Archives for August 2003

‘There were some good things to come out of Thursday’s game, including the performance of backup quarterback Mike McMahon. When he entered the game, the Lions were down 14-0 and Bryson fumbled the ball on McMahon’s second play from scrimmage. After that, though, McMahon led Detroit on four consecutive scoring drives and Detroit took a 16-14 lead.’

‘More important, Buffalo finished comparatively injury free.’

‘Signed in the offseason as a free agent, Gary had been a disappointment during the exhibition campaign and his roster spot reportedly was in danger. But Gary helped his cause, carrying 16 times for 57 yards.’

‘Buffalo ran the ball 36 times and only threw 13. They averaged 3.3 yards per carry, but that includes three kneel downs. The average goes to 3.7, which still isn’t the four yards per carry you hope for. Gary had 57 yards and 16 carries while Joe Burns ran hard for 33 yards in nine attempts. Gary did have two fumbles. The second offensive line of Price, Ross Tucker, Ben Sobieski, Marques Sullivan and Mike Houghton dominated the line of scrimmage. Tucker played center.’

‘Wide receiver Antonio Brown: “I’ve got 10 guys in front of me and they are doing a heck of a job. Anytime they allow me to use my God-given ability to run, something like that can happen anytime.”‘

‘Coach Williams always says that we’re each individual contractors, and we have to bring different things to the team. Hopefully I showed them enough where they want to keep my company around.’

‘”I’m going to let the cards fall where they may. I feel that I’ve done the little things right, so I am going to let the cards fall where they may.”‘

‘Do you feel you have a team that’s better than New England? We feel we do. Anytime you go out there and play you have to feel you are better. We get to play them at home so that is an added bonus for us. But we have to go out and still prove it. On paper we may look like a better team, but at the same time they’ve made some improvements with their team. We’ll play next week and see what happens.’

‘”That is the biggest change from last year’s camp and preseason, to this year’s camp is the depth. The marquee players, the big play guys, are kind of the same. You have Moulds, you have Travis Henry, you have guys like that that can make the big plays for you. Across the board depth, I think we are a big step ahead of where we were last year. Our guys have some tough decisions to make as far as what the make-up of the team is going to be because we have so much depth at some spots.”‘

‘On Ruben Brown’s injury: “He’s fine. He had a bruise. He would have kept on playing (in the regular season).”‘

‘Stewart, who recorded his second-career 1,000-yard rushing season in 2002, was taken to the locker room at the 9:06 mark of the first quarter after he was hit by Bills safety Coy Wire on a third-down-and-one rush.’

‘After a slow start, the Lions took their first lead of the contest after a Jason Hanson 46-yard field goal put the Lions in front 16-14 with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter. That lead would quickly evaporate, however, during a 4th quarter Bills drive that spanned 16 plays and 85-yards, culminating in a one-yard Olandis Gary touchdown plunge. A two-point conversion handed Buffalo (3-1) a 22-16 lead they would not relinquish.’

‘Detroit Lions running back James Stewart separated his right shoulder in the first quarter of Thursday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Stewart was hit by safety Coy White, then tackled from behind by at least two other defenders. The injury occurred on the Lions’ second series.’

‘The Buffalo Bills today announced a six-year integrated marketing partnership with The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., including exclusive pouring rights at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Pepsi-Cola and Aquafina have also been named the Buffalo Bills’ official soft drink and bottled water, respectively.’