Two Bills Drive

‘His production overall once he joined the Bills was lower than what the fan base expected, but Beane was adamant that the team’s belief in Cooper remained. Part of that was Cooper’s ability to open up things for the rest of the offense, Beane said.’

‘Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni, 43, grew up in Jamestown and attended Southwestern Central High School before moving onto the Division III football factory at Mount Union (Ohio). Sirianni entered the NFL with the Chiefs in 2010, but wasn’t retained by then-new coach Andy Reid after the 2012 season.’

‘We looked for signs that this year would be different. The sun was shining in January; that was different. I was drinking my tea from a new Bills mug; that was different. It’s a mayoral election year and there are many candidates in the race; which made it a different day, a different time for Buffalo. Didn’t it?’

‘Crosby is signed through 2026, and would have salary cap hits of $22.9 million and $19.7 million for any team trading for him. By NFL standards for an elite edge rusher, that’s a team-friendly deal. Of course, Crosby would probably want a new deal if he were to be traded, and the Bills can accommodate that.’

‘ We know, it would take a serious offer – the first-round pick should be on the table – as the key to the package, and the Bills would need Miami to absorb some of the money, which could cost the Bills one of their second-round picks. The Dolphins would absorb a $28.3 million “dead” salary cap hit by trading Hill, according to the industry website Over The Cap.’

‘As for why he would be retained, the only thing you can point to is continuity. The Bills don’t want to start over on the unit. We also should recognize that, while there were breakdowns, as you pointed out, Jeff, there were positives as well. Rookie returner Brandon Codrington had a solid season. Sam Martin was a reliable punter. After a rocky stretch, Tyler Bass was strong in the playoffs. There is a case to be made for not rocking the boat. We’ll see if it ends up being the right decision.’

‘“We’re proud to turn excitement for the Bills into meaningful action for our communities,” said Broadview CEO Michael Castellana. “This initiative emphasizes our commitment to fighting hunger, supporting families, and investing in Western New York.”’

‘From 1966-69, the Cowboys: Finished first in the regular season all four times. … Went 10-3-1, 9-5, 12-2 and 11-2-1. … Finished first, sixth, first and second in points scored. … Finished fourth, sixth, second and fourth in fewest points allowed. … Didn’t reach a Super Bowl.’

‘I am no sports analyst, but I will not accept branding the Bills as playoff failures. Our brains are wired for storytelling and seek to transform single moments of chance − a ball slipping through fingers, a single yard short − into larger systematic problems. We can fall prey to the representativeness heuristic, where a few dramatic moments overshadow consistent success. But the numbers tell a different tale, as evidenced by five consecutive division titles. The Bills haven’t failed; they’ve crafted a team and culture that consistently plays for the highest stakes. Despite heartbreaking losses, there is always a response of encouragement and renewed determination.’