Archives for December 2015

'"Kim (Pegula), Russ (Brandon), and I look forward to working and collaborating with Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan in forming a winning future for the organization. Our management team and coaching staff are very capable and work well together. This stable foundation is necessary to achieve long-term success in the NFL."'

'"That's just me, but sometimes I wish I just … because I think, when you see the impact it has … my heart was in the right place. I thought I'm telling the truth. I never look at it as, 'What if this doesn't go exactly the way I would expect it to go?' Well, I'm seeing it right now. I just think, when I'm like, 'Hey, we're gonna be in the playoffs.' I just honestly, 100 percent believed that. I absolutely did, without question."'

'One of the biggest disappointments has been the Bills' defense, which ranks 16th in points allowed per game (22.8) and 20th in yards allowed (360.1) despite committing $42.6 million to the defensive line alone this season – that equated to 29.2 percent of the salary cap entering the season.'

'That hype was fueled, in part, by Ryan saying in January, upon being hired, that the Bills "[were] going" to the playoffs. On Wednesday Ryan said his heart was in the right place when he made his prediction, but as for his mouth … "The part about making the boasts and all that," a reflective Ryan said Wednesday, "… maybe I've learned that maybe it's not the smartest thing."'

'While Ryan's job security was never in question, there was plenty of speculation that Whaley could be on the hot seat. Earlier this month, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora wrote that Whaley, who was nearly let go a year ago, was at odds with Ryan's coaching staff over several key issues and "a showdown between him and Ryan's assistants is likely looming."'

'“Number one it’s not the criticism that I take,” he said. “It’s the criticism that our team takes that bothers me because…and the reason I say that is these guys play hard, man, and they prepare. It just hasn’t gone right. Hasn’t gone the way we wanted it go. But I’m the guy that should be criticized, that’s fine. But when it goes over into the team, that way…you know our fans, look, they’re frustrated. They believe like I did and I love the fact they believed in me. There’s no question about that. I feel bad that I didn’t deliver, that’s how I look at it. There’s no question about it.”'

'“He’s been awesome,” said offensive coordinator Greg Roman. “I said the other day to the team is all he does is come in and work hard, keep his mouth shut, learn a lot of stuff in a short amount of time and then go out perform brilliantly really. This guy has been nothing but impressive in meetings behind the scenes. In practice he’s just 100 miles per hour and full speed mentally all the time.”'

'But most Bills fans would prefer a Buffalo win this Sunday regardless of their affection for Fitzpatrick. He’s been outstanding since the Bills beat the Jets seven weeks ago. In New York’s five game win streak, Fitzpatrick has completed 65-percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and just one interception. He’s found his comfort zone with receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker during that streak.'

'“Kim, Russ and I look forward to working and collaborating with Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan in forming a winning future for the organization. Our management team and coaching staff are very capable and work well together. This stable foundation is necessary to achieve long term success in the NFL.”'

'Down to three healthy corners after Ron Brooks was moved to injured reserve Tuesday, Buffalo made use of their two open roster spots to fortify their cornerback position. The Bills called up CBs Bud Noel and Sammy Seamster from their practice squad Wednesday.'

'“I’ve always had this confidence, it was the matter of opportunity and the Bills gave me a hell of an opportunity,” Gillislee said after Sunday’s win, in which he made his first career start in place of the injured McCoy. “I’m taking advantage of it.”'

'“I’d say disappointment but not a disaster. I was a Pittsburgh Pirate fan so I understand the long-suffering playoff drought. But if you strip the 16 seasons away and the logo off the helmet, you have a team with the possibility and I stress possibility of the quarterback in the future. You have a No. 1-rated rushing offense. You have a lot of talent on offense. And offensively, you went from 28th to 13th so you have to give great credit to the offensive coordinator Greg Roman. I personally don’t understand why people think I wouldn’t be happy with that.'

'Donahoe replaces Ed Marynowitz, the Eagles' vice president of player personnel. Marynowitz was hand-picked by Kelly to run the Eagles' personnel department, but it was the coach who had final say on player acquisitions. Kelly's moves in that role have been nothing short of disastrous. After consecutive 10-6 seasons to start his NFL career, the Eagles have fallen to 6-9 this season. One of those wins came against the Bills in Week 14, a damaging blow to Buffalo's playoff hopes.'

'The Pegulas now own two franchises going nowhere rather than just one.'

'True, the Bills don't want to lose their quarterback to a significant injury in a game that, effectively, means nothing. But if we're talking big picture, the Bills should not hold back Taylor at all. There are things Taylor has not done with consistency — throw over the middle of the field, hit receivers on intermediate timing routes. But this element of his game is rare, is something the Bills should accentuate and encourage. While Buffalo should want him sliding a bit more, coaches should not discourage Taylor from running at all. He dazzles in the open field. He brings the belief that any third down conversion is possible because of his legs.'