Archives for September 2003

‘With the 500-pound Belichick gorilla off his back, Gregg Williams had a bounce in his step. Smart game plans by Kevin Gilbride, Jerry Gray and Dick LeBeau helped Bills turned tide on Patriots, who dominated both meetings a year ago.’

‘Yes, the forecast is for 10 victories and a playoff spot for the Bills and, though I do so with some hesitation, I admit to joining the believers who see a return to the playoffs and a contract extension for Williams.’

‘”What we said from Day 1 is that our team has to get better around (Bledsoe),” said Bills coach Gregg Williams. “Drew just has to play quarterback. As a team, last year we weren’t good enough.”‘

‘In the team’s walk-through on Saturday, Bills coach Gregg Williams asked Milloy how many downs he could play. “He looked me in the eye and said, ‘I want to play in every one of them,’ ” Williams said. “That’s all I needed to know.”‘

‘A win in the first game of a treacherous 16-game NFL season isn’t any reason to get overly enthused. But give this bunch some leeway – and some credit.’

‘The Bills opened their season with a 31-0 shutout of the New England Patriots on a day when floating beach balls and shirtless patrons seemed appropriate for the balmy weather. It started with a star-spangled display that included a giant American flag, chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” from the 73,262 in attendance and a military fly-over that nearly skimmed the light stanchions.’

‘If there was one other undeniable fact about the Bills, it was that their revamped defense seems like it may be special.’

‘This was a day when Sam Adams had Patriots fans reaching for Jack Daniels.’

‘Huffin’ and puffin’, his legs the size of pistons on an oceanliner, Sam Adams cruised — literary license employed liberally — 37 yards with an interception yesterday and provided the backbreaking score in Buffalo’s 31-0 thumping of the Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘To have so miscalculated not only Milloy’s market value but also his value to the team both on and off the field is bad enough. To continue to profess no understanding of what he had done, even after Milloy played such a central role in stuffing his offense, gives one cause to wonder if this man has the slightest clue how human beings operate.’

‘Once again, we were reminded that there simply is no substitute for experience. Ty Law (No. 24) and Antwan Harris (No. 23) may be locker room neighbors, but the veteran corner and new (five days, and counting) starting safety seemed worlds apart yesterday on the field. And there were times that youngsters Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson looked a little lost.’

‘An NFL spokesman said the league was “looking into” the matter, but it didn’t appear there was an all-out investigation. Milloy told the Globe and SI.com last week that Poston had sought deals for him even before the Patriots released him. After yesterday’s game, Milloy told reporters there was no contact with other teams prior to his release by New England.’

‘The Bills’ other defensive tackle, Sam Adams (95), didn’t pass rush but shuffled to his right down the line of scrimmage. That put him in the direct line of Brady’s pass, which Adams intercepted and, amazingly, returned down the right sideline 37 yards for a touchdown.’

‘Second-guessers unite. Bill Belichick bashers, today is your day. Prepare to feast.’

‘“It was important for us to come out and start fast,” Bledsoe said. “We didn’t last year. Last year we came out, moved the ball, and then kind of bogged down on third-and-1 in the first drive of both games and the next thing you knew, we were down. “It was important for us to come out and have a good first drive, convert two big third downs, and take it down there and put points on the board. That was definitely important for us – to just kind of set the tone offensively. And then for our defense to come out and play like they did was tremendous.”’