Broken foot didn't slow Dareus, Bills' spoiler efforts

If you weren't sure how much the Buffalo Bills wanted to play spoiler to the New York Jets' playoff hopes Sunday, just check out Marcell Dareus' Instagram post Monday:

Broke my foot in the 4 qtr, but I had to finish the game for my team. I love Buffalo #Family #BillsMafia

A photo posted by Marcell Dareus (@cell57to99) on Jan 4, 2016 at 10:34am PST

As noted by Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, Dareus was involved in Ryan Fitzpatrick's second of three interceptions in the fourth quarter, putting pressure on the veteran signal-caller and forcing an under thrown pass.

The severity of Dareus' foot injury is unclear at this point.

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Disdain the name of the game as Bills sound off on Pats

If you weren't already sure, the Buffalo Bills don't care much for the Patriots.

The two teams are set to face off in the year's first divisional bout Sunday, and the players followed their coach's "hated Patriots" lead Tuesday, sounding off on the perennial nemesis.

"Don't nobody likes the Patriots," defensive lineman Marcell Dareus said Tuesday. "Let’s just be honest about it now. Put it out there."

Aside from the scandals that have come and gone over the years, the Bills have a bunch of reasons to hate the Pats -- 20 to be exact. That's how many times they've lost to New England since 2004, compared to only two wins (one coming at the end of last season).

For more Tuesday comments from Bills players, via WEEI.com, click here.

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Bills solidify D-line, sign Dareus to multi-year extension

Looks like the league's gonna have to worry about Buffalo Bills defensive front for longer than just this season.

Marcell Dareus, the team's last starting lineman without a long-term contract, inked a seven-year extension Thursday, solidifying one of the league's most talented squads for at least a few more years.

Jerry Hughes, a recipient of his own contract extension earlier this year, was thrilled with the idea of the whole crew being together until at least 2018.

"It just shows that the future is very bright," he said. "For them to come out and extend Marcell the way they did it’s tremendous for him, the ownership, the Bills organization. So we’re just happy to have him back in the building."

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AP: Contract talks with Pro Bowler Dareus stalled

The Buffalo Bills haven't reached a long-term contract deal with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Marcell Dareus yet, and it doesn't look like one will come soon.

According to the Associated Press, sources familiar with the negotiations state talks have hit a wall and have not happened in weeks. The news comes on the heels of GM Doug Whaley's comments earlier this week, where he said, "these take time."

Dareus was named an All-Pro last season and is the last member of the Bills' dynamic defensive front to sign a long-term contract.

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Dareus suspended for Week 1 following drug arrest

Marcell Dareus' off-the-field issues are starting to affect his on-field participation.

Following a plea deal last month where Dareus paid two traffic tickets for his role in a street-racing incident in Hamburg, N.Y., prior to the start of last season, the Buffalo Bills defensive tackle will now miss the team's season opener.

The two-time Pro Bowler was arrested in Alabama last May -- before his Fast and Furious ordeal -- on drug charges, and the league issued his one-game suspension Thursday. Dareus will miss Week 1 of the season, when the Bills take on the Indianapolis Colts.

"Last year, I made a mistake involving possession of a banned substance," the 25-year-old said in a prepared statement via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. "The NFL's discipline for this conduct is part of the drug policy, and I apologize to my family, my teammates, the entire Bills organization and Bills fans that I will miss one game as a result of my mistake. 

"I will work intensely that week and will be extremely happy to contribute to a win in week two for the Bills."

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Dareus headed to trial for alleged car-racing incident

Marcell Dareus may have made the Pro Bowl for the second straight year, but he also has a date in Hamburg Town Court during next season's offseason workouts.

Dareus appeared in court in Western New York Tuesday for a scheduled hearing, according to the AP, but it will be his appearance May 19 when he'll stand trial for his participation in an alleged street racing incident in May of 2014.

Dareus' attorney Michael Caffery reportedly shot down a plea deal made by the prosecution in the case, a deal that would have allowed all charges to be dropped if the defensive tackle plead guilty to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge.

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Dareus exited for bout with 'good dude' Pettine

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Mike Pettine is back in Western New York. And he's back in enemy digs.

Pettine, who spent a year as the Buffalo Bills' defensive coordinator following a stint with the New York Jets, is now leading the upstart 7-4 Cleveland Browns as head coach.

The Browns come to the Ralph Sunday in a battle between playoff hopefuls, and Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus expects his former coach to try and exploit what he can.

Marrone doesn't see Dareus-gate as a distraction

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

First, it was his offseason arrests. Then, a failed conditioning test Saturday. Sunday and Monday, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle was absent from training camp due to a court date for his first alleged crime in Alabama.

