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Thursday, September 5, 2013NFLSPORTS THE CALL C5Bills’ rookie QB gets start against PatriotsFlorida State product was only quarterback taken in first round of this year’s draftORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Once Bills quarterback EJanuel practiced Sunday for the first time in two weeks, coachoug Marrone had an inkling the rookie first-round draft pickight be ready to open the season.On Wednesday, Marrone was convinced, announcing Manuelad fully recovered from a left knee injury and will start against theew England Patriots on Sunday."He's 110 percent. He looks good out there," Marrone said folowingpractice. "And that's what we're going to go with."That's a relief for Marrone. He was expressing uncertainty aboutanuel's status since the quarterback was hurt scrambling during a0-16 preseason win over Minnesota Aug. 16."Obviously, being a Catholic, there were a lot of prayers tohat," Marrone said. "I mean, honestly, you go home and say 'Gosh,hope he's healthy,' but you really don't know."Manuel was far more confident he would be ready, especiallyfter taking part in individual drills on Sunday in his first practiceince having what the team called a "minor procedure" Aug. 18."I felt I would be good to go a few days ago as far as my knee,"anuel said. "I know mentally, if I had the chance to go out andlay, I'd be ready for it."Manuel showed little sign of a limp despite wearing a smallrace during practice."I haven't had any hesitation," Manuel said, noting he hasn'tetermined whether he'll wear the brace on Sunday. "It feels fine. Iteels strong, so I can do all my normal movements."He opened practice as he had done in training camp. Taking thesnap, Manuel dumped a short pass over the middle to C.J. Spiller,and then took off running without a sign of a hitch toward the endzone with the rest of the starting offense.Manuel also spent another half-hour throwing passes followingpractice.His return is the first bit of positive news for the retooled androokie-laden Bills, who have been stung by a series of setbacksover the past week.Starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore will miss the first monthwith a broken left wrist. Starting safety Jairus Byrd's status isuncertain because of a foot injury and after he missed most of theoffseason before signing his franchise tender two weeks ago.Kicker became an issue after rookie Dustin Hopkins hurt hisright groin in practice Monday. Marrone called the injury minor,but ruled Hopkins out from playing Sunday. Dan Carpenter will fillin after the fifth-year player signed Tuesday.Quarterback has been the Bills' most pressing need over the pasttwo weeks.Had Manuel not been ready, the Bills would've been forced tostart undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel, the only other quarterback on theiractive roster. Buffalo was placed in this position after veteran freeagentaddition Kevin Kolb sustained a season-ending concussion.The Bills scrambled to add quarterbacks by signing free-agentveteran Matt Leinart and acquiring Thaddeus Lewis in a trade withDetroit. Leinart was cut on Friday, a day after he struggled in a preseasonloss to the Lions. Lewis was also cut, but has since beensigned to Buffalo's practice squad.Manuel now gets his opportunity to be the opening-day starter,just as the Bills had envisioned in April, when they selected himwith the 16th pick in the NFL draft. The Florida State product wasthe first and only quarterback taken in the first round.He arrived in Buffalo with the expectation of filling a positionthat's been unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired followingthe 1996 season.Marrone isn't lowering his expectations with Manuel set tomake his NFL debut, and against an AFC East rival that has won18 of the past 19 games against Buffalo."I'd be lying if I'm sitting here saying, 'I don't expect him to dogreat things,'" Marrone said. "We expect not just EJ, but all of ourplayers that are out there to perform at a very, very high level."Manuel is a strong-armed and mobile player, who best fitsMarrone's up-tempo approach to offense.In two preseason games, Manuel was inconsistent, but showedencouraging signs of developing as a starter. He went a combined26 of 33 for 199 yards passing, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.Center Eric Wood was excited about Manuel's return, andbelieves the rookie will be ready Sunday."I don't think it'll be too big for him," Wood said, noting Manuelhad a 25-6 record, including four Bowl victories, at Florida State."He's got a good head on his shoulders."Concussion deal may not be end of league’s legal battleBy The Associated PressThe NFL's concussion settlementmay not have settled anything.On Wednesday, two formerSuper Bowl champions — TroyAikman and John Lynch, now FoxSports broadcasters — contended the league hasmore work to do.Aikman wants the NFL to divulge moredetails about what it knew regarding the longtermimpact of repeated blows to the head, andwhen it knew it. Lynch said he expects evenmore litigation after the league tentativelyagreed last week to pay out $765 million to agroup of former players."What I'm happy about is that there are playersthat need it (the money) and need it now,and they're going to be taken care of," Lynchsaid. "But I think the notion that this is donenow and we can move on is not really the reality.A new lawsuit was filed today, and from talkingwith Scott (Fujita) I think there are more tocome."It wasn't immediately clear which lawsuitJets tab Smith quarterbackfor opener vs. BuccaneersFormer Patriot receiver Moss joins Fox SportsLynch was referring to, though one was filedSunday in New Orleans. Former NFL playersJimmy Williams, Rich Mauti, Jimmy Keyes andNolan Franz claim the league hid informationabout the dangers of brain injury.While neither Lynch nor