I’m in Row 1, Seat 31 in the football Media section—which puts me exactly at the 40-yard-line (there’s also a baseball media section in the end zone). One thing I like about this Press Box is the open air. At Ralph Wilson Stadium—as nice as that Press Box is—you are behind glass so you lose a lot of the crowd noise. Of course that’s an outdoor stadium, so it just makes sense. But I like this setup. I don’t know if tonight’s crowd will be anywhere close to a Ralph Wilson Stadium crowd in terms of noise, but I like to hear and feel that noise when I’m at a game.

The Bills Toronto Series is an extension of the franchise’s overall regionalization strategy that was developed more than 10 seasons ago with the formation of the Verizon Wireless Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY. Between the two ventures, the Bills have set the standard in the NFL for the regionalization of their franchise. More than 100,000 fans attended the first two Bills Toronto Series games at Rogers Centre last season. Approximately 15% of Bills fans travel from Ontario to Ralph Wilson Stadium on Buffalo Bills game days. And approximately 11% of Bills fans are based in Rochester, NY.

Once both teams completed their warmups, the Hudson (Ohio) High School marching band performed on the field. The U.S. National Anthem was performed by Canada’s own Barenaked Ladies while the Canadian anthem was performed by beautiful contest winner Laura Cavacece. A few more pregame notes: the Budweiser Official Buffalo Bills Tailgate party has been going on outside for the past five hours. And a Bills rally towel is being given to all fans in attendance tonight.

I was watching quarterback Trent Edwards during warmups. He has to be feeling disgruntled with the fact he is not starting. His image was instrumental in the marketing of this game and as the season has progressed (or regressed in his case), he has faded to a backup role behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Ryan is 5-2 in his last seven starts and seems to give the Bills a better chance of winning. But I don’t think either player is the quarterback of the future for the Bills. There are going to be a lot of changes around this organization in the offseason.

This game was officially announced as a sellout three days ago. But twenty minutes before game time, Rogers Centre is only about half full.

POSTGAME: The Bills Toronto Series hasn’t been kind to Buffalo thus far. In tonight’s second regular season game to be played at Rogers Centre here in Toronto, the Bills were beaten by the N.Y. Jets 19-13 in front of a sellout crowd. Yes, the stadium did fill up nicely with only a smattering of empty seats visible. So, the Bills have lost to the Steelers (preseason last year), the Dolphins (regular season last year) and now the Jets.

The statistics that really jumped out at me in this game were those of Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick—he was just 9-of-23 passing for 98 yards and one interception. The Bills offense, seemingly revitalized when interim head coach Perry Fewell took over for Dick Jauron, took a step backwards tonight. And on an evening when Bills receiver Terrell Owens was supposed to put on a show for Toronto, he was held to a meager three catches for 31 yards by the National Football League’s best cover corner, Darrelle Revis. NFL Network’s Deion Sanders called Owens vs. Revis “a matchup of all matchups.” But Darrelle clearly had the better of T.O. this season, holding him to four catches in two games. The Bills offense managed just 194 total yards tonight.

Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez continues to improve and impress. When he left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury, the Jets offense stalled. Mark was 7-of-15 passing for 104 yards and a touchdown. His stats would’ve been padded considerably had receiver Braylon Edwards been able to hang on to what surely would’ve been an 80+ yard touchdown pass. It seems as though Braylon has trouble with the throws that are on target. Then he turns around and makes the difficult catches. It’s got to be some kind of mental block. But he carries the title of receiver. Therefore, he needs to receive.

With the loss, the Bills fall to 4-8 and are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this season. As far as the Jets are concerned, this was a must-win. And with their record now at 6-6, they are still in the thick of the AFC Wild Card playoff race.

