Archives for December 22, 2002

‘The Bills gained just 53 yards in the first half and turned the ball over three times in Packers territory.’

‘Holliday registered five sacks and forced two fumbles as the Green Bay Packers remained alive in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 10-0 victory over the Buffalo Bills, who were eliminated from postseason contention.’

‘The Bills are already eliminated from winning the AFC East…’

‘In six months, he had lost 15 pounds and lowered his body fat from 11 percent to 4 percent while increasing his strength and speed. He can bench press 430 pounds, amazing for a 5-foot-9, 215-pound running back.’

‘"People always say, "Run the ball,’ " Gilbride said. "But the key is moving the ball. It’s not running the ball. It’s moving the ball and holding onto it and getting first downs. We’re first or second in the league at that, so we’ve done a good job."’

‘The Bills will be hard-pressed to find someone better than Rosevelt Colvin, the Chicago Bears linebacker whose contract is up after the season.’

‘How did Saban get all those jobs after resigning so often? The answer is that he is one of the great interviews of all time.’

‘The Green Bay Packers are an NFL-best 66-11 the past decade playing on their “tundra,” including an amazing 34-0 under quarterback Brett Favre when the temperature dips below 34 degrees.’

‘He didn’t want them to know that his father had deserted him when he was an infant or that his mother cared more about getting her next cocaine fix than being a mom. He didn’t want the world to know that he and his little sister, Christine, were nomads, bouncing from this home to that, occasionally sleeping on the streets of San Bernardino, Calif., and begging for food.’

‘[Q:] If you had to describe the violence of the NFL to someone who didn’t follow football, what would you say? [A:] ”I guess it’s like a schoolyard fight. There’s guys going at it, taking up sides, and then you have an intermission so you go at it again after recess. I like it. It’s a great way to make a living. You get paid to hit people, you take out your aggressions on somebody else and you don’t get in trouble for it. It’s fun to compete against guys, especially when everybody comes together and you win as a team. That makes it great.”’

‘The Bills have the cap room (particularly if they let Price go) to pursue one or two big-play defenders, preferably a pass-rushing end and a linebacker. Forcing more turnovers (the Bills are last in the NFL with 14 takeaways) would make the offense even more dangerous with better field position.’

‘The Packers are third behind Philadelphia (12-3) and Tampa Bay (11-3) in the race for the best record in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Philadelphia and Tampa Bay hold tiebreakers over Green Bay.’

‘The 7-7 Bills are mathematically in the AFC playoff race and need to win their last two games to have any chance of qualifying, but will need help. Suffice it to say the Bills are relative long shots. The Packers should have more urgency because they’re still in the thick of the race with Philadelphia and Tampa Bay for the top seed in the NFC.’

‘The Bills have a slim chance for a playoff berth, which makes them dangerous. Quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe and Brett Favre could get into a shootout. Take the Packers because they’re at home and still battling for overall home-field advantage.’

‘With nothing to show for the selection of Flowers, the Bills struggle rushing the passer. "They don’t have a guy who can legitimately put his hand on the ground and get consistent pressure off the edge," one scout said.’