Archives for November 2001

Graham, 23, will wear jersey #17 with the Bills. He replaces kicker Jake Arians, whom the team released yesterday.

Special teams captain, Sammy Morris, “I had no idea until our special teams meeting and Danny (Smith) kind of mentioned it. It’s kind of sad, but that’s how the league is.”

Williams said they’ll have their decision made by Monday evening and will go with a face that’s familiar to them, “We’ll go with some of the people we brought in here and worked out, that we had chance to take a look at first-hand.” It appears the leading candidate is another first year player, Shayne Graham. While the Bills could not confirm Graham as their next kicker Monday night he’s was due in Buffalo Monday evening. He’s expected to sign Tuesday.

Morris inadvertently gave a hint that it wouldn’t be a veteran kicker like Al Del Greco or Doug Brien when he spoke to the media Monday afternoon, “There’s not much we can do now as far as Jake getting cut. We have to welcome in the new guy and help him feel comfortable around our bunch of guys, and he’s never been in the league before. It’s up to us to make him feel comfortable.”

‘The Buffalo Bills spent the first nine games of the season attempting, usually in vain, to take a lead. On Sunday, they showed they can’t protect one, either. The Miami Dolphins, who didn’t score a single point at home against the New York Jets last week, put up 24 in the fourth quarter, including 17 in the final 4:09. Jay Fiedler’s 32-yard touchdown strike to Chris Chambers, the duo’s second score of that decisive stretch run, capped Miami’s 34-27 win. “I usually consider myself calm, cool and collected, but it was hard at the end for me,” said Buffalo defensive end Phil Hansen. “I’ve seen a lot in 11 years, and this is a new low.” The Bills yielded scores on Miami’s final four possessions, failed to pick up a first down when they could have run out the clock and set up the winning touchdown with Nate Clements’ fumbled kickoff return. Still clinging to an emaciated chance at forcing overtime with the clock running out, they couldn’t even spike the ball before it reached double-zero.’

Bills help out at Thanksgiving Party held at the Salvation Army as photographed by Jack Wheeler, TBD’s resident Blue Coat. Bills attending included David Dinkins, Ruben Brown, Junior Robinson as well as Bills mascot, Billy Buffalo.

The Buffalo Bills help out at the annual City Mission Thanksgiving Dinner as photographed by Jack in Syracuse, TBD’s resident Blue Coat. Players included Kris Farris (even with broken leg), Sammy Morris, Brian Moorman, and Jay Riemersma.

‘[Shayne] Graham, 23, was a standout at Virginia Tech, where he set the Big East Conference’s career scoring record with 371 points.’

‘And are we really supposed to buy the idea that Johnson watched Sunday’s game from a coaches’ box because the team didn’t want him to get hurt? Do they think we’re all idiots?’

‘"Hard to take is putting it lightly," tight end Jay Riemersma said Monday. "Especially when you have a win in your grasp like that."’

‘The steady stream of fights began before the opening kickoff and continued throughout the game, long before the Bills squandered their 10-point lead late in the fourth quarter.’

‘Nowadays, Jay Riemersma is a cannot-miss kind of guy. Standing six feet, five inches tall, the guy simply looks like a football player. In the five years he has played tight end for the Buffalo Bills, Jay has been a team leader and one of the most consistent contributors. He is well-spoken and thoughtful, so you will see him doing TV interviews often and making regular community appearances.’

"Nothing other than another opportunity to get better. At this point in time, we have to make that change, and that’s one we can make. It’s not a sacrificial lamb thing, there was offensive, defensive and special team mistakes, in all areas. You don’t lose a close ballgame like that just because of one area."

"It’s more than just that, we had lots of things that came up in that ballgame with situations that came up towards the end, but it wasn’t just the extra point, no," he said. "For three or four weeks, we’ve had kickers in here, as we’ve had other position players staying on top of all that should the need arise, and we believe the need arised. We’ve had a new snapper, and though that would calm things down, and it has done for the protection, as Mo [Umutoa] has done good things in protection. At this time, we need to make a move."

‘"A lot of teams like to step their play up when the lights and cameras are on," Stubblefield said. "There’s no doubt we’re not going to take these guys lightly. They almost won the Miami game."’

‘Christie will arrive in San Diego on Monday where he is expected to take over kicking duties from Wade Richey for the final six weeks of the season. Speculation is that Richey will likely stay on to handle kick offs for the team who next face Seattle.’

‘"You sit there and watch that all day and you get your heart hurt, because it never works out for you," Herman Edwards said. "As soon as you start counting on other teams to do work for you, you wind up with your heart broken. We’ve got to do what we have to do, handle our own business."’