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Bills Toronto Series vs. N.Y. Jets

Kris Jenkins, N.Y. Jets / Image: Zuma Press

This is a devastating loss for the Jets’ defensive line. They certainly won’t be able to replace Kris with Sione Pouha or Howard Green. So they’ll have to make due for the remainder of the 2009 season. But Kris anticipates a full recovery and return to the Jets in 2010. And who can argue with him? He tore the ACL in his right knee when he was with the Carolina Panthers four years ago. He not only made a full recovery from that injury, he also went to the Pro Bowl the following season.

Source: NewYorkJets.com

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Kris Jenkins Out for Season With Torn ACL

Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns / Photo: Newscom

It’s been a season of turmoil for the Braylon (and the entire Browns organization, for that matter)—who never realized his full potential in Cleveland. In four games, Braylon only has 10 catches for 139 yards and no touchdowns. (Of course, he’s probably dropped more balls than any other receiver in the National Football League since he was drafted five years ago.) And he’s under investigation by the league for allegedly assaulting local club owner Edward Givens just two days ago. So, Braylon doesn’t arrive in New York without baggage. But his upside for success apparently outweighed the obstacles according to the receiver-needy Jets, who hope a change of scenery will enable Braylon to catch more balls than he drops.

Source: NFL.com

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Braylon Edwards Traded to N.Y. Jets

Rex Ryan, N.Y. Jets / Image: Zuma Press

Afterward, coach Ryan continued with a confident demeanor:

“The Patriots are a hell of a football team. I just thought we were the better team today. That’s all we said, you know, the whole time going in—that we believed we were the better team today. And we went out and showed it ….. We’re a football team that should be respected. Sometimes, you know, we talk a little bit or something like that, but only because we have confidence in our football team. And we believe it to be true that we’re an outstanding football team. And we’ve got to go out and show it each week.”

Source: ESPN.com

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N.Y. Jets Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

Mark Sanchez, N.Y. Jets / Image: Zuma Press

Coach Ryan shouldered the decision and felt strongly about going with Mark as his starting QB:

“I think this is the appropriate time to make the decision. I feel very comfortable with my decision to go with Sanchez as a quarterback. I’ve relied on a lot of people, but more than anything, I’ve relied on myself. My instincts as a coach — I’ve been around the game a long time. I feel that the best move for our franchise and for our team is to go with Mark as our quarterback. That’s not a slight to (backup) Kellen Clemens at all. I think we can win with Kellen also as a quarterback. But right now, I think Mark gives us the best opportunity to win. And that’s what I owe this franchise. That’s why I made this decision. It’s not based on any other decision ….. I certainly leaned on people, guys that I have a great deal of respect for, but again this was my decision.”

Source: NFL.com

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Jets Name Mark Sanchez Starting QB

Apparently Calvin took an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that he didn’t know violated the league’s policy. Which, of course, was a big mistake. As an NFL player, if you are considering taking any supplement, you should first clear it with your team’s head trainer. Let that qualified professional examine the product and give the o.k. There’s no excuse for violating the policy. It’s a no-brainer—literally.

Calvin Pace, N.Y. Jets / Image: Zuma Press

Calvin issued the following statement today:

“I am responsible for what I put into my body, and I should have paid closer attention to the league’s guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization, as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.”

Oh, I think it’s already a distraction. This is a big loss for the Jets. Calvin finished second on the team with a career-high seven sacks last season. He also had 80 tackles, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries and was expected to play a big role in new head coach Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defensive scheme this season. This gives LB Vernon Gholston a golden opportunity to finally prove his worth. But he’ll have to beat out undrafted rookie free agent OTA standout Jamaal Westerman first.

Source: NewYorkJets.com

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Calvin Pace Suspended Four Games

Mark Sanchez, N.Y. Jets / Photo: Newscom

The best, for Mark, would be a GQ pictorial that came out earlier this week. Today’s minicamp practice was leaning toward the worst. Working with the Jets second team offense, Mark struggled with 7-on-7, red zone and two-minute drills. He was sacked. And he threw three incompletions, two of which were batted down. In other words, it was rough going. Jets head coach Rex Ryan knows it comes with the territory:

“It’s kind of what we expected. We’re throwing him to the wolves. The scheme we have in on offense, we’re just throwing it all at them. There’s no telling how many plays Schotty’s got, but there’s a bunch of them. He’s learning that and he’s probably seeing defenses he’s never seen, different kinds of coverages, blitzes. He’s had his moments this week. Today he had some rough spots as well. But again, that’s to be expected.”

