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ORCHARD PARK — Michael Gaines hasn’t been here long, but he’s getting used to calling Buffalo home.
In just his third game as a member of the Bills, Gaines caught the game-winning touchdown in a 17-14 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
But catching touchdowns in Buffalo is nothing new for Gaines.“Here’s the crazy thing. In college, we came to Buffalo and I scored a touchdown vs. UB (with Central Florida),” Gaines said. “I came here with Carolina and scored the game-winning touchdown then (in 2005). Then I score (Sunday). That’s three touchdowns. I kind of like playing in Buffalo.”
Jay Skurski: Tonawanda News
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ENGLEWOOD -- Brandon Marshall’s acrobatic catches are nice. Tip-toeing in bounds for a touchdown against Buffalo was impressive.
The Denver Broncos require more than that from their receivers. If you don’t get dirty blocking, they’ll find someone who will.
Marshall has shown in two starts this season that he can follow the legacy of receivers such as Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey, who put up great statistics and had the mentality to knock over cornerbacks on running plays.
“Either you have it or you don’t,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “Some guys shy away from blocking and that’s just their nature, and then you have some guys who love contact. “He’s a hitter, and he doesn’t shy away from contact.”
Frank Schwab: The Gazette
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The Buffalo Bills signed tight end Michael Gaines on Monday, a day after losing Kevin Everett from the lineup due to a severe spinal cord injury.
Gaines, a seventh-round choice (232nd overall) in the 2004 draft out of Central Florida, spent his first three NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. The fourth-year pro has started 21 of 42 career games, producing a career-high 15 receptions in nine starts last season.
WKBW
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GREEN BAY — If only he'd have just cut the hair. If only he'd have compromised. Everything might have come so much easier. And it's not like it wouldn't have grown back.
But that would have meant Atari Bigby would have lost more than just the long, flowing dreadlocks he's been growing since he was 15. He'd have lost who he is, what he stands for.
"And you have to stand for something," the Green Bay Packers safety said Thursday. "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
Jason Wilde, Wisconsin State Journal
As you read you will read what Atari thought of O'Leary and company. I am glad he is in the NFL and showing people what he can do.
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It is one of the greatest names in sports.
And it is one that has surely been mentioned a time or two in the Eagles' offensive meetings this week.
Yes, the name of the Green Bay Packers' strong safety really is Atari Bigby.
And yes, on Sunday he will be making his first NFL start (not to mention seeking his first pro tackle), when the Birds open their season against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
TheMorningCall.com
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Despite being evasive on the subject publicly, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has decided on his starting quarterback for Oakland's season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, and the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that Josh McCown is expected to get the nod.
Asked by reporters Wednesday when he would know who his starter would be, Kiffin replied: "I do know ... I wouldn't anticipate an announcement."
NFL.com
Sources: McCown to start for Raiders- MercuryNews.com
Thanks to UCFJay for letting me know the change in events.
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Things are coming together again for former Vanguard High School star Daunte Culpepper.
Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings, has seen his share of setbacks in recent years, from a severe knee injury that ended his tenure in Minneapolis, to an aborted comeback attempt with the Miami Dolphins that ended contentiously this summer, to the passing of his adoptive mother, Emma Culpepper, during the most-recent offseason.
But afforded a new life in the form of a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders, Culpepper's excellent preseason has given him a strong case to start the team's opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
"I've been working hard," Culpepper said by telephone from Oakland, Calif. "I am learning everything that I can (about the offense) and it has been a great experience.
RICHARD BURTON: Ocala.com
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SEATTLE -- If Lane Kiffin needed the exhibition finale to decide who his starting quarterback would be, Daunte Culpepper should be his man.
The Raiders' first-year coach watched the former Miami starter complete 11 of 19 passes for 108 yards and lead the offense to its only touchdown in Oakland's 19-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
The winning score came early in the fourth quarter, when backup Marquis Weeks ran 11 yards for a touchdown.
LA Times
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers released former starting tight end Michael Gaines on Tuesday after reaching an injury settlement.
Gaines, a four-year pro, was placed on injured reserve Saturday but wanted an opportunity to play elsewhere this season and elected to take the injury settlement.
A seventh-round draft pick in 2004, Gaines started 21 games and played in 42 for the Panthers over the last three seasons. He was used primarily as a blocking tight end. He caught 31 passes for 335 yards with two touchdowns.
USA Today
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel ended his holdout Monday, returning to the team after missing the first three preseason games.
Samuel was taking a physical Monday, Coach Bill Belichick said.
It was not immediately clear whether he would practice with the team later in the day, and Belichick declined to comment on whether Samuel would play in the Patriots' preseason finale Thursday against the visiting New York Giants.
The Associated Press
Click on the links below to read the articles
Culpepper proves his worth
InsideBayArea.com-Dave Del Grande
Culpepper just the right spice
InsideBayArea.com- Steve Corkran
Daunte shows he's the man
InsideBayArea.com- Cam Inman
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Strong performance might make him a starter
Green Bay - They wanted him to cut his hair. And that was a deal breaker
Atari Bigby was a standout athlete for a Florida high school football powerhouse and he wanted nothing more than to stay in his hometown and play for the mighty Miami Hurricanes.
But a few years ago, the Miami football program had an unofficial policy that was strictly reinforced. All incoming freshmen had to shave their heads.
LORI NICKEL: Journal Sentinel
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DAVIE - -- Matt Prater is kicking better than he ever has.
But that's not likely to stop the Miami Dolphins from cutting him sometime in the next two weeks.
That's why tonight's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is important to the former University of Central Florida standout. If the Dolphins score enough points, there's a chance he'll get to showcase his powerful leg for the rest of the NFL to see.
CARL KOTALA : Florida Today
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Star cornerback expected to sign 1-year deal, report before season begins
New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel is close to ending his contract holdout, ESPN.com reported.
Samuel reportedly wants to be ready for the start of training camp, but the team has "no indication right now" that the four-year pro will do so. New England opens the regular season at the New York Jets on Sept. 9.
Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, told the Boston Herald that a contract resolution is close, but didn't specify how close.
MSNBC staff and news service
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Bigby Needs to Do More than Blitz
Green Bay Packers fans should not hold out hope that if Atari Bigby is the regular season starter at safety that the coaches are going to turn him loose like LeRoy Butler in 1996.
WBay.com
Bigby's extra effort looms large
Green Bay - Amidst all the sacks, interceptions, fumbles caused and touchdowns scored, the most significant development for the Green Bay Packers on defense might have been the play of safety Atari Bigby.
JSOnline.com
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Darcy Johnson’s second season in the National Football League ended Tuesday morning when the former Palatka High School star injured his right knee during a collision in practice with the New York Giants.
A 6-foot-6, 252-pound tight end out of UCF, Johnson suffered a partial tear of his anterior cruiciate ligament and will require surgery within a few weeks. The Giants placed him on injured reserve Wednesday.
“I tore my MCL and got a partial tear of the ACL,” Johnson said. “It was one-on-one drills. I was making a cut and me and a defender got tangled up. At first, they did an MRI and said it was my MCL. Then they went to New York City and got a second opinion from one of their top specialists.”
Andy Hall: PalatkaDailyNews.com
