The impressive skill set is visible

The impressive skill set is visible

30.07.2018 07:59

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ralph Wilson fulfilled his vow in keeping the Bills in Buffalo during his lifetime. Though they wont be leaving any time soon following the 95-year-old Pro Football Hall of Fame owners death, their long-term future is in question. The Bills are essentially locked in to playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium through the next six years. Thats because of a non-relocation provision included in the teams lease agreement that would require the Bills to pay a $400 million penalty if they leave before the 2019 season. "Anyone expecting to see the Los Angeles Bills is sorely mistaken," SportsCorp President Marc Ganis told The Associated Press. "They cant move even if they wanted to. It would go against the ironclad agreement done with Ralphs blessing." Ganis, a close observer of the NFL, heads a Chicago-based consulting firm and is very familiar with the 10-year lease the Bills negotiated with state and county governments in December 2012. "With that lease, Ralph gave away hundreds of millions of dollars as, in essence, a parting gift to Buffalo," Ganis said. While it looks highly unlikely any potential owner would try to break the lease, nothing is impossible. And as for what happens beyond 2019 is uncertain and largely dependent on the next owner. In 2020, the Bills have a one-time opportunity to opt out of the lease for $28.4 million. "It buys us seven years, which is a substantial amount of time to make sure the next ownership team that comes in sees the benefit of keeping that team in Buffalo," Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy said in Elmira on Wednesday. "We dont want to lose them." But that is certainly a possibility. The teams founder and sole owner died at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., on Tuesday and survived by wife Mary and two daughters. Wilson, however, expressed no interest of leaving the team to his family. As a result, the original American Football League franchise is expected to be placed into a trust overseen by the executors of Wilsons estate before being put up for sale. That opens the potential of the team being sold and relocated. Los Angeles could be a landing spot. So would Toronto, where the Bills played annual regular-season games since 2008 before postponing their series last month. "Well, I havent focused on that," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said when asked about the franchises future at league meetings in Orlando, Fla. "We know the terms of that lease. And we also know we have to find a long-term solution to keep the Bills there, and thats what well continue to work to do." Nonetheless, a list of ownership candidates has emerged to purchase a franchise valued at around $870 million. Its not every day an NFL team goes on sale. The list includes: -- Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly has made no secret that he has put together a group of investors to buy the team. Kellys health, however, has become an issue. The 54-year-old is preparing to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment following a recurrence of cancer. -- California-based bond fund manager Jeffrey Gundlach expressed interest in buying the Bills three years ago. Gundlach, who founded DoubleLine Capital, is a Bills fan and has ties to Buffalo. -- Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula. -- Two Toronto-based groups -- Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment and Rogers Communications -- have been mentioned as groups interested in buying the Bills with the intention of relocating them north of the border. -- New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi has expressed interest in becoming an NFL owner, and is close with MLSE President Tim Leiweke. -- Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs or his immediate family cant be counted out. Jacobs is from Buffalo, and his Delaware North food service company is headquartered in the city. Jacobs NFL interests date to the late 1990s, when he failed in a bid to purchase the Browns in their return to Cleveland. NFL rules bar owners from running sports teams in separate markets, meaning Jacobs would either have to give up his holdings in the Bruins or, perhaps, have members of his family run the Bills. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz refused to speculate on what could happen after 2019. He is certain the Bills will continue playing in Orchard Park for the near future and believes it was always Wilsons intention to keep the team in Buffalo. "If we had ownership that wasnt interested in it, (the lease) never would have happened," Poloncarz said. "He put in place a provision that locks this team in for many years to come, even after his death. And that says a lot about his commitment to western New York and the fans of the Buffalo Bills." Cameron Meredith Saints Jersey . - Tiger Woods only made it through 10 holes Thursday — this time because of the weather, not his back. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . Leverkusen said on Friday it signed Schmidt on a two-year contract. He guided Red Bull Salzburg to the Austrian championship this season. http://www.saintsfootballpro.com/Saints-...o-Davis-Jersey/. Lauzon rushed for 42 yards on 15 carries for the Vert et Or (2-3) while quarterback Jeremi Roch completed 19-of-32 passes for 251 yards and one interception. Alexandre Aube scored the other touchdown for Sherbrooke. Kurt Coleman Saints Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Natrell Jamerson Jersey . Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal.