Archives for September 18, 2003

‘Now in his fifth season with Buffalo after being the club’s first-round draft choice out of Ohio State in 1999, Winfield has forged a reputation as one of the hardest hitters, pound for pound, in the NFL.’

‘The Dolphins defensive backs did not speak with Miami reporters after Wednesday’s practice, but Chester was more than happy to speak for them. “I hope he spits on me, please,” Chester said. “That’s not cool. To disrespect a man like that, that’s not cool at all. I couldn’t let a man spit on me and be satisfied with it and I know Patrick isn’t satisfied with it.”‘

‘”I’ve been fired up ever since I heard those guys feel they are better than us.”‘

‘In his last four meetings with Miami, Moulds has averaged 122 receiving yards and a touchdown. “I know exactly when they’re playing man and when they’re playing double-team,” he boldly stated.’

”’I guess it’s just something in me that doesn’t care what people think of me,” Fiedler said. “I just go out there and get a job done. It’s a daily process of coming in and focusing on the game ahead, the next challenge.”’

‘Dolphins returner Charlie Rogers said he ”packed light” when he went from Seattle to Buffalo last season because it was clear he wouldn’t play for the Bills very long.’

‘With Marion out, cornerback Jamar Fletcher and safety Arturo Freeman saw action in the Dolphins’ dime package at practice. Wannstedt said he hasn’t decided whether Fletcher or Freeman would serve as dime cornerback against the Bills.’

‘Wannstedt said Williams could have had more than the 125 yards he rushed for against the Jets if the backside of a few plays were blocked differently.’

‘”If I hadn’t seen Drew go through his ordeal in New England, I would have been shocked,” Milloy said Wednesday of his Buffalo teammate. “But seeing Drew go through his situation, you learn there is no loyalty in this league. Loyalty is only good for the amount of your contract that is guaranteed, which is truly the signing bonus. As soon as your number escalates with the salary cap, the player is expendable. “No matter who it is.”‘

‘Rogers said he could have re-signed with the Bills for the veteran’s minimum ($530,000) but thought he deserved a raise. The Bills disagreed after he had career-low averages in punt returns (5.3 yards) and kickoff returns (20.0). “I definitely want them to think, ‘Well, we should have paid the guy,’ ” Rogers said.’

‘”I’ve been spoiled throughout the years of having some great safeties play for me for an awful long time. He’s in that category of player. He’s very credible because he’s done it for so long. He’s very instinctive. And he does a great job of walking the walk before he ever speaks up. He’s very valuable to our team right now in a young area of our defense.”‘

‘”There’s no loyalty in this league,” he said. “It’s only good for the amount of your contract that is guaranteed, which is truly the signing bonus. And then as soon as your number escalates with the salary cap, the player is expendable no matter who he is. That’s just the really unfortunate part of this business.”‘

‘After some serious thought, I will go with the Bills over the Chiefs in the AFC Title game. My opinion will probably change several times over the course of the season, but these two teams appear to be the most dominant at this time.’

‘The Jags, for example, sold out to stop the Bills running game, and it cost them dearly because they simply couldn’t put enough pressure on Drew Bledsoe even in 3rd and long situations. But near the goal line, they had to play both the run and pass equally, or honestly in other words, and the Bills o-line gave the hard running Henry just enough room.’

‘Bledsoe believes the team’s improved defense also helps the offense perform better. “Last year, you’re like, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to stop these guys, so we’ve got to put up as many points as we can,”’ he said. “This year, we’re able to utilize the whole playbook, and because of that teams have to play us more honestly.”’