Archives for October 31, 2002

‘”A lot of those guys are still my friends. If we lose the game, I’m going to hear about it all year. That’s a big motivator right there.”‘

‘The Bills have issued more than 50 credentials to Boston-area media; the normal amount for a visiting team is about 25, said Scott Berchtold, vice president of communications. “This isn’t unlike a playoff game,” Berchtold said.’

‘Tasker, always a credit to the NFL as a player and now as a broadcaster, deserves the honor of representing all of the relatively obscure players who have put their bodies on the line on special teams.’

‘Where the Pats apparently miscalculated was how quick Bledsoe could help turn around a team that finished 3-13 a year ago. Now the native of Walla Walla, Wash., has a chance to put a serious dent in his former team’s chance to make it to the post-season, let alone repeat as champions.’

‘Buffalo head coach Gregg Williams said he spoke to his players about the extra attention the game is receiving and while many said they want to win it for Bledsoe, he’s confident his players will keep their emotions in check. "We want to go out and fight for him because he’s a classy guy and a winner, he has proven that," said receiver Eric Moulds.’

”’The Bills are on a three-game winning streak and it’s no secret Drew’s done a good job,” Belichick said. ”He has a good group of receivers. Drew is the same now as he has been through his career. He’s made big plays in the passing game, has thrown the ball well downfield. He’s done a lot of things with a lot of skill throwing the football. Drew is a good football player. We traded him for a valuable pick [first round] and we hope he’s a good player.”’

”’Yes, time heals a lot of things and I think everybody knows that last year was a difficult year for me from the standpoint of going through the injury, and then going through the situation where I wasn’t able to get back on the field,” Bledsoe said. ”That was a hard year, but I really don’t – and I’m being honest about this – spend much time thinking about it. I’m having fun playing with the guys I’m playing with and I’m glad I’m in the situation I’m in.”’

‘The Patriots don’t need to worry about Drew Bledsoe this Sunday. They need to worry about themselves.’

”’Believe me I’m a part of the problem, and I’m going to be part of the solution, too. I remember a question being asked, `Did you call the guys out?’ And I said no, not a bit, and of course that’s what I heard I said. So like I said, maybe I didn’t express myself the way I wanted to and unfortunately things get said, and that’s part of losing four games in a row, too. I understand the role of the media, and the way it works, and I’m making your job easy, I guess.”’

‘“No matter how hard you try to avoid (complacency) and how much lip service you pay it, at some point you do start to take (being a starter) for granted a little bit – and I think I was guilty of that,” said Bledsoe. “But having this change – having to go through what I went through last year and then having a chance to get back on the field – has really renewed my passion for the game.”’

‘Brady may have shown some of the strain yesterday when a reporter asked him if he ever thought that he would be the one dealt from the Pats last spring instead of Bledsoe. “Don’t even think about that (expletive),” Brady snapped.’

‘“The players want to win for Drew,” said Moulds. “It’s an important game as far as the division is concerned, but it’s also important for a guy who is a main guy on the team.”’

‘What the Patriots are clearly worried about is opponents running wild on them, as the last five teams they’ve faced have had a 100-yard rusher. The suspect run defense has limited the Patriots’ ability to attack the passer on third down, because oftentimes opponents are facing third-and-3s instead of third-and-7s.’

‘Bledsoe forced the Patriots’ hand last spring. The Patriots didn’t go with the first option that presented itself. They went with the only option.’

‘"How he handled last year," Bills coach Gregg Williams said yesterday, "was a very large determining factor in us wanting to pursue a deal for Drew as aggressively as we did."’