(SportsNetwork.com) - There is no flex scheduling on Thursday nights, meaning the NFL Networks television vehicle will not exactly be going out with a bang this season. You can look at 2014s final Thursday Night Football battle between the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in two ways, a tilt to decide who will end up in the AFC South cellar or an opportunity to garner a better pick in the 15 NFL Draft. The Titans and Jags will square off having mustered only two wins apiece with one of Tennessees coming when it edged Jacksonville, 16-14, back in Music City on Oct. 12. Since that game, the teams have combined to lose 14 of 16 contests with the Titans dropping eight straight in Ken Whisenhunts first season at the helm, and the Jaguars losing six of eight behind rookie quarterback Blake Bortles. Each team suffered its latest setback in Week 15 as Tennessee fell to the lowly New York Jets, 16-11, and Jacksonville came up short in Baltimore, 20-12. The Jets Chris Ivory scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:09 remaining in the fourth quarter to lift New York to its triumph in Nashville although the Titans made it interesting and nearly pulled off another Music City Miracle on the games last play, lateraling numerous times before Delanie Walker came up short at the Jets 9-yard line. Jake Locker made his first start for the Titans since Week 5 and likely his last with the organization as he left the game late in the second quarter with a dislocated left shoulder. The injury-prone Locker, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 draft, started because rookie Zach Mettenberger re-injured his right shoulder the week prior. He was subsequently placed on season-ending injured reserve this week and is unlikely to return to the Titans next season. To me, hes a true pro, Whisenhunt said. Hes a great teammate, works hard and you obviously feel badly for Jake just from the standpoint of having to have surgery and his season being over. Charlie Whitehurst replaced Locker against the Jets and was 10-of-24 for 203 yards in his first action since Week 7. The veteran will start again this week and be backed up by the recently signed Jordan Palmer. I havent played as well as I wanted to this year. Theres a few plays I left out there, Whitehurst said. But every time I go out there, theres a few personal things that come out of it -- Its been fun to do it and kind of see what youre made of. Tennessees current eight-game skid is the franchises longest since the 1994 Houston Oilers dropped 11 straight. Jacksonville, meanwhile, fell in the Charm City when the Ravens Joe Flacco threw for 221 yards with a touchdown and the Baltimore defense kept the Jaguars out of the end zone. Josh Scobee kicked four field goals to account for the Jags entire offensive output. Bortles threw for 210 yards with an interception for the Jaguars. He was, however, also sacked eight times by a swarming Baltimore defense that limited Jacksonville to 248 total yards. Theres gonna be talk about how Hey Jacksonville played extremely hard, very physical, came into our house and did some really good things, special teams wise two phases did really good but I told them were not into moral victories, Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said. Were into victories. Were into victories. Thats what were after. After the beating Bortles was diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain and has been in a walking boot but the Jags are hopeful he will play on Thursday and the rookie was back at practice on a limited basis by Tuesday. As far as I know, its going to be Blake, Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said Tuesday. Were going to obbviously see how he practices.dddddddddddd He did better, Bradley added on Tuesday. You could see him improve. The Titans lead their all-time series with the Jags by a 22-17 margin, including the win earlier this season when Jackie Battle rushed for a TD and kicker Ryan Succop booted three field goals. Bortles threw for a career-high 336 yards and a touchdown in the setback but Tennessee sacked him six times and blocked a potential game-winning 55-yard field goal with 12 seconds left. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Tis the time of year when certain teams give up and the Titans seem to be at the top of that list, failing to succeed no matter who is under center, Mettenberger, Locker or Whitehurst. The (injury) circumstances arent great, but when something like that does happen, it does give you a chance, Whitehurst said. Theres no substitute for it. You get to play. You get to play in the NFL. The lack of a consistent competent option at the games most important position has hindered Tennessee all season and the Titans head into the final two games with the NFLs 29th ranked offense, mustering just 307.9 yards per game and scoring less than 14 points per game during their current skid. The Jags are even worse, however, 31st in a 32-team league while averaging under 300 ypg at 293.8. On paper that should make things easier for the respective defensive units but they havent exactly set the world on fire either as the Jags stop unit is ranked 28th, surrendering 372.6 ypg, and the Titans are actually a tick below at 29, allowing six yards more. The run game has been particularly daunting for Tennessee. The Titans cant run it, amassing under 65 yards per game over the last 2 1/2 months, and they cant stop opponents from running it, surrendering a league-worst 139.6 ypg. Jacksonville has a little more hope because Bortles, the No. 3 overall pick in last years draft, has shown signs, albeit only for brief periods. Bortles has thrown 10 touchdown passes versus 17 interceptions and has the leagues second-worst passer rating at 70.6 but hes also under significant duress more often than not, being sacked an NFL-high 41 times since hes taken over from Chad Henne. The impressive skill set is visible, though, and Bortles has embraced a leadership role. A lot of (the sacks) are on me, Bortles said. Some are on the offensive line. Its on the whole offense. Its football, so you better be used to getting hit. Bortles also seems aware that he needs to speed up his decision making. In college, you can run around and do more stuff, but in the NFL guys are a lot faster and stronger, the Central Florida product said. So its a little more difficult. You want to be able to get rid of the ball and live another down, not lose yards on third down and create longer field-goal situation. Those are definitely things Im working on. Whitehurst has actually been Tennessees most effective QB this season, compiling an 89.1 passer rating and going 1-2 as a starter with the lone triumph being against the Jags in the October game when he completed 17-of-28 passes for 233 yards. I feel good about Charlie and what hes done, Whisenhunt said. He started against Jacksonville the last time and played a pretty good game. Hes been a great support in the room, and we have confidence in him. OVERALL ANALYSIS Neither team looks primed to much offensively but the Jags seem like the lesser of two evils here mainly because the Titans have been an abject disaster on the road, losing six straight and being outscored by an average of 34 to 16 in those games. Sports Network predicted outcome: Jaguars 16, Titans 13 China Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale NFL White Jerseys ' ' '


Melden Sie sich an, um die Kommentarfunktion zu nutzen


Xobor Xobor Blogs
Datenschutz