Archives for October 19, 2002

‘"They can talk all they want about Bledsoe competing with me, but we have the big No. 34 with the dreadlocks," Lucas said. "They can worry about me all week, and then when they get a dose of 34 down their throats, I think that’s all going to change real quick."’

‘Winfield’s absence means Chris Watson will start, while Jason Bostic takes Watson’s spot in nickel and dime coverages.’

‘With Winfield out, reserve Chris Watson is expected to take over as starter, alongside right cornerback Nate Clements. Watson has had trouble defending the pass this season, and he was benched for part of Buffalo’s 31-24 win over Houston last weekend.’

‘”With Ricky running the ball, it’s awesome. He keeps running that clock which is a key. Whoever’s playing us can’t do anything against our defense if we’re not on the field.”‘

‘One thing they have learned is that you never can be too prepared. In the early 1980s, Buffalo was playing the Dolphins in Miami, and someone stole 13 Bills helmets. “Fortunately, we were wearing white helmets and the Dolphins were, too,” Hojnowski said. “The Dolphins gave us some extra helmets, and we were able to cover over the Dolphins’ logos and stripes with the Bills logos and details we had brought down.”‘

‘”Coach (Marv) Levy is yelling at me and we’re all scrambling to find it,” he said. “We eventually found it at the end of the bench. At first, we thought somebody had stolen it. But I think what happened was that some player mistakenly thought it was his and picked it up, and then when he discovered it wasn’t his, he just put it down. The problem is he didn’t return it to where he found it.”‘

”’If you could ever tell, you could with Drew the way he’s playing,” Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor said. “He’s on a mission. He’s playing outstanding. I don’t know how his arm is holding up the way he’s throwing it all the time. . . . He’s 30 years old and looks like he’s 22 or 23 out there.”’

‘The Dolphins did catch an unexpected break, however, which could influence whether they play Chambers much Sunday: Bills starting cornerback Antoine Winfield, who was not previously on the injury report, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee Friday and is out.’

‘”We wanted to get an extension as injury protection, but they offered a contract that should have gone to the 51st player on the roster instead of Oronde,” said Michael Todd, Gadsden’ agent.’

‘It could explain why Mare, the NFL’s highest-paid kicker, has struggled some this season. He’s already missed four field goals, one more than in either of the past two years, and an extra point, equaling four of his five professional seasons.’

‘Gadsden said Friday he is no closer to making a decision whether he will have surgery, but he will not play Sunday against Buffalo.’

‘On Friday, Anthony, the former Glades Central and University of Florida star, auditioned for the Dolphins with five other receivers in the event Oronde Gadsden is forced to undergo season-ending wrist surgery.’

‘Williams said Bledsoe has been a team leader since the first day he walked in the door. And while the quarterback insists he is not playing like a guy with something to prove, his coach and those who have watched him on film will tell you otherwise.’

‘The loss of Winfield is a significant one for the Bills, who are giving up an average of 34 points per game while ranking 25th in total yards allowed.’

‘Buffalo Bills reserve running back Shawn Bryson will miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his left knee, while starting cornerback Antoine Winfield won’t play in Sunday’s game against Miami. Winfield, the Bills’ third-leading tackler this season, had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday, Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said. Berchtold said it was not immediately known how many games Winfield would miss.’