Archives for September 2021

Or a team drafting Allen might have “protected” him by putting him in a run-first, highly schemed Gary Kubiak-style offense, the kind Minnesota runs for Kirk Cousins and Cleveland runs for Baker Mayfield. Excel at outside zone runs. Get the quarterback out of the pocket on bootlegs. Design clearly defined throws on a lot of crossing routes. But that’s not the background of Daboll, who was part of Tom Brady’s dynamic pass attack in New England.’

‘On offense, it’s Stefon Diggs. A true No. 1 receiver like that is exceptionally difficult to find. Diggs finished No. 11 on NFL Network’s list of top 100 players, and that feels a bit low. He’s a great, great player. On defense, it’s tougher. Given what he does in terms of calling the defense and playing all three downs, middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is probably the hardest to replace.’

‘Experts say this is because the prospect of relocation, which hangs over many stadium negotiations, strikes particular dread in smaller markets. The threat is real: At least eight of the 21 stadiums were built for a relocated team or for a franchise replacing a team that moved.’

‘The Pegulas have formed a tight group that is privy to the lease negotiations, opting to leave most of their executives free to focus on running the day-to-day operations of their football team and other entities. That includes hockey’s Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans, lacrosse’s Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks, Lecom Harborcenter and a music label and studio in Nashville.’

‘Though the Patriots owners paid the full cost of the stadium itself, it’s important to note the state paid $72 million on road, sewer and other infrastructure improvements around the site. That was part of a last-ditch effort to keep the team from moving to Hartford, where Connecticut had offered to build a $374 million stadium at no cost to the Patriots and their owners.’

‘Haack is adept at the Aussie kick, the end-over-end boot that punters use to pin the offense deep in its own territory. By going end over end, the Aussie kick tends to react like a professional’s wedge shot in golf. It often stops or bounces backward, rather than bounding into the end zone.’

‘Allegations of sexual assault were made against Bennett in another incident in Buffalo in 1997, after he had left the Bills. In that case, a woman claimed that Bennett sexually attacked her in a downtown Buffalo hotel. The football star pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of sexual misconduct.’

‘During the second half, the energy shifted. Two women in the row behind us began to repeatedly harangue the opposing team’s fans. They were name calling and repeatedly telling the Packers fans in our section to “pack it up and go home,” and “that cheese is melting on your head.” This was not friendly banter; it was harassment.’