Aikman were partof the original lawsuit, both know a thing or twoabout concussions.Lynch was one of the league's hardest hittingsafeties in Tampa Bay and Denver from 1993through 2007. Though Lynch has said he wasnever officially diagnosed with a concussion, hetold a Tampa columnist in 2011 that there weretimes he was "woozy" and asked a teammate totake his spot closer to the line of scrimmagewhile he recovered.Aikman won three Super Bowls with theCowboys during the 1990s, but his 12-yearcareer ended prematurely in part because ofrepeated concussions.Today, Lynch and Aikman say they feel"great" and have shown no symptoms of longtermdamage.In fact, Aikman said he recently was tested inDallas. Doctors, Aikman said, told him Tuesdaythat the tests were all clear.While Aikman believes the settlement willhelp the former players with the most immediateneed, he called the settlement a "win" for theNFL."It's a lot of money, but I think in terms ofwhat could have been paid, it's not that much,"Aikman said. "I think probably in the bigscheme of things, it's a real positive. These guyswill be able to benefit some and some moneywill be put into research, which will help. Theone thing I'm disappointed about is that the NFLdidn't have to acknowledge what they knewabout (the long-term impact) and when theyknew about it. I think full disclosure would havebeen the best way to go, but that's not going tohappen now."If Lynch is right, perhaps the league will beforced into divulging more details.Until then, the two will continue callinggames on Fox Sports, where they have a newteammate in Randy Moss. The former receiverhas rarely held his tongue, which is exactlywhat Fox executives wanted."He's being himself," Fox Sports executiveproducer John Entz said. "He's being very naturaland organic, which is what we love abouthim."Moss acknowledged that he hasn't settled ona style, and he may show a certain penchant forteams he played with during his career. Whenasked to pick which NFC North team hethought would pose the biggest challenge toGreen Bay's reign, he first said he was "biased"before blurting out the expected: The MinnesotaVikings.And like the eccentric receiver who startedhis career in Minnesota, Moss didn't mincewords, noting the two most important positionsin football are quarterback and running back."I'm just excited to have something differentin my life and something that I do know aboutis football," he said. "There's not too manythings I do know about, but I do know football."FLORHAM PARK, N.J.AP) — Geno Smith is the newace of the franchise for theew York Jets.Well, at least for the openingame of the season.Beyond that, we'll see.The rookie quarterback willtart for the Jets in the opener atome Sunday against theampa Bay Buccaneers. Theeam finally confirmedednesday what had beenxpected since Mark Sancheznjured his right shoulder in areseason game against theiants on Aug. 24."They'll try to rattle myage," Smith said of theuccaneers. "I expect thoseuys to come out fired up andhey want to make a statement.hey've got a rookie quarterackand they'll want to hit mend get me off my game, but Ixpect those things. And I lookorward to it."But, will Greg Schiano's deensebe able to unnerve him?"No," Smith said with aonfident smile.Smith, who had an up-andownpreseason, was the team'second-round draft pick out ofest Virginia after he was proectedby many to be selectedarly in the opening round.fter Smith threw three intereptionsand took a safety inhree-plus quarters against theiants, it was widely assumedanchez had won the job. Butex Ryan chose to put Sanchezn the game in the fourth quarer— and he suffered thenjury that could sideline himeveral weeks."We realize that a rookieuarterback and all that, that'sertainly a challenge," Ryanaid. "I think our guys areeady to rally behind Geno, andhe big thing we've told Genos, 'You just have to be part ofhe solution.'"Despite announcing Smiths the starter for this week,yan wouldn't commit to hims the long-term guy underenter. It was an approach thatas echoed by both owneroody Johnson and generalanager John Idzik."We'll always put the bestlayer we can on the field onSunday, and that will continue,"Johnson said. "The competition'songoing."With Smith stepping intothe starter's role, it makesSanchez's status with the teamunclear. Ryan has still neverdeclared a winner to the competition— and he might notever do so. If Smith can besolid during Sanchez's absence,he could make it hard for Ryanto pull him. And, by never sayingwhether Smith or Sanchezhad won the job, Ryan wouldnever technically have benchedthe anointed starter.While many look at themove as the team moving forwardwith a new quarterback,Idzik was asked if, when&PresentNew England’s Largesthealthy, Sanchez has a chanceto be the Jets' starter again."Yes, of course he does,"Idzik said.The Jets also have the inexperiencedMatt Simms, whohad a terrific preseason, andrecently signed journeymanBrady Quinn. But withSanchez not ready to playSunday, the choice for Ryan,Idzik and offensive coordinatorMarty Mornhinweg was easyfor this week."We'll go through some upsand downs, I guarantee youthat," Mornhinweg told theteam's website. "KnowingGeno, hopefully there will bemore ups than there aredowns."Tug O’ WarCompetitionAutumnfest, Columbus Day Weekend, 2013This Megawar Competition will take place at“The Beach” area of World War II, Veterans Memorial ParkSunday, October 13, 2013 Noon-4:00pmGive yourteam achance toWIN$1,000.00$500.00$250.00TEAMS ARE NEEDED!Two categories: Open (adults 18+) Entry Fee $100.00High School - Entry Fee $0.00For more information & applications contact(e-mail preferred)Richard & Cheryl Savaria(401) 527-8959/rtsavaria@cox.netMaryLynn Bosiak(401) 767-8500/mlbosiak@woonsocketcall.comApplications can be picked up atThe Call - 75 Main StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895This event is brought to you by&