Archives for March 2015

'It's not right that people who pay cable and satellite TV fees should be denied the local NFL game, because everybody is paying for it one way or the other. Yes, the NFL is the only sports league that offers its games over free network TV. But again, who still watches three channels with rabbit ears?'

'The statue will be based on a photo of Wilson taken with Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas on the sidelines of the Bills' 30-27 victory over the Jets in 1990. Wilson, who owned the Bills for 54 years, led the franchise to two American Football League Championships and four consecutive Super Bowls. His death led to an emotional year as the team transitioned to new ownership.'

'The Bills are now left with the same offensive line as a year ago plus Incognito. Ryan mentioned the possibility of having Seantrel Henderson play left tackle and Cordy Glenn switch to right tackle, while Whaley expressed some level of optimism in guard Chris Williams, who is returning from injury. The Bills still have time to address the line, but Whaley clearly seems disappointed that Buffalo wasn't able to do more.'

'The decision to commemorate the team's founder and Pro Football Hall of Famer member was the brainchild of new Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, and Wilson's widow, Mary, the team announced Wednesday. The statue will serve as a centerpiece in a newly established Founder's Plaza at Ralph Wilson Stadium.'

'"It just seems so fitting to honor Ralph with a statue in Founder’s Plaza, where fans will have the opportunity to interact and pose for photos. Ralph was so approachable and he absolutely loved the fans and he would have been honored and humbled to stand among them for all-time,” said Wilson. “I think everyone will appreciate the detail in the statue, even to the point that it replicates what Ralph wore to the stadium on game days, and I want to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for honoring Ralph in this special way.”'

'“Mr. Wilson was an icon in both the professional football world and in the Western New York community,” said Bills Owner Kim Pegula. “This is our opportunity to honor his legacy and to allow our fans to share their gameday experience with the man who brought professional football to Buffalo.”'

'“I felt I was one of their guys from the very second I stepped on the plane and just getting the chance to meet and talk with the Pegulas, they’re such down to earth people,” said Clay. “Just getting the chance to meet with them and to fly up with Rex (Ryan) and Greg Roman and Tony Sparano Jr. and just having the chance to talk with them, I was very impressed. They had me excited on the plane before I even got to Buffalo. I was about ready to sign before I even got there, so I was very excited.”'

'So my plea to the NFL is this – respect me. I know I'm not a multi-million dollar sponsor of the league like a beer or car company, I'm not a guy who has a luxury box at the stadium, I'm not even a season ticket holder, but I am a guy who spends more on the NFL than most. I don't expect to be treated like a VIP, but in the grand scheme of things I am important to the NFL economy – without people like me your TV audience is comprised of people who watch for free and make large distribution contracts difficult if not impossible. If I pay for content on Sunday Ticket I expect to be able to see my games – ALL of my Sunday games – on something better than a low resolution, overmaxed video stream. Respect me as a fan that cares more than most and contributes monetarily more than most. If you take fans like me for granted you're losing some of your best, and we both deserve better than that.'

'“To put it bluntly, everybody’s celebrating our victories, but we’ve had some losses in this free agency” period “and it happened to be on the offensive line,” General Manager Doug Whaley said Tuesday during the NFL meeting here. “We had targeted two guys, and we just couldn’t get them. Unfortunately for us, it looks like we didn’t try, but we did try and just weren’t successful.”'

'“I went out to dinner with LeSean McCoy and his mom and dad, brother,” he said. “I took my two kids with me; my wife, Kim, was out of town. When the news of the trade first broke, he was obviously shocked and the rumors were floating around he wasn’t happy” with the trade to Buffalo. “Well, when I shook his hand, he was commenting on the fact that he was shocked that he was traded. I said, ‘You were shocked? We were more shocked than you were. We obviously could use some help in our backfield’ and getting McCoy ‘was like filling up the Grand Canyon.’ ”'

'“It was huge. It goes to show how much they actually value me,” Clay said Tuesday, speaking with Western New York reporters on a conference call. “I felt like I was one of those guys from the very second I stepped on the plane. Just getting the chance to meet and talk with the Pegulas, such down-to-earth people."'

'The source also said that the decision to reject the opportunity was made by team co-owners Terry and Kim Pegula.'

'The Obama administration makes the argument that tax-exempt bond financing should be for the public good and not for private-sector owners of professional sports teams. We agree. Except that there is a public benefit from such financing.'

'“From the time I stepped on the plane, I felt like I was one of those guys,” Clay said of the private jet owners Terry and Kim Pegula escorted him in from Miami to Buffalo and back. “Getting the chance to meet and talk to the Pegulas, down to earth people, and to meet them and fly up with Rex (Ryan) and Greg Roman, Tony Sparano Jr., I was very impressed. They had me excited when I was on the plane. It goes to show how much they actually value me.”'

'"I think that ratchets up the competitive juices," Pettine said when asked at the AFC coaches breakfast Tuesday about the shared practices.'