‘As they sat in a dispirited halftime locker room, many of his teammates figured the team’s two-year Super Bowl run was likely coming to an end. “I remember walking in, thinking, ‘I bet my wife has left the stadium and she’s packing for the offseason,’ ” said Mark Pike, the former special teams ace.’
Archives for January 2018
Meet the Bills fan who ignited wave of donations to Andy Dalton’s foundation
‘He named his dog, a pug called Ralph, after the Bills’ founding owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr.’
John Murphy ready for first playoff game as play-by-play announcer
‘”In some cases, I thought media around here began to celebrate: ‘Who is your favorite player in the drought?’ Who is the best quarterback in the drought?’ I was like, this is not one block of time … I was frustrated but I never looked at it like this is never going to end. Because several times over the 17 seasons, I thought this could be headed in the right direction and it got close a couple of times.”‘
Local stations head to Jacksonville for expanded Bills coverage
‘The sports reporters and anchors being sent to Florida all have something in common that illustrates how long it has been since the Bills made the postseason and how much turnover there has been in sports departments here since the drought started in 2000: None of them has covered a Bills playoff game because none of them was on the air locally on Jan. 8, 2000, when the Bills had their last playoff game. And almost all of them weren’t even old enough to be in broadcasting back then.’
Former Bills coach Doug Marrone says his departure from Buffalo is old news and he has moved on
‘“They’re where they want to be, and I’m where I want to be,” Marrone continued. “I’m focused on my team and this game. That’s where my focus is. It’s not what’s gone on in my past, whether it be Buffalo or Syracuse or New Orleans or the Jets or wherever I may have been.”’
LeSean McCoy sits out practice, but is holding out hope he can play
‘Coach Sean McDermott continues to be nebulous about McCoy’s status, saying it will be a game-time decision on whether he dresses or not. On Thursday, McDermott said it seems McCoy is moving in the right direction, so, “We’ll just see how he does.”’
The Buffalo Bills don’t carry our name, but they ARE Rochester’s team
‘We think our team will win, because it is impossible for us not to believe in them. It is the only option that doesn’t crush our spirits – which have been extraordinarily high since that spectacular moment on New Year’s Eve. You know, the one where our second favorite team, the Cincinnati Bengals, spent the last minute of their last game scoring The Touchdown that changed everything.’
ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic Jr. wants to join the Bills Mafia
‘”The most famous thing and most well-known thing about the Buffalo Bills has been their fans for this run of time,” said Golic. “In a place as cold and as isolated as Buffalo, these people have warmed our hearts and run screaming and burning into the minds of Americans everywhere each and every weekend. I have seen in videos on the internet, the most unspeakable horrors in Buffalo Bills pre-game parking lots. I have seen the creation of new life and I have seen the destruction of tables and port-a-johns. All of it, in the service of supporting a team that, until now, has not repaid the service of their fans.”‘
What Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy said about his ankle injury
‘”I’m definitely happy how things are working out so far. But I have a lot more room for improvement. Especially where I want to be at. I know my body. Especially the way I play it’s more cutting than running. So I’m just trying to get better.”‘
What Marcell Dareus said about watching Kyle Williams, Buffalo Bills celebrate playoffs
‘”It’s not about me not experiencing it and them experiencing it,” he added. “I’m just really happy that it came. The timing? Hey, it is what it is. It’s a business. That’s how it goes. I’m just happy they got over the hump. I’m happy for the guys that have been there and fighting with me to get things going to where it is now and get the opportunity to get in the playoffs.”‘
How much will Bills players earn for winning playoff game?
‘If the Bills go one and done and lose Sunday afternoon at Jacksonville, players still walk away with $26,000. If the Bills knock off former coach Doug Marrone and the Jaguars, advancing to the divisional round, players will earn an extra $28,000 for facing the New England Patriots. That means if the Bills win, players are guaranteed at least $54,000.’
Can Buffalo Bills’ Tyrod Taylor elude Jaguars pass rush, and 7 more things to watch
‘The Jaguars have a talented defense that can get after the quarterback. Jacksonville’s defense recorded 55 sacks during the regular season and they’ll look to pressure Tyrod Taylor on Sunday. Luckily for the Bills, Taylor is one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the NFL. If he can avoid the Jaguars’ pass rush, a play may develop down the field or Taylor may find open space to run. Not taking sacks is an important key for Taylor and the Bills offense.’
Buffalo Bills players focused on Jacksonville playoff game despite distractions
‘There is the former coach Doug Marrone, who left Buffalo, and NFL coaching, for a spell thanks to a loophole in his contract. There is Marcell Dareus who was traded during the season in what could be seen as a slap in his face. Then there is Bills RB LeSean McCoy, out of practice, not available for interviews on media day, and as DE Eric Wood simply explained, “Yeah, he’s our best player.”’
David Bruce: Best Bills moment in 18 years
‘These Bills love long odds. They only had a 17 percent chance of making the playoffs when Sunday’s games started, and look where they are now.’
Outpouring from Buffalo shows power of sport
‘It’s refreshing in these cynical times to see the power of sports fanaticism result in a magnanimous outpouring that benefitted people outside their own community. The same can be said for the positive use of social media, too often the domain of bullies and trolls.’