern about signing Dareus to a mega-deal is his off-field issues that have come up. If they’re going to invest that type of money in him, it’s imperative they feel comfortable his troubles are behind him. Dareus was suspended twice by former head coach Doug Marrone for repeated tardiness at the end of 2013. Then, last offseason he was arrested twice. The case of the second arrest (related to street racing) is still pending in Hamburg.'

'What happens on the field will ultimately assess the wisdom of hiring Rex Ryan, trading for LeSean McCoy, retaining Jerry Hughes and the free agent signings of Charles Clay, Percy Harvin, Jerome Felton and Richie Incognito. But what’s certain is, those moves clearly inspired season ticket sales.'

'I’ll stick with what I just wrote and say they have, in my estimation, a 25% chance of opening at New England. If the Pats draw an opponent other than the Bills or Jets (like Pittsburgh), I think Rex Ryan facing his old Jets team is definitely up there on the possibility list. It could even be one of the two Monday Night games opening weekend.'

'“Obviously with where we are right now at better than 52-thousand the franchise record is certainly within our sights,” said team President Russ Brandon. “There is a lot of work left to be done. We certainly have points coming up here with the draft, players coming back for OTAs and minicamps and the schedule release, which will be factors when fans consider their choices. We obviously have a great bundle of benefits that come with purchasing season tickets, starting with price and value so we’re certainly going to take a run at it.”'

'“I think we invigorated the offense,” General Manager Doug Whaley said. “We’ve set it up where we can go anywhere in the draft just about and be happy with who we get. Because, if you look at it, in the second and third round, those guys are going to contribute, but besides guard, there’s not too many starting positions open.'

'With more than four months of selling to go, they have a realistic shot at beating the franchise record of 57,132 set in 1992, the third season of the Bills’ four-year Super Bowl run.'

'Ed Rutkowski, a former Bill and Erie County executive, is president of the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation. The group was founded in 1999 and includes past Bills players who have left an imprint on society during their football careers and want to continue to help their community.'

'While the goal was more people in the seats, the NFL’s blackout rule did a lot more harm than good in recent years. Loyal fans, many of whom went to games each fall, were shut out, while the Bills’ lack of TV time hindered the team’s quest for regional expansion, especially in places like central New York. It’s hard to promote a team that fans can’t see play each Sunday. Only the Bills Radio Network benefited.'

'The outpouring of emotion from Philadelphia fans when LeSean McCoy was traded to Buffalo shows how the talented running back was valued in the “City of Brotherly Love.” McCoy will lead his new team to Lincoln Financial Field for just the second time in Bills franchise history. The Bills lost in their only other regular season appearance at “the Linc” in the season finale in 2007.'

'Here's a roundup of where the Bills have been and who they have visited with. This list will be updated leading up to draft night.'

'However, the coach who might very well be the happiest with the recent acquisition of a former Bill is Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints. Payton couldn’t say enough good things about running back C.J. Spiller, whom the Saints signed as a free agent.'

'The issue is figuring out another way to attempt an extra point or go for a two-point conversion besides the one that has been in place for many years: lining up at the 2-yard line.'

'A roll call: Rex Ryan hired as coach, Jerry Hughes re-signed, LeSean McCoy and Matt Cassel acquired in trades, Richie Incognito, Jerome Felton, and Charles Clay brought aboard via free agency, ticket sales pacing at a near record level, widespread praise for the stadium renovation, and the franchise not only thriving under the new ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula, but safely secure right where it belongs, possibly for generations to come.'