Archives for October 3, 2003

‘"It’s big; it’s real big," Spikes said. "Just to know where I’ve come from, knowing where I’m at now, and knowing where I want to go, that’s how big an emotional game this game is going to be for me."’

‘Sunday, October 5, 1980 – Bills 26, San Diego 24….Kush’s heroics enabled the Bills to win their first game on the West Coast since 1966 and to return home as professional football’s only undefeated team.’

‘LeBeau seems forever tagged as “great assistant, bad head coach,” yet Kitna thinks LeBeau can still be an excellent head man, “but he needs a team that has veteran leadership that steps up and says, ‘You can’t do it like this.’ Everyone says he wasn’t a strong disciplinarian,” Kitna said. “To me, that says we didn’t have the right leadership in the locker room. Ultimately, he shouldn’t have to be the disciplinarian. If you talk to guys on other teams, the 49ers back in the day, they take care of a lot of things through the veterans.”‘

‘The Bengals have been in every game and unlike the Bears or the Jets, you can see the week to week improvement. They’re playing a good Bills team that needs to settle down and find their rhythm.’

‘Coach Marvin Lewis did not commit to Johnson taking the lead role at Buffalo, saying he would continue to work Bennett into the mix. But if anyone is called on to grind out tough yards, there’s little doubt it will be Johnson.’

‘Longtime Bengals player and assistant coach Tim Krumrie is in his first season as defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati’s opponent Sunday. As a player, Krumrie was legendary for his toughness and intensity. Apparently, nothing has changed.’

‘"I think Nate sets the bar high," Gray said. "I think that’s what he’s working to get to. Any time you are a top corner in this league, it’s called consistency. Either you are getting a lot of interceptions and not giving up plays or you’re getting no interceptions and you’re not giving up plays. But No. 1, you’re not giving up plays."’

‘"It sounds like a jealous comment, a racist comment coming from a jealous standpoint," Gash said. "Black people play quarterback, white people play quarterback and it doesn’t really matter. I don’t think you should single out any position based on race or creed. . . . I don’t look at Drew (Bledsoe) and say, "He should be a better white quarterback.’ "’

‘Four months into their sales drive for suites and club seats, the Bills have compiled somewhat stronger numbers, selling between half and three-quarters of the different types of premium seats for three- and five-year commitments that begin next fall.’

‘"They’ve got two real good, respectable cover corners and to me the best run support corner I’ve ever seen is Antoine Winfield," said Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, never one to miss a chance to talk trash about another player but who became serious when talking about Buffalo’s corners. "Most DB’s do not want to make tackles, but in this game and this situation we’re playing against the whole package — cover, tackle, the whole nine yards."’

‘Through four games, Peter Warrick and Chad Johnson are just one of three wide receiver duos each with 20-plus receptions.’

‘”The only thing I’ll say on that, is that it was a stupid, stupid play,” he said, as if to take out a paddle and spank himself. “I was scrambling, and as I looked to the sidelines, I saw that big ‘4’ (on the down marker). There’s no place to hide. It was just a dumb play.”‘

‘"If guys have to go out and talk about what they are going to do, then they don’t have much confidence because they are trying to convince themselves they can do it," Lewis said.’

‘"He’s outstanding at throwing the football and he plays with some toughness in there," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "He’s not a guy who shies away from getting hit. Obviously, he’s been a big part of the improvement of the Bills over the last two years. He’s a fine quarterback."’

Marvin Lewis had a chance to become coach of the Buffalo Bills following the 2000 season. But the Bills ultimately decided on Gregg Williams. [Lewis rejected the Bills.]