Archives for October 2015

'The Patriots are 3-0 in the AFC East, but who, with even an ounce of objectivity, doesn’t think they’ll go 6-0 against their division opponents? Who doesn’t think the Pats have much larger fish to fry than the Fish or the Bills or the Jets? Who doesn’t see them finishing 19-0, which just so happened to be the halftime score Thursday night, and hoisting a fifth Lombardi Trophy in February?'

'Less publicized, but still very much real, have been the struggles of the team’s starting linebackers – particularly every-down players Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown.'

'They’re paying Rex around $5.5 million a year over five. The Pegulas have piles of money, but they’re not going to eat that sort of cash. Besides, Terry isn’t one to make hasty decisions about his employees. He proved that when he stuck with Darcy Regier as the Sabres’ general manager well beyond his expiration date.'

'Disrupt? Unify? Or, maybe, just create another avenue to make more money for the money-making machine that is the NFL.'

'When the Bills and Erie County selected a 113-acre tract of land off Abbott Road, an area of overgrown farmland and a few homes, the Sheldon Family Cemetery was discovered. A dozen marked graves revealed that the Sheldons, who settled in the area in 1805, began burying their dead in the plot near Gate 7 in the 1830s (an infant son, John, 3 weeks old was the first) right up through the 1940s.'

'A teaser video released by the NFL Network features upcoming matchups that will debut new Nike jerseys on "TNF."'

'The defense has a whole has been criticized. It hasn't been one of the best in the NFL. They need to improve. I think McKelvin's return will play a bigger role then many think.'

'"I almost have to bite my tongue every time a customer comes in and I'm wearing a Bills hoodie, and they ask me, 'Are you still wearing that?'" said Campbell, who works at a Buffalo-area car dealership.'

'Over the final half of the season last year Buffalo’s run defense slipped noticeably. In the final seven games of 2014 the Bills gave up 120 rushing yards a game to the tune of 4.6 yards per carry. Those figures haven’t repeated themselves in 2015. The Bills have been a top five unit in run defense for the entire season, and currently rank fifth in the NFL allowing just under 92 yards per game.'

'“He’s a guy who, I can see sometimes there’s a little frustration on his face when things aren’t going well," Thomas said. "But mentally, he’s fine. Everybody can go through a little mental frustration on the field, in practice and it might look like he doesn’t care or whatever, but he cares. He cares a lot about this football team and he cares a lot about the players on this team.'

'So what’s gone wrong? Runs that go nowhere are a good place to start. The Bills have been “stuffed,” meaning a run has gone for no gain or negative yardage, on 24 percent of their carries, a figure that ranks 26th in the NFL, according to Football Outsiders.'

'Simply, you have to ignore the trolls. Is Watkins frustrated? Yes. Were some tweets directed his way unreasonable? Yeah. But you have to ignore them. Watkins snapped and, naturally, the vitriol heightened even more.'

'"Even if your grandparents are having a tough time, go in (to your visit with them) with the attitude that you’re going to make their day better," Kelly said.'

'Who’s the best QB of all time? After throwing out a few names, Kelly expressed how great he thinks Patriots star Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are, saying they’re both friends. As for the question: “Right now, unfortunately for the Buffalo Bills it’s Tom Brady. I wish he’d retire soon,” Kelly said before joking, “if he plays 10 more years I may have to break his leg.”'

'Egner, 53, will guide the foundation as it distributes $1.2 billion to eligible nonprofits over the next 20 years,Mary M. Wilson, wife of Ralph C. Wilson Jr., said on Thursday.'