Bills
BILLS NOTEBOOK: Goodell says Bills’ future lays in the hands of fans
ORCHARD PARK — Speaking at the Monday Quarterback Club luncheon in HSBC Arena, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the topic all of Western New York seems to fear: the future of the Buffalo Bills.
“I think tradition and history is very important. I think the passion of the fans here is important. But ultimately it comes down, can the team continue to be successful here? And I believe it can because of the passion of our fans in this region,” Goodell is quoted as saying in an article by Andrew Fillipponi of local radio station WGR. “I believe the steps the Bills are taking to regionalize this team are broadening out the interest in the team. Hopefully this will attract more people to support the Bills.”
Not surprisingly, Goodell was hesitant to comment on hypotheticals involving what will happen to the team after 90-year-old owner Ralph Wilson passes.
“I think it’s fair to say that Mr. Wilson feels strongly about this community,” Goodell said.
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Crew members of the USS Freedom, which docked Sunday in Buffalo as part of a tour of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway ports, were at the Ralph on Monday night as guests of the team. Members of the Bills purchased tickets and donated them to the crew to attend.
Shortly after meeting the Monday Night Football crew of Lackawanna native Ron Jaworski, Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser, Petty Officer 1st Class Brad Vincent described the experience as “awesome.”
“I was a Jacksonville Jaguars season-ticket holder, but this is my first Buffalo Bills experience,” he said.
Vincent hails from Oakland, Ky., population 260. That’s just 73,707 less than the capacity at the Ralph.
Crew members set sail this morning to continue their journey.
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Donte Whitner was in the starting lineup at strong safety after missing just one game with a severe separated shoulder. Offensive guard Brad Butler also returned to the starting lineup after missing three games with a sprained knee.
That was the end of the good news on the injury front, however, as the Bills lost Jabari Greer to a knee injury in the first half.
Wide receiver Josh Reed missed his third straight game with an ankle injury, while defensive end Aaron Schobel sat out his fifth straight with a foot ailment.
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Leodis McKelvin’s strong kick returns in the first half scared the Browns — at least for a time. McKelvin returned two kicks for 87 yards, prompting Cleveland to employ the “kick-away-from-him” strategy.
That worked out for the Bills, too, as Fred Jackson took a pair of pooch kicks out past the 40-yard line.
Tired of giving up that field position, the Browns decided to kick it deep in the fourth quarter after Jerome Harrison’s 72-yard touchdown run.
Alas, that strategy also backfired. McKelvin took the kick, burst through a hole on the left side and made kicker Phil Dawson miss on a 98-yard touchdown.
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BILLS: Gailey not ready to choose starting QB
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BILLS: Free agent LB Davis signs 2-year deal
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, Andra Davis is an eight-year NFL veteran who was credited with 90 tackles in each of his last two seasons. He also had a career-best 3 1/2 sacks last year.
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NFL: Bills sign veteran tackle Cornell Green
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Unity has Medaille dancing
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BILLS: Gailey’s first priority is finding QB
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BILLS: Chan Gailey hired as head coach
Gailey was hired by first-time general manager Buddy Nix, ending a two-month search to replace Dick Jauron, who was fired in November.
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General manager Buddy Nix, the affable Southerner who calls ’em as he sees ’em, reminded us again that this wasn’t a job he’d even come looking for.
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BILLS: Evans thinks team will get right guy
Despite several setbacks and at least one rejection in the Buffalo Bills’ search for a new coach, receiver Lee Evans has confidence general manager Buddy Nix will find the right man for the job.
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BILLS: Grimm could snub Bills
The Bills have asked permission from the Arizona Cardinals to interview assistant head coach Russ Grimm about their head coaching opening, but apparently Grimm might not be ready to give his permission.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that the former Washington Redskins lineman would most likely turn down the interview.
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BILLS: Gailey not ready to choose starting QB
