‘“We wanted to start a foundation to give back to our communities back home in Louisiana,” Mills said of himself and his wife, who grew up in the neighboring parish. “The kids there don’t get that many different opportunities to increase their knowledge by experiencing new things.”’
Archives for December 7, 2018
Bills Notebook: Kelvin Benjamin signs with Chiefs
‘Benjamin, 27, was released by the Bills on Tuesday after a disappointing 12 games during which he made 23 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin went unclaimed on waivers after being released, with no team wanting to pick up the remainder of his $8.5 million base salary. He goes from the league’s No. 31-ranked passing attack to the high-powered Chiefs, who lead the NFL in scoring and have the third-ranked passing attack led by an MVP candidate in Patrick Mahomes.’
Mark Gaughan’s X’s and O’s Column: There’s no cheap deep against Bills’ secondary
‘Nobody is defending the deep secondary quite like Hyde and the Bills. Buffalo ranks No. 1 in the NFL in pass defense, giving up only 187 yards a game. The Bills have allowed the fewest passes of 40-plus yards in the league (one). They’ve allowed the fewest passes of 20 or more yards in the league (27).’
How we see it: Bills-Jets predictions for Week 14
‘Darnold will have some rust in his first game back, and will likely struggle against a solid defense. Bills, 30-17.’
View from Vegas: Penalties make Bills hard to trust as favorite
‘Rookie QB Sam Darnold is expected back to match passes with Allen. The key, though, will be the Bills’ discipline as they are the league’s second-most penalized team with 108. Their 13 penalties for 120 yards in the loss to the Dolphins last week proved costly. With that, we can’t trust them laying points here today.’
Voice of the fan: Josh Allen makes the game fun to watch
‘Sure, games are nerve-wracking and the team has holes. But good things can happen at any time, you feel ’em coming, you almost expect them. It’s a completely different feeling watching, attending or debating the game before, during and after it. Josh Allen has just done that for the Bills.’
Editorial: Smart start on stadiums, though more public involvement would help
‘We’ve said in this space before that a new stadium, while no small undertaking, is a price worth paying to keep the Bills here. When founding owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. was dissatisfied with War Memorial Stadium in the late 1960s, he listened to overtures from Seattle, Memphis and Tampa about moving the team. After Wilson died in 2014, there were fears about a new owner taking the franchise elsewhere.’
After rough rookie season, Zay Jones grows into role as Buffalo Bills’ top receiver
‘Yeah, it was quite a 16-month period between being picked 37th overall in the NFL Draft, to having a rough first season on the field, to two off-season surgeries, to getting arrested, to missing all of the Bills’ off-season program as he tried to get his body and mind right.’
Is Bills OC Brian Daboll a candidate for Green Bay Packers head coaching job?
‘Buffalo’s offense is currently 31st in points (14.8), passing yards (164.6) and total yards (285.7). This doesn’t all fall on Daboll when you consider that Buffalo has played multiple quarterbacks this season and the unit lacks talent across the board. Perhaps other teams will take this into consideration when they’re looking for a new head coach.’
What Bills’ Josh Allen and Jets’ Sam Darnold said about first showdown
‘”You could say (we talked about playing each other), especially after draft night,” Allen said. “We met up and got to hang out after everything kind of settled down. Obviously, being in the same division, you’re going to see each other twice a year. We’re excited for it and we hope this is a matchup for a long time, at least I do. I want to be here for as long as I can be and as long as I can play football. This is where I want to be.”‘
Kansas City Chiefs sign former Buffalo Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin
‘Benjamin joins the NFL’s third-ranked offense and gets to play with touchdown machine Patrick Mahomes, whose 41 passing scores lead the league.’
Friday’s New York Coverage
Why Jets QB Sam Darnold will start vs. Josh Allen, Bills (New York Daily News)
Mehta: Inside look at Jets GM Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles’ eroding relationship (New York Daily News)
Jets can finally stop with that ridiculous playoff talk (New York Post)
Sam Darnold can add check to development bucket list vs. Bills (New York Post)
Isaiah Crowell’s status vs. Bills in doubt (New York Post)
Jets coach Todd Bowles only focused on Bills, not his future (Newsday)
Jets offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates turns the page (Newsday)
Might Jets’ Sam Darnold’s timing be disrupted when he returns from 3-game absence at Bills? (Newark Star Ledger)
With Jets’ Sam Darnold set to return at Bills, here are 10 things he must do to finish 2018 strong (Newark Star Ledger)
Jets’ Jamal Adams: ‘It’s personal’ against Bills after blowout loss in last meeting (Newark Star Ledger)
Jets-Bills Week 14 injury report, including Sam Darnold, Robby Anderson, Isaiah Crowell (Newark Star Ledger)
Jets’ Jamal Adams on rematch with Bills: ‘It’s personal … we don’t like them’ (Bergen Record)
Why the NY Jets offense has been historically bad this season (Bergen Record)
Jets’ struggling offense sputtering to finish under Bates (AP)
Jets officially eliminated from playoffs after Titans’ Thursday night win (SportsNet New York)
Jets QB Sam Darnold expected to start vs. Bills (SportsNet New York)
Jamal Adams, Jets look to avenge embarrassing loss to Bills (SportsNet New York)
Here are 7 coaches the Jets could target if they fire Todd Bowles (SportsNet New York)
Jets TE Chris Herndon Looking Forward to ‘Finishing Strong’ (NewYorkJets.com)
What Has Been the Key to Jordan Jenkins’ Improved Pass Rush? (NewYorkJets.com)
Where to Watch, Listen & Follow: Jets at Bills (NewYorkJets.com)
Kelvin Beachum Nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (NewYorkJets.com)
Bills, Jets futures on display with rookie QBs set to start
‘The focus on the two quarterbacks represents one of the few reasons for intrigue in a meeting of teams — Buffalo is 4-8 and the Jets 3-9 — with little on the line entering the final month.’
Jets-Bills Preview Capsule
‘Allen has 391 yards passing, three TDs and two interceptions, and 234 yards rushing and TD in past two games since missing four with sprained right throwing elbow.’
Bills will give you money and free NFL ticket if you’re willing to do one small thing for them
‘Now, no one wants to stand outside all day and shovel snow for free, which is why the Bills are offering several incentives for anyone who decides to show up. For one, you get free food: The team says that both lunch and dinner will be provided.’