Archives for October 3, 2001

‘Under NFL rules, the Bills had to wait until Christie was healthy before they could release him.’

‘The move to release Christie was expected after he refused an injury settlement, which could have allowed him to re-sign with the team after Week 10.’

‘While this week isn’t critical, it sure is pivotal. The Bills may be winless, but they also are bad hosts when the Jets pay their annual visit, having won five of the last six at Ralph Wilson Stadium. A loss would drop the Jets to 1-3 (1-2 in the division) and their summer talk about being a playoff team and aspiring to play in the Super Bowl would ring very hollow.’

‘Pat Williams looks around and shakes his head at what remains of the once-proud Buffalo Bills defense he played for during his first three NFL seasons. With preseason cuts, free-agent defections and in-season injuries, only one member of last year’s starting front seven – linebacker Keith Newman – will be on the field Sunday when the Bills host the New York Jets.’

‘Gregg Williams needed little time to consult his exhaustive database of candidates and peg Sheppard as his guy back in February. The new head coach said, "Mike has had to learn at the elbow of one of the masters of the West Coast offense in Mike Holmgren." But what exactly did Sheppard learn during his two-year stint as Seattle’s quarterbacks coach?’