Wednesday was the second consecutive day the 24-year-old was in attendance at camp, though still limited due his failed test. He reportedly participated in a slew of conditioning drills including sprints and bike work.

Coach Doug Marrone was peppered with questions about Dareus following Wednesday's workout, and he insisted the on- and off-field issues with the Pro Bowl lineman are not a distraction for him or the team.

Dareus refuses plea deal for street-racing charges

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has a fairly good chance of starting the first game of the season against the Chicago Bears. After that, things may get a bit tougher.

The 24-year-old was spotted by Ed Drantch WIVB-TV in Buffalo while leaving court in the Town of Hamburg Tuesday. He was present for charges stemming back a month ago, where he was allegedly involved in an illegal street race with teammate Jerry Hughes.

His appearance yielded a follow-up court date set for 10 a.m. Sept. 9, according to Dareus' attorney, Michael P. Caffery.

Dareus lands pre-trial program for Ala. felony charges

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Buffalo Bills Marcel Dareus hasn't been vocal about much since his recent run-ins with the law, except that he's made efforts to put the incidences behind him and focus on football.

Wednesday, the 24-year-old got one step closer to those goals, as he was reportedly accepted into a pre-trial program for felony drug charges he's facing in Alabama.

Marrone not ready to give up on troublemaker Dareus

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus told reporters last week that he "wasn't a trouble guy" following a felony arrest that started after being pulled over for speeding in Alabama a month ago.

Apparently his definition of trouble is different than ours.

Two days after making those comments, Dareus was involved in another speeding-related incident -- this time crashing his car into a tree during an apparent drag race in Hamburg, according to the Buffalo News. He was charged Friday with three misdemeanors and other traffic violations and appeared in court Monday for those charges; he was released on his own recognizance.

Bills' D-line pressure a key factor under Schwartz

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

In a scheme that blitzed more than most last season, the Buffalo Bills' defensive line under Mike Pettine wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

Under newly hired defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, however, those opportunities may have to be more individually established.

While talking shop with colleague and Bills beat writer Mike Rodak, ESPN's Detroit Lions writer Michael Rothstein filled in the Bills faithful on what to expect from their new acquisition, particularly when it comes to creating pressure in the backfield.

Bills' D-tackles ready to 'get after it' under Schwartz

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Buffalo Bills went from one aggressive defensive coordinator to another, hiring former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz a day after Mike Pettine departed for the Cleveland Browns last week.

Buffalo's defenders have already begun turning the page, getting the 411 on their new leader from Schwartz's former players.

"I talked to Sammie (Hill) and Nick Fairley briefly about him," Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus told BuffaloBills.com this weekend. "They say he is a good defensive coordinator and lets you get after it. That’s mainly what I am looking for."

Bills seek consistency from interior of D-line

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Kyle Williams said Tuesday that he "just wants to win." Before that can happen, the defense needs some consistency.

Buffalo's defensive front showed signs of promise last season, though it was overshadowed by bouts of dreadful run defense. (photo: Matt Britt, Flickr)

As the team continues to count on Williams to provide the strong leadership and stability that he has the past seven years, another lineman they're hoping can continue to step up is third-year tackle Marcell Dareus.

Bills' defensive line listings telling of transformation

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Though the move may have flown under the radar a bit this week, Kyle Moore’s departure to the Chicago Bears paints an interesting picture for the future of the Buffalo Bills’ defensive front.

As reported by Tim Graham of the Buffalo News, Moore shipped off to Chicago after signing a one-year deal Monday. (photo: Chris Seward, Flickr)

That left the Bills with only two "listed" defensive ends on the roster: Mario Williams and Mark Anderson.

Bills' D-line prepping for Kelsay-less late-season run

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

The Buffalo Bills' heated-up defensive line looks to build on its recent success without a key piece of its front -- defensive end Chris Kelsay.

Kelsay re-aggravated a neck injury last weekend that he first initially acquired a month ago in practice. After trying to play through the ailment that kept him out for two weeks, the Bills were forced to place the 10-year pro on the Injured Reserve list to help bolster needs elsewhere. (photo: LostBob, Flickr)

“I want what’s best for the team,” Kelsay told buffalobills.com. “I’ve always approached it that way so I understand and respect their decision. Having never had to go through this situation before it’s frustrating, but I’ll move forward.

"We’ve been playing great defense the last few weeks. To be standing on the sidelines and watching it from afar it’s disappointing.”

Bills to use bye to assess 'Jekyll and Hyde' defense

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

It took seven weeks, but frustrations surrounding the production of the Buffalo Bills' “new and improved” defense have finally spilled out of the locker room.

