Archives for September 2015

'“I always did ‘Punt, Pass & Kick’ growing up,” Gronkowski said Thursday. “That was my memory of growing up – halftime, I was like 13 years old, right around that age, you get to throw your pass as far as you can in front of the crowd. That was the memory I still remember, doing that, ‘Punt, Pass & Kick’ as a kid.”'

'“So he’s a tough guy to prepare for just because he can do so many things on the field. I think we’ve got to recognize and realize the challenge and be ready to stop the different things he can do well.”'

'“Obviously you don’t just put one guy on this guy,” Ryan said. “That has been proven. I will say this though — it is better to put one guy on him than nobody on him. This just in.”'

'Chandler expects a challenge from Buffalo’s front seven. “They’ve been doing it a long time and they do it well,” he said. “The ends can rush and the d-tackles make it tough on the guys inside, too, so we’re going to have to do a good job handling those guys.”'

'“What New England needs to do is to test the run defense of Buffalo, whether it’s via LeGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis or some other back. Rex loves to put pressure on offenses, but a good and consistent run game will keep him on his toes. For him this weekend, the key is having two good man-cover corners. Look for Brady to test them in the early going to see what he can and can’t do. Oh, and by the way? New England has a tight end that gives everyone fits. If he’s left alone like we saw last week, it’ll be a long day for Buffalo.”'

'Now, as he prepares for Sunday's showdown with the New England Patriots, we're looking back at Ryan's greatest hits since blowing into Buffalo – a pattern of IDGAF behavior that proves while his team may have changed, Rex most certainly hasn't.'

'Starting safety Corey Graham is scheduled to have tests Friday to determine whether he'll be cleared to play after sustaining a concussion last weekend.'

'"I don' t even want to think that way, but yeah, it would be definitely (be Williams)," Ryan said. "But like I said, I' m not giving up on McCoy playing.'

'Patriots 23-19.'

'One of the problems teams face when trying to cover Gronkowski is that the patriots line him up all over the field, trying to create mismatches of their own. Last week against the Steelers, New England opened the game with six straight plays from a four or five-wide spread formation, and Gronkowski (#87 in diagrams) lined up in all different spot. On the line, split out wide, and in the slot. On the very first play from scrimmage, Gronkowski lined up in the backfield next to QB Tom Brady, then motioned to the slot on the left.'

'Wide receiver Percy Harvin was a full participant Thursday, while wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and linebacker Tony Steward were both still out of practice dealing with injuries. Neither has practiced since the team’s third preseason game.'

'McCoy, according to head coach Rex Ryan, felt some soreness in the hamstring that has been injured since mid-August, and the team elected to pull him from practice because of it. McCoy mentioned earlier in the week that he didn't feel he was 100-percent in the game against the Indianapolis Colts.'

The 12th man will give the Bills a huge advantage in this game and they will need them as Tom Brady is the great equalizer. The Bills have a new attitude and they now feel they deserve to be on the same field with the Patriots. This game will go a long way in seeing if this is a new era or the same old Bills. I think they figure out a way to pull it out: Bills 24, Patriots 21

'In Week 1, the Bills tossed a variety of eccentric looks and exotic pressures at Andrew Luck to disrupt his timing and rhythm from the pocket. From simple blitzes from a base 4-3 alignment to double-A-gap pressures and overload blitzes from sub-package fronts, the Bills attacked the three-time Pro Bowler from every angle throughout the game. The Bills' "psycho" look, which features seven defenders within 5 yards of the ball in a "stand up" position, leads to frenetic pressure. With Luck and center Khaled Holmes (a third-year pro) unable to consistently identify the Mike linebacker while setting the pass protection, Ryan's clever scheming resulted in a few clean shots on the quarterback. Given the impact of sacks and hits on a quarterback's internal clock, it is no coincidence Luck was off his game.'

Bravado aside, Rex Ryan knows what he’s up against (Boston Globe)

The evidence is clear, Bill Belichick’s brilliance is unmatched (Boston Globe)

Patriots bracing for a barrage of Bills blitzes (Boston Globe)

Upbeat Tom Brady weighs in on Rex Ryan and Donald Trump (Boston Globe)

NFL allows Patriots to reinstate suspended employees (Boston Globe)

Dion Lewis not just a third-down threat for Patriots (Boston Herald)

Patriots won't take Rex Ryan's bait (Boston Herald)

Bill Belichick will be Tyrod Taylor's biggest test (Boston Herald)

Bills pressure nothing new for Tom Brady (Boston Herald)

Patriots get equipment guys back (Boston Herald)

With an 11-2 record in Buffalo, Brady aims to keep good times rolling (Providence Journal)

Belichick's made an art form of revealing nothing (Providence Journal)

NFL reinstates John Jastremski and Jim McNally (Providence Journal)

Patriots won't be buffaloed by Ryan or Bills' banter (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Rex Ryan hopes his team will do his talking for him (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Rex Ryan says Dion Lewis is 'no Jim Nance (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Tom Brady knows Bills will put forth challenge (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

NFL says Deflategate duo John Jastremski, Jim McNally can return (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Rex Ryan on Bills' trash talk to Patriots: 'I want our players to be themselves' (Springfield Republican)

Rex Ryan won't take the Steelers' approach, will have 'at least somebody' covering Rob Gronkowski (Springfield Republican)

Rex Ryan not backing off Dion Lewis comment, 'all nervous' about facing New England Patriots RB (Springfield Republican)

Tom Brady: Rex Ryan's Buffalo Bills defense 'pushed around' rival Indianapolis Colts (Springfield Republican)

CB Stephon Gilmore wants Buffalo Bills' hardest job vs. Patriots: 'I hope I get Gronk' in coverage (Springfield Republican)

Rex Ryan doesn't have Tom Brady's number, but Patriots QB's stats are slightly worse vs. Ryan defenses (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots trade: Five things to know about WR Keshawn Martin (Springfield Republican)

Deflategate is done: Jim McNally, John Jastremski granted permission to return to New England Patriots (Springfield Republican)

Tom Brady determined to quiet Buffalo's fans (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills' Ryan says, 'We fear nobody' (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills a little quick to flex muscles, open mouths (Manchester Union Leader)

Bills won’t retreat quietly (Nashua Telegraph)

Brady can hear it coming (Lowell Sun)

Brady: "All football, it's been great." (AP)

Brady says he's supporting Trump for president (AP)

2 Patriots employees reinstated by NFL (AP)

Patriots facing old foe in Ryan (The Sports Xchange)

Patriots add KR Martin in trade with Texans (The Sports Xchange)

Patriots allowed to reinstate banned Deflategate staffers (The Sports Xchange)

Ryan: 'I've never discredited' the Patriots' success (CSN New England)

Brady: 'It's a great feeling to shut everyone up' (CSN New England)

Ryan: Bills need strength in numbers to stop 'The Gronk' (CSN New England)

Ryan’s mouth overshadows the fact he’s a solid coach (CSN New England)

Big Play Breakdown: Belichick explains Bills 'unusual looks (CSN New England)

Ryan: 'I've never discredited' the Patriots' success (CSN New England)

Bills offense will keep the Patriots busy (CSN New England)

Bills more than just bluster (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Press Conference and Conference Call Transcripts (Patriots.com)

Tom Brady Media Availability Transcript (Patriots.com)

Rex Ryan and Kyle Williams Conference Call Transcripts (Patriots.com)

Presser Points – Bill Belichick (Patriots.com)

Presser Points – Tom Brady (Patriots.com)

Patriots re-sign LB Dekoda Watson; Make practice squad changes (Patriots.com)

Patriots – Bills Injury Report (Patriots.com)