ORCHARD PARK, N.
Akiem Hicks Saints Jersey .[sub]Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with [/sub]the NFL schedule maker. With temperatures dropping and snow piling up outside the teams facility, Johnson wondered who had the bright idea to have Buffalo (4-7) "host" the warm-weather Atlanta Falcons (2-9) inside the climate-controlled confines of Torontos Rogers Centre on Sunday. "Yeah, they must have fixed the schedule or something out there in Atlanta. Its supposed to be out here at the Ralph," Johnson said Wednesday, referring to the Bills home, Ralph Wilson Stadium. "Who put the schedule together to have them come to Toronto?" Johnson and his teammates are finding themselves at a sudden disadvantage as Buffalo prepares for its annual trip north of the border to resume the "Bills in Toronto" series, which was first established in 2008 and renewed for another five years in January. The Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention. The Bills come off their bye week still on the fringes of the AFC post-season hunt. Theyre 3-3 at Orchard Park, including a decisive 37-14 win over the New York Jets on Nov. 17. "It is what it is," Johnson said. "We cant really make excuses for it. We cant complain about it. We just got to go out and try to handle business." An added wrinkle to the game is news that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment -- the company that controls the Leafs and NBA Raptors -- has aligned itself with New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi to make a push to bring an NFL franchise to Toronto. One logical option would be the Bills. In establishing the series, the Bills turned to their neighbours to the north in a bid to expand their region. The deal provides the Bills a much-needed boost to their small-market franchises revenue base by essentially leasing out a home game to Canadian communications giant, Rogers Communications. What the Bills lose, however, is a distinct late-season edge they would normally get playing in the cold and blustery conditions in Buffalo. "Yeah, wed love to get them outside in the elements. That would definitely be an advantage," centre Eric Wood said. "But this is a deal weve got to embrace. Its important to our franchise. You cant go up there with a bad attitude." Like it or not, the Bills are resigned to knowing they have no choice when it comes to making the two-hour trek to Canadas largest city and financial capital. Its a metropolis of more than 5 million residents, where the NHLs Maple Leafs dominate the sports pages, and a place better known these days for Mayor Rob Fords various attention-grabbing troubles. Wood drew headlines of his own last year after Buffalos 50-17 loss to Seattle at Toronto. Unable to make the trip because of a sprained right knee, Wood grew frustrated watching on TV and seeing the lack of support the Bills got from the crowd. He called it "a joke," and added: "Those non-Bills fans that go to the game are just cheering for plays as opposed to cheering for a team. And that kills you." Wood was in a more diplomatic mood this week when reminded of his comments. "It was a heat of the moment-type deal," he said. "I was excited about the opportunity to go up there and hopefully get a win. And Im approaching it the same way this year." Getting a win would be a start. The Bills are 1-4 in regular-season games at Toronto, with their lone win a 23-0 victory over Washington in 2011. The series opened with a dud, when Buffalo managed just 163 yards offence in a 16-3 loss to Miami. Turnout has been an issue in part because of expensive ticket prices and the perennial struggles of a Bills team thats not made the playoffs since 1999. Though the first four games were listed as sellouts, Rogers acknowledged the count included thousands of freebies. And those fans that do show up represent the mixed loyalties Canadians have toward the NFL. Though a majority of fans attending games wear Bills jerseys, its not uncommon to spot others wearing a wide range of colours -- from the Cowboys, to 49ers, and even the CFL Argonauts. First-year Bills coach Doug Marrone said its up to his team to generate an edge. "In order to create that advantage, you have to go up there and play well," Marrone said. "I think we do have some fans in Toronto. And I think if we play well, well create more fans."
C.J. Spiller Saints Jersey . When Reyes signed a US$106-million, six-year deal with Miami last month, there was speculation Ramirez was unhappy about being supplanted at short. But new manager Ozzie Guillen sold Ramirez on the idea.
Vinnie Sunseri Saints Jersey . The move will give Hentgen the "time needed to support his family and his fathers current health issues," the Blue Jays said in a release. Hentgen spent 10 of his 14 big-league seasons with the Blue Jays, winning a Cy Young Award in 1996.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays say team president Matt Silverman will replace Andrew Friedman as the teams president of baseball operations. Tampa Bay made the announcement Tuesday, when Friedman left to become president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Senior vice-president of baseball operations Brian Auld will moves into Silvermans old job. Friedman joined tthe Rays in 2004 and was promoted to executive vice-president at age 28 in October 2005, when principal owner Stuart Sternberg took control of the team.
Zach Hocker Saints Jersey. Despite operating with one of the lower payrolls in the major leagues, Friedman and manager Joe Maddon helped transform the Rays from perennial losers into a team that made the playoffs four of the past seven seasons.
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