Archives for November 9, 2001

‘"Like a wounded animal, they’ll come out fighting. They’re also playing better on the road. It looks like (quarterback) Rob Johnson doesn’t get booed, and they look more comfortable on the road."’

‘The Buffalo Bills are a bunch of losers. Okay, with the exception of Peerless Price, whom I’d adore even if he hadn’t done that absolutely wonderful job of catching a 61-yard Johnson pass. I just love that man’s name. Mama and Daddy must have loved that little boy to name him Peerless. And here’s to you, peerless Peerless, for living up to your name. That was one fine catch. And of course Eric Moulds, who gave Flutie a postgame hug and can always be counted on to work hard for his money. But a good portion of the Bills are losers, and not only because they lose games. They are losers because they cheat.’

Henry still faces possible punishment from NFL. Buffalo Bills rookie RB Henry was sentenced Friday to 100 hours of community service for having a sexual encounter with a minor. Henry was at a suburban Buffalo gas station when two girls approached him. The three went to Henry’s home, where the encounter took place, and after the 15-year-old girl told him she was almost 18. Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark previously said that a misdemeanor was the appropriate charge in cases involving similar circumstances.

‘Enter Brady, who was fourth on New England’s depth chart behind Bledsoe, John Freisz and Michael Bishop the last time the Bills travelled to Foxboro in 2000. Sunday, Brady gets his seventh start of the season when Buffalo comes calling, and all Brady has done in Bledsoe’s stead is lead the Patriots to a 4-2 mark as a starter.’

Sitting just off of U.S. Route 1 in the town of Foxboro, Mass., sits Foxboro Stadium, the soon-to-be-replaced home of the New England Patriots, as the construction of CMGI Field, the new 68,000-seat stadium that will open next season, towers over the older facility. This Sunday, Buffalo makes its final scheduled visit to 30-year old Foxboro Stadium, and will be the 31st and final visit of what has been a somewhat quirky series of games there.

"He is somebody I looked up to at the University of Miami. He’s had a great career in everything he has done. Without him the Bills wouldn’t have made their four Super Bowl run. He makes the players around him better. He was a winner. He was tough. He played quarterback with a linebacker mentality." -Vinny Testaverde

‘Another week, another starting offensive line combination. At least that’s what the Buffalo Bills are hoping for when they visit Foxboro Stadium on Sunday to take on the New England Patriots. Gregg Williams, still seeking his second win as a head coach seven games into the season, said Wednesday that Jonas Jennings will replace Marques Sullivan at left tackle against the Patriots, while Jerry Ostroski will take over for Jon Carman on the right side, assuming both would-be starters are healthy. That’s no small leap of faith — Jennings, who opened the year as the starting right tackle, has missed the last two games with a sprained foot. Ostroski hasn’t played in a game since the second week of the exhibition season, due to a fractured tibia. Both were listed as questionable on the mid-week injury report.’

Article from a fantasy football perspective, but interesting because it discusses/debunks common thoughts about why the Bills #1 offensive weapon has been so quiet this season. The article lays blame on the game plan of Offensive Coordinator Mike Sheppard.

‘ESPN even did a spoof of "The Brady Bunch," interviewing cast members who portrayed Tom as the "missing Brady." Even Brady’s New England Patriots’ teammates are having fun with it. "Yeah, too much fun at my expense," Brady said. "The scary thing is too many guys on our team thought it was for real."’

‘"It’s a little bit discouraging on Sunday when you’re out there watching other guys run around and having fun on the football field," said Prioleau (pronounced Pray-Low). "You miss it a whole lot. But week-to-week, I just prayed on it and knew that I would be back in the game." His prayers were answered when the Buffalo Bills signed him to their active roster Wednesday.’

‘Even New England coach Bill Belichick admits he wonders at times when veteran cornerback Otis Smith will reach the point of diminishing returns. "Each year you say, ‘How much longer is this going to last, at what point is he going to start to decline,’ " Belichick said, "and I just haven’t seen it. He really has the same qualities he did five years ago when we first got him."’

‘Willie McGinest hasn’t returned to the form that once prompted Patriots coach Bill Belichick to compare him to Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. However, he isn’t playing like Lawrence Welk, either.’

‘Damien Woody was asked straight out, ”Can the Patriots begin thinking about the playoffs?” ”Why not?” Woody said. ”We’re getting better week after week. If we can avoid mistakes and play our game, there’s no reason we can’t be a playoff team. We’re 4-4 right now, and that’s like 0-0. What we do the rest of the way, we can control that."’

‘Not able to wait any longer for Terry Glenn to get on the practice field, the Patriots had to bring in a fresh body, and yesterday signed former Buffalo Bills draft pick and former Chicago Enforcer (XFL) wide receiver Fred Coleman for the remainder of the season.’

‘New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has suffered enough. If he is asked one more time about Marcia Brady, he’s going to start wishing his last name was Partridge.’