Archives for September 9, 2000

‘"I had a great fondness for that team," said Saban, who is coaching at Canton (N.Y.) Tech. "I thought it was one of those teams that I coached that did it when they were all beat up and still able to win the championship. I had great respect for the people as individuals as well as football players." Saban will return to Western New York this weekend and join some 40 of the 52 players on the Bills’ last championship team. Festivities include a cocktail party and dinner tonight, a ceremony before the Packers-Bills game Sunday and the Quarterback Club luncheon on Monday. Among those in attendance will be the stars of that game, Jack Kemp and Ernie Warlick, who connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass, and Butch Byrd, who had a 74-yard punt return for a TD. Others include Dubenion, Hall of Fame guard Billy Shaw, center Al Bemiller, fullback Wray Carlton, cornerback Booker Edgerson, linebacker Harry Jacobs, linebacker Marty Schottenheimer, quarterback-receiver Ed Rutkowski, defensive tackle Ron McDole and linebacker Mike Stratton. "It’s always good for a good time," said Stratton, whose tackle on Keith Lincoln in the ’64 title game was one of the biggest plays in team history. "You get to match your recollection of things against other people’s recollection. It’s amazing how much difference there can be. If you look back 35 years, I made all the tackles and (safety) George Saimes didn’t make any. Of course, he remembers it just the other way."’

‘Bentley is moving his wife and five children from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Western New York because he is the head coach of the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League. "I can’t not be there," said Bentley, who expects his Destroyers position to be mentioned in the broadcast. Fox, after all, has allowed him to continue coaching. "They understand that it really can only help as far as being a better broadcaster," Bentley said. "Now I can look at it not only as a former player but also from the perspective of a current coach."’

‘"I’ve had teams hold me to one catch and things, but I’m not really concerned about it," Moulds said. "If I go out and play hard, you can’t (double-cover me) every play, so eventually I’ll be singled up and that’s when I have to make the play." Moulds might have a field day tomorrow when the Bills play host to the Green Bay Packers. The Packers secondary is banged up and will be without Mike McKenzie, Green Bay’s top cornerback who hurt his knee during last week’s loss to the New York Jets.’

‘Green Bay Packers return specialist Allen Rossum will not only be the smallest player Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium but also possibly the biggest target. Two weeks ago, Rossum was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in their final exhibition game when, with 31 seconds left, he hustled around the corner and dived, attempting to block a field-goal attempt by Steve Christie of the Buffalo Bills. Rossum slid into Christie’s leg and the kicker went down for more than a minute before being carried off the field. Bills coach Wade Phillips was yelling and pointing at Rossum, who stayed with medical personnel until Christie was moved. His 33-yard field goal ensured the Bills’ 16-12 victory. Rossum was penalized 15 yards for running into the kicker. It turned out that all Christie received was a bruise below the knee, and within a few days he was fine. But some Bills were incensed at the time, given the circumstances. "In high school, we’d have had a fight after the game over something like that," Bills defensive end Marcellus Wiley said. Traded to the Packers the next day, Rossum forgot about the incident until he was asked at mid-week if he feared the Bills’ special teams would be out to wreak physical revenge. "You know, I’m not worried about that if they’re going to have that type of attitude," he said. "I didn’t try to hurt the guy. If that was the case, I would have run right for the kicker. He was coming down and we just bumped into each other." Bills general manager John Butler was as concerned as anyone about Christie’s condition at the time but absolved Rossum of malicious intent and doesn’t anticipate retaliation from Buffalo coverage units.’

‘"If Brett Favre pulls on that No. 4 jersey and goes out there to play, we know he’s going to give 110 percent," free safety Keion Carpenter said. "That injury stuff doesn’t mean a thing." Said defensive end Marcellus Wiley: "Brett Favre can go 0- for 20 then rip your heart out with pass 21. They say he’s hurt but like they say, a wounded animal is a dangerous animal."’

‘"No secret," Packers quarterback Brett Favre said. "(The Bills) are as good as they are hyped up to be. Very good, even better at home. Tremendous size up front and, on top of that, they’re very quick. "I’m not blowing smoke here, they’re good. We’ll have our hands full. By far the best run defense that we’ll probably face all year, or close to it. If you can’t run, then you have to throw every time and are playing into their hands." The heart of the defense are nose tackles Ted Washington and Pat Williams, perhaps an ideal combination of size and more size. Packers coach Mike Sherman used to coach Williams at Texas A&M, so he knows what the Packers are up against. "It’s a strong, powerful defense," Sherman said. "Washington is listed at 330 pounds, he might be more like 360. He is a huge man, probably one of the best run stoppers in football."’