While coach Chan Gailey called the defensive effort a “Jekyll and Hyde situation” in an appearance on WGR 550 radio on Monday, defensive end Chris Kelsay leaned more toward the Jekyll side, calling out the group and claiming some were just straight slacking.

“You watch the film and not everybody was playing hard every snap and that’s unacceptable,” Kelsay told reporters Monday after the team's debilitating loss to the Titans. “Maybe as leaders some of us have let some things slide and we can’t do that. We’re not going to allow it.”

Starting with the 385-yard, 48-point egg the Bills' defense laid against the Jets on opening day (partial thanks to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and the special teams), the group has been bad. Buffalo is currently last in the league in rushing defense and third-down defense. It is next-to-last in points allowed (32). It has by far given up the most 20-plus yard plays, and it is currently allowing teams a 76 percent success rate in the red zone.

Harbaugh: Dareus may be NFL's most powerful DT

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

The Buffalo Bills' defense, now ranked 27th in the league, hasn't started off the season quite like it had hoped. But that doesn't mean everyone on the squad is struggling.

Second-year defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been making strides on the inside of the Bills' defensive front, and people are starting to notice.

“(Dareus) is maybe the most powerful, athletic tackle in the game,” San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said of the former first-round draft pick when talking to reporters Wednesday. “And he doesn’t come out ever. He’s in there on the pass rush downs as well. Big, 330 (-pound) plus guy that can move. It’s impressive when you watch the film, the end-zone shot of him lined up in there. He’s a big powerful man that can run.”

Dareus has tallied two sacks in his first four games, and coach Chan Gailey acknowledged Monday that that the former Alabama product has shown good production thus far, despite all that he has taken on so far this season.

Interior of Bills' D-line to benefit from DE additions

Photo: Matt Britt, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Acquiring defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson to the Bills' defensive line has made things a little more exciting for the guys on the inside.

Buffalo, which is installing new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt's 4-3 defensive scheme this offseason, hopes the addition of the pair of proven pass-rushers will open things up for second-year defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and veteran interior defensive lineman Kyle Williams.

"We get to crash the pocket from the outside and not just from the inside," Dareus said Thursday, according to BuffaloBills.com. "It just brings more versatility to the defense."

Dareus tallied 43 combined tackles and 5.5 sacks in 16 games last season. Williams had 5.5 sacks of his own in 2010 but only played in five games last season due to injury. Having a premier pass-rusher in the former Texan Mario Williams and double-digit sack-getter from a season ago in the former Patriot Anderson drawing opposing offense's should help Dareus and Kyle Williams' production.

While much-improved, Bills' D not getting younger

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

As the saying goes, with age comes wisdom. For defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt's new 4-3 scheme, however, age could spell worry for the Bills' defense.

Buffalo gave its 'D' a huge shot in the arm with the signings of linemen Mark Anderson and Mario Williams early in free agency. Anderson amassed 10 sacks last year, including two forced fumbles. Williams, in only five games, tallied five sacks and a forced fumble of his own.

Sacks are something the Bills need in 2012, finishing near the bottom of the league last year in that department. Additionally, Buffalo may need to start looking for some young backups for its aging defensive lineup.

As it stands now, the Bills have arguably the best defensive line in the AFC, consisting of Williams, Anderson, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Out of the four, however, Dareus is the only one under 27. In fact, Dareus, safety Jairus Byrd and linebacker Kelvin Sheppard are the only tenative starters under 27. The other two projected linebackers, Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison, are 31 and 30, respectively. The defensive backfield includes Terrence McGee, Drayton Florence and George Wilson, who will all be 31 this year. Safety Bryan Scott will also be 31.

Buffalo's older starters were productive last season. Wilson was fifth in the AFC in combined tackles among defensive backs and fifth in interceptions. Barnett was second among linebackers in interceptions in the AFC behind the Jets' David Harris. He also finished fourth in combined tackles and sixth in pass deflections.

Obviously, the starting roster is subject to change prior to opening day, especially given what happens in the draft and and in preseason workouts. Many of the younger players such as Torell Troup and Justin Rogers have shown promise, but many of the other next-in-line guys, namely Chris Kelsay (who will see a lot of time) and Dwan Edwards, are aging as well, or inconsistent due to injury (Shawne Merriman).

It can only help the cause that the Bills will face all eight of the eight worst-ranked offenses from 2011 this season, and that all four teams that gave up at least 50 sacks in '11 are on the Bills' schedule this year.

Buffalo seems likely to improve at the offensive line position and at wide receiver in the early rounds of the draft, but the real surprise may be what it decides to do with the rest of its picks. The Bills have already proven they make the most of their late-round picks, and if it can add a couple of instant starters to its veteran crew, Buffalo may boast a much more dangerous defense than it gets credit for.

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