Archives for October 2000

‘Coleman had three interceptions Monday night, two of them on the same drive in overtime (he fumbled one away). The last one led to John Hall’s game-winning field goal. Coleman nearly had a fourth interception, but he dropped a ball earlier in the game. He is now second on the team in interceptions behind Victor Green, who has four. "If I had three picks, I might retire," Glenn said. "They say they come in bunches, so if you have three, you can’t retire, because you might get four and five." That could happen on Sunday because Coleman figures to be defending against the Bills’ go-to receiver, Eric Moulds, when the teams play in Buffalo. Moulds is Buffalo’s leading receiver and has already caught 53 passes for 695 yards. That is almost 20 more receptions than any Jet has. Part of Coleman’s drop in statistics reflects the fact that opposing offenses avoid throwing to his side of the field. But because Moulds is such an integral part of the Buffalo offense, Coleman is confident he will have plenty of work.’

‘When asked whether he felt he could sway Bills coach Wade Phillips with strong play while Johnson is out (likely for at least two more games), Flutie said it was unlikely. "I don’t have any control over that decision," Flutie said. "I’m going to just try to play the best I can play and if it makes it difficult on them to make a decision, great. But I don’t think there’s going to be a decision to be made no matter what I do."’

‘"It just depends on how well they play," Flutie said. "Yes, they had one less day to heal up, so maybe (Wednesday’s) practice was a little bit sluggish, but that’s about it. After that, everything will be back on an even keel and they’ll be ready to go."’

‘Normally, in the midst of game-planning for the upcoming opponent, he doesn’t watch on Monday night. But since his team hosts the Jets Sunday, Phillips tuned in. "I get the tape at the 6 a.m. (the next day)," he said, "but I had it on because sometimes I can pick up audibles … which you can’t hear on the film. But (on the telecast) you also can’t see as well (the whole alignment of the 22 players) to analyze things as you can on film. "Really," Phillips added, "I was watching the game just to watch it, since we’re playing (the Jets) this week and we know each other so well." And even though he didn’t witness the finish live, Phillips sees nothing but good coming from the Jets’ remarkable comeback. "It can’t do anything but help," he said.’

‘Seven games into the season, he’s on pace to shatter a number of franchise records. His 53 receptions are 37 short of Reed’s mark set in 1994, and he is on track to eclipse his own 1998 record of 1,368 receiving yards. Moulds plays down his performance, saying it means little when the Bills (3-4) are struggling.’

‘Last week against Miami, the Jets played three different players at the free safety position. Kevin Williams started. The Scott Frost took over and he was followed by Chris Hayes. This instability at free safety is starting to hurt the Jets.’

‘Jets players admitted Wednesday that they are starting to amaze themselves with their own heroics. "We certainly have a sense of a little magic in the air," Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet said as he prepared for Sunday’s AFC East game in Buffalo. "Magic and some luck." "I don’t know if it’s magical, but I think something special is a better word for it," Jets safety Victor Green said.’

‘The Buffalo Bills will conduct their annual Cans From Fans food drive at Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Fans are welcome to bring in cans and other non-perishable food items, which will be collected at the stadium gates by wives of the Bills’ players and coaches. Cash donations also will be accepted. The drive benefits the Food Bank of Western New York. Bills coach Wade Phillips and his wife, Laurie, are chairing the effort. "There are thousands and thousands in our own community who are hungry, and one small way to help alleviate the problem is this drive for the Food Bank," Laurie Phillips said.’

‘The Bills are looming, waiting to pay the Jets back for a 27-14, Sept. 17 loss like extra-hot Buffalo chicken wings eaten too late at night. "You can’t sit back and bask in the glory, you have to move on," defensive tackle Ernie Logan said, recalling Groh’s message. "We won. Now we’re playing Buffalo. "You sit back and you think about last week’s game when Buffalo is preparing to get back at you. . . . The Bills felt that was a game they let get away from them, rather than us beating them." There is a cautionary warning right there on game film of the 3-4 Bills. If not for receiver Peerless Price’s fumble with less than three minutes left last Sunday, the Bills might have left the Minnesota Vikings in an imperfect heap instead of at 7-0 as the league’s lone undefeated team.’

‘He’s officially questionable for this Sunday’s critical AFC East showdown with the New York Jets, the team he was injured against on Sept. 17, but it’s looking more and more as if he’ll play.’

‘Bills coach Wade Phillips hinted yesterday that he might make a change in his dime defense, and though he wouldn’t confirm it, Daryl Porter all but did. "I’m not going to count myself out, I’m just basically going to learn and try to help out Travares (Tillman) and make sure he knows exactly what he’s doing," said Porter. Porter has been torched the last few games for big plays, including the winning touchdown by the Vikings last week, and it appears that he’s headed for the bench in favor of the rookie second-round draft choice Tillman.’

‘Do not look for a Jets player among the league leaders for quarterback, receiver, running back, sacks or interceptions. The Jets are not ranked among the top offensive or defensive teams, either. There is only one place in a sea of statistics where one can easily find the Jets: atop the American Conference East.’

‘When Al Groh described his halftime tirade during the Jets’ 40-37 Monday night classic victory over the Miami Dolphins in overtime, he smiled. “I sang ’em a lullaby,” he said. Not really; a lullaby puts a baby to sleep. This lullaby would have burned little kids’ ears. It woke up all those big babies in green-and- white uniforms who fell behind, 30-7, before their fourth-quarter explosion on four of Vinny Testaverde’s five touchdown passes. More important, this lullaby showed not only that the Jets’ new head coach is in command, but also that his players will play hard for him.’

‘The first-place Jets (6-1) face the Bills (3-4) Sunday at Orchard Park in a game that screams of a potential emotional letdown. Coach Al Groh, trying to prevent it, addressed the subject in yesterday’s team meeting. "I think they’re well aware of the fact that most of (the Bills) had gone to bed, and so they’re not all that impressed with what we did," Groh said.’

‘It was overshadowed by Vinny Testaverde’s five touchdown passes and Jumbo Elliott’s improbable touchdown and Marcus Coleman’s interception hat trick, but perhaps the most impressive individual performance in the Jets’ dramatic comeback win over the Dolphins was Richie Anderson’s receiving. He caught 12 passes for 109 yards. Think about that for a second: 12 receptions. Only three times in the 41-year history of the Jets has a player produced more receptions in a single game – Clark Gaines (17 in 1980) and Al Toon twice (14 in 1988 and 13 in 1988). Anderson didn’t garner much publicity for his monster game, but it has been that kind of season for him – sneaky good. "A lot of people talk about me being the most underrated back; I think Richie is the most underrated back," Curtis Martin said yesterday at Hofstra. "He means so much to this team. He’s like the motor for this team. Once Richie gets going, a lot of us get going.’