Archives for December 2016

'"Luckily I had a great football season, so we ended up making a highlight tape. In my high school, football wasn’t taken too serious. The head coach of the football team didn’t work at the school or anything. So we switched coaches going into my senior year.'

'Thomas isn’t a good left offensive tackle. He’s a great one. He is, arguably, one of the very best to play the position. And he has performed at that lofty level for a team with a 47-110 record since he arrived in Cleveland from Wisconsin as the third overall pick of the ’07 NFL Draft.'

'"Shovelers can shovel snow throughout the day on Saturday and into the night into Sunday if needed," the post said. The post said shovelers will be given breaks for lunch and dinner in a warming area and a complimentary Bills football game ticket will be given to those who shovel for four hours or longer.'

' I mean, what’s the risk? Missing the playoffs? Buffalo does that now with the efficiency of a Swiss watch. Alienating the fans? Check out the $6 tickets for the Browns and Dolphins games on StubHub for a gauge on December apathy.'

'Bills 30, Browns 10.'

'Do that for at least four hours and the Bills (6-7) will also provide a free ticket to Sunday's game. The Bills had to do this for last year's season finale, too. People are being asked to bring their own shovels, but that’s not mandatory. Participants may enter the stadium area off Abbott Road just north of the Team Store and proceed to the Jani-King office trailer east of Parking Lot 6 to register.'

'The Bills are asking shovelers to bring their own shovels, though shovels will be provided to those who do not have them. They will also be providing lunch and dinner breaks in a warming area through the day and night.'

'I'm taking the Browns, 23-13. The Browns could win if the Bills take a knee if they want Rex Ryan fired.'

'The Bills and Browns have shared several coaching connections over the years, including Rob Ryan, who served as the Browns defensive coordinator from 2009-10. Bills offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn served as Cleveland’s running backs coach from 2007-08. Chris Palmer, the Bills assistant head coach/ offense, was Cleveland’s head coach from 1999-00.'

'The Browns’ defense is currently ranked 31st in total defense, as it has allowed 396.9 yards per game — it is 17th in total passing defense (3,260 yards) and 31st in total rushing defense (1,900 yards), so if the Bills are going to break out of their offensive funk, the Browns might just be what the doctor ordered, especially for running back LeSean McCoy, who had just 27 yards on 12 attempts last week.'

'Taylor has made plays this season, but too often he's failed to make them with his arm. His 60.6 completion percentage is mediocre. He has 13 touchdown passes in the Bills' 13 games. That's not exactly what you want from a franchise quarterback.'

'It’s doesn’t get much lower for both struggling franchises than this: Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus this week guaranteed a Buffalo win. If that’s not the most hallow victory assurance ever uttered — what player on any other NFL team would feel the desperate need to do it? — then at least it’s emblematic of how far these two once-proud franchises have fallen.'

'While Buffalo is preparing to move on from Ryan, it is expected to retain its general manager Doug Whaley, who is expected to be given a chance to hire his third different head coach, after having a hand in the hirings of Ryan and former Bills head coach Doug Marrone. But the cycle of change in Buffalo is expected to continue.'

'The Bills have the advantage at almost every single position on the field. If they manage to lose to the Browns, who are clearly putting out a team that isn’t on the same level as the rest of the NFL — at home, no less — then that would be one of the most embarrassing home losses in several seasons. I expect the Bills, with the talent they have, to win the game handily.'

'According to a post on the Bills website, shovelers can help clear the stadium throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday (if needed). Hourly pay is ten dollars an hour, which is more than enough to buy a ticket to the Bills game on Sunday.'