Bills ready to stick with Bledsoe as starting QB

Subpar numbers aside, quarterback Drew Bledsoe is confident he’s earned the right to remain the Buffalo Bills’ starter heading into next season.

“It’s my team,” Bledsoe said this week after the Bills missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

The Bills – from coach Mike Mularkey to team owner Ralph Wilson – agree with Bledsoe.

“It’s do you win or lose? That’s the stat that comes out most,” Mularkey said.

The Bills (9-7) enjoyed their first winning season since 1999, and first in three years since acquiring Bledsoe from New England in 2002.

Saban will be busy with Dolphins

In the weeks ahead, new Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban must revamp the coaching staff, evaluate the players he inherited, trim payroll to meet the salary cap, hire a player personnel chief, shop for free agents and prepare for the college draft.

“We’ll have a busy few months coming up,” Saban said. “Let me just say this: We will make haste slowly when it comes to making decisions. We’re going to be methodical in evaluating all those areas.”

He met with three assistant coaches, spoke at an introductory news conference and expressed confidence he can revive a franchise coming off its worst season since the 1960s.

Denver’s Lynch fined for illegal hit

Denver safety John Lynch was fined $75,000 by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts fullback Dallas Clark last weekend. A league spokesman said Lynch received the harsh penalty because this was his fourth fine for unnecessary roughness since 2001.