Source: NewYorkJets.com

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Throwing Mark Sanchez to the Wolves

Brett Favre / Photo: Newscom

In a statement released by his agent Bus Cook, Brett said:

“Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

Hmmm. Naturally, the part of his statement that reads “at this time” intrigues those of us who want to see Brett play some more football — even if and maybe especially because of the way last season ended with the Jets. That can’t be the way Brett Favre leaves the National Football League, can it? The last five weeks of the 2009 season, Brett only had two touchdown passes to nine interceptions and a dismal 55.2 passer rating.

Of course, all of this is merely speculation but it brings to mind last year’s debacle of an “unretirement” saga. It also raises the serious question of whether Brett is really going to stay retired. I do believe that “at this time” Brett does not want to return to the game. But give him a month or two and a fully healed torn biceps tendon and perhaps he’ll be singing a different tune. After all, he has friends in Minnesota who many believe are just a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. The Vikings would love to coerce Brett out of retirement to give their team that shot. And so, another “Brett Favre Watch” begins.

Source: NFL.com

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Brett Favre: ‘At This Time, I am Retired’

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

N.Y. Jets new head coach Rex Ryan is trying to bring as many of his former Baltimore Ravens defenders as he can with him to the Big Apple. First it was linebacker Bart Scott. Today, the Jets signed free agent safety/ kick returner/ punt returner (and former Ravens starting strong safety) Jim Leonhard to a three-year deal. Coach Ryan was excited:

“He’s a smart player that can get guys lined up in the secondary and was one of the best tacklers on that Ravens defense. He’s always around the ball, brings everything he has on every play and will be a great addition to our group of defensive backs.”

That’s well put. That’s exactly who Jim Leonhard is. When I first met Jim, he was a rookie with the Buffalo Bills. And at 5-8, I thought he was one of the players’ kids. He looked like he was about 12 years old. But as time has passed, he has turned into one of the better defensive backs in the National Football League. He added his two cents in a statement released by the team:

“I am extremely excited to become a New York Jet, to be reunited with Coach Ryan and Coach Pettine on the defensive side of the ball is a great opportunity. I am really excited to get in there this first year with Coach Ryan and, hopefully, help do some great things.”

Check out my interview with Jim Leonhard from the 2008 season.

Source: NewYorkJets.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jets Sign Jim Leonhard

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Free agent linebacker Bart Scott (Baltimore Ravens) followed his former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to New York and is now a member of the Jets. Bart (aka “Madbacker”) signed a six-year, $48 million deal where he’ll make $27 million during the first three years of the contract. He emphasized how important coach Ryan has been to his career:

“It is an honor to come here and start a new chapter of my career with the New York Jets. What made the decision easier for me are the people in the organization and my familiarity with the coaching staff. These guys really pursued me hard. They picked me up from my house early in the morning and really let me know they care. They are serious and they are committed to winning. The opportunity to play under coach Ryan again was huge. I’ve made it no secret how big a role he has played in me taking the steps from being an undrafted rookie free agent to where I am today. I wanted to keep that chemistry going. It’s been so successful that I didn’t want to lose that magic.”

Bart will bring a great deal of production and toughness to the Jets defense. He just completed his 4th straight 100-tackle season and has started in 62 consecutive regular-season and playoff games since first moving into coach Ryan’s starting lineup seven games into the 2005 season.

Bart might not be the only Ravens defensive player following coach Ryan to New York. It’s rumored that safety Jim Leonhard (one of my personal favorite NFL players) and Corey Ivy might also wind up in green and white before the free agent signing period is finished. In fact, I’d bet on it.

Source: NewYorkJets.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jets Sign Bart Scott