BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills could identify a new owner within three months, leading Gov. Andrew Cuomos stepping up the states efforts to secure the franchises long-term future in the region. A person familiar with the sale process told The Associated Press on Saturday there is an anticipation that the Bills could be sold by July, and the sale approved by NFL owners as early as the leagues meetings in October. The same person and another person also told the AP that at least one prospective ownership group has already toured potential new stadium locations in Buffalo. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the sale process has not been made public. The person would not identify which ownership group toured the city, what sites were viewed or who provided the tour. The Bills future in Buffalo is uncertain after team owner and founder Ralph Wilson died in March. Wilsons estate is in the process of hiring an investment banking firm that would oversee the sale of the team, which is expected to go to the highest bidder. The updated timetable has led Cuomo to speed up the states involvement in protecting its interests in preventing the Bills from relocating. The state intends to hire a consulting firm over the next week to produce a report within three months that would be issued to prospective owners. The report would identify potential stadium sites and outline public financing options that would be made available. That firm would work with sports business attorney Irwin Raij, whose contract was extended last month, to represent the state during the sale process. Raij specializes in stadium development projects and lease agreements. In 2012, he represented New York in negotiating the Bills 10-year lease that included a strict non-relocation clause that makes it difficult for the team to move before the 2020 season. The firm would produce its report ahead of the "New Stadium Working Group," a committee made up of public and private leaders, including Bills executives. The group has already met twice over the past month and is responsible for making recommendations whether a new stadium or renovations to the teams current home best fit the franchises needs to remain viable in Buffalo once the lease expires in 2023. The working group is expected to take six months or longer before making its recommendations, well after the team could be sold. Cuomo is intent on making sure a framework of a plan is in place much sooner, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy told the AP during a visit through the region Friday. "The governor wants to be prepared if there are any earlier offers to buy the team," Duffy said. "Our team is looking at sites now in Erie County, Buffalo, Niagara County. Were just being prepared because we dont know who the next owner will be. 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Ramirez kept up his torrid hitting with a two-run homer to help back Wily Peraltas solid start, and the Brewers extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.PARAMUS, N.J. -- Rory McIlroy took a week to celebrate his blockbuster summer and paid for it in The Barclays with his worst start in two months. He could afford a day off. That wasnt the case for players like Bo Van Pelt and Paul Casey, and they picked a good time to produce good scores. With no guarantee of playing beyond this week, Van Pelt opened with three straight birdies Thursday and chipped in for eagle late in his round for a 6-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the opener of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Van Pelt is No. 104 in the FedEx Cup. Only the top 100 advance to the next tournament. Casey is No. 118 with a lot on his mind -- specifically the birth of his first child in two weeks -- and played bogey-free at Ridgewood to join seven other players at 66. That group included Brendon Todd, who is trying to get Ryder Cup captain Tom Watsons attention as a possible wild-card pick; and Hunter Mahan, who at No. 62 is in danger of missing the Tour Championship for the first time since the FedEx Cup began in 2007. Ridgewood featured some of the deepest rough of the year, though the greens were soft enough to allow for birdies if players could keep it in the fairway. The average score was 70.8, with 44 rounds in the 60s. McIlroy was not among them. The British Open and PGA champion went 13 holes before he made his first birdie and finished with a 74. That ended a streak of 14 straight rounds under par, and it was his highest score in the opening round since a 74 in the Irish Open in June. "Fatigue isnt playing a part," he said. "Its I think just not putting the time in that I probably should have over the past week. And I think I allowed myself that and deserved that. But this is the consequence of it and I need to work hard this afternoon and go out tomorrow and shoot a good number." McIlroy established himself anew as golfs No. 1 player with a wire-to-wire win at the British Open, a come-from-behind win at a World Golf Championship and a late charge at Valhalla to win the PGA Championship and become the third-youngest player with four majors. "I wanted to enjoy it for a week," he said. Van Pelt doesnt have that luxury. He started his year missing seven cuts in nine tournaments before it slowly started to come around over the last month. He felt he was heading in the rigght direction and received more confirmation Thursday.dddddddddddd Van Pelt didnt make a bogey, and finished strong with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th and the eagle on the par-5 17th hole that put him in the lead. "As poorly as I played at the start of the year, Im just kind of glad to be here," Van Pelt said. "Things have been trending in a lot better direction. So I felt fortunate to be here with the position I was in three months ago. I just felt like if I kept doing what I was doing, hopefully I would at least get to next week and then kind of cross that bridge when I got there." Jim Furyk, Charles Howell III, Brendon de Jonge, Ben Martin and Cameron Tringale also were in the group one shot behind. Casey hasnt had a top 10 on the PGA Tour all season and didnt make it into the playoffs with much room to spare. Hes not sure how long hell be around, although a solid start was sure to help. "I think today was probably a product of really not having really any expectations and just going out there and smashing it around and having fun," Casey said. McIlroy had his fun last week, and he was headed to the range after his opening round to get his game back. He took an early double bogey by barely getting out of a bunker and chipping 15 feet by the hole on No. 12, and then going long into a bunker for a bogey on the par-5 13th. "Its not a bad thing," he said. "A score like this would be tougher to take if I had not just come off the weeks that I had. But at the same time, I want to play well and I want to give myself chances to win tournaments." Mahan is the only player to compete in every playoff event since the FedEx Cup began. He is assured of two tournaments, though he needs a good week somewhere to keep alive his hopes of reaching Atlanta for the Tour Championship. The top 70 advance to the third week, and the top 30 get to East Lake for the finale. Plus, he hopes to audition for one of the captains picks for the Ryder Cup. "It will be a bonus to make it to Atlanta and it will be a bonus right now to make the Ryder Cup team," Mahan said. "So I have nothing to be nervous about or get out there and doubt myself. I have to trust myself because everything Im doing is good and everything else will kind of take care of itself." 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