Archives for December 16, 2003

‘James may have only played six seasons for Buffalo, yet he still made quite an impression. So much so that in ’98, his name was placed on the team’s Wall of Fame in Ralph Wilson Stadium. “It meant a whole lot as I looked up on that wall and realized I was the first defensive back that they selected to go up there, and knowing in the history of the ball club and all the great players that have come through that program,” James said. “I think it’s one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon any athlete by their team, knowing that they hold you in that high esteem to where they’re willing to honor you and place your name on the Wall of Fame. It’s a great honor, it really is.”‘

‘Mark Campbell’s diving 6-yard touchdown reception of a Drew Bledsoe pass with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter is among the five week fifteen nominees for the “NFL PLAY OF THE WEEK – PRESENTED BY LEVITRA” (vardenafil HCI) – introduced by the NFL this season.’

‘The 6-4, 316-pound Princeton alumnus, by all accounts, has performed impressively. And the numbers speak to that contention. Not only have the Bills won two of his three starts, the loss coming Sunday at Tennessee, but also Buffalo running back Travis Henry has rushed for 370 yards over that span while averaging nearly five yards per carry.’

‘The Buffalo Bills season officially completed its journey down the commode — a trip that lasted almost three months — on Sunday, splashing into the National Football League’s septic system along with Gregg Williams’ head-coaching career.’

‘”There have been some tough losses, some of those ones where we played very poorly. There was a lot of respect that I have for the guys because of how hard they played. It was a battle. It was a heavyweight battle and I told the guys (Sunday) in the locker room and at the meeting (Monday), you can’t be embarrassed by anything in the way you played because you played so physical. There were a couple of plays that went against us and a couple of plays that we didn’t make but they played hard.”‘

‘Bills Man of the Year: Travis Henry.’

Buffalo Bills safety Izell Reese tore his left calf early in the second quarter of Sunday’s 28-26 loss at Tennessee and is likely to miss the rest of the season.

‘”I do take pride in that, but that shows the character of these guys,” said Williams on Monday. “They love to play and there are a lot of things throughout the course of the week with rehab and the strength training, that massive amount of meetings we have and the practice sessions, but they love to play on Sunday and it shows every time they step out there.”‘

‘This is your coaching staff at its finest. There’s a simple reason Henry wasn’t on the field. He’s not in the Bills’ two-point “packages.” It shouldn’t come as any great surprise. Kevin Gilbride, the offensive coordinator, has proved time and again he has no faith in his running game in short-yardage situations.’

‘”When Billy was in the 5th grade, his brother, Joe, was starting quarterback for Wa-Hi. Their father, John, was the head football coach at Walla Walla Community College. Joe Volek was a good high school quarterback, he eventually went on to start for two years at Montana State. There was a talented sophomore quarterback at Wa-Hi that year whose dad was the offensive coordinator at Wa-Hi. The player was Drew Bledsoe, the coach was Mac Bledsoe. Halfway through the season, the talented sophomore replaced the very good senior at starting quarterback. This infuriated John Volek to no end. “As I was watching Billy lead the Titans to victory over the Bledsoe Bills I could not help but think, I know `Big Cat’ Volek must really be enjoying this moment, as young Billy is getting the revenge for brother Joe and dad John.”‘

‘”There is a lot at stake for a lot of people these last couple weeks,” Donahoe said. Many of those people are coaches, headed by Gregg Williams, whose contract is up, and beleaguered offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, whose unit could not mount a successful fourth-quarter comeback for the fourth time in the past six games, resulting in losses by margins of 4, 2, 3, and 2 points.’

‘Call me crazy, and I’m sure you will, but this guy has hit the proverbial wall and I don’t think he can be considered the quarterback of the Bills’ future. I think the Bills should let him go, sign an emerging free agent – how about Tennessee’s Billy Volek? – and move on.’

‘Buffalo has a score to settle with Miami after Ricky Williams carried 42 times for 153 yards in the Dolphins’ 17-7 victory back in September which started the Bills on a season-long downward spiral. Miami still has to prove it can win in cold weather, and here’s a perfect opportunity because it’s going to be cold.’

‘Even worse than Henry’s exclusion from the final drive was his absence on the game’s biggest play, the two-point conversion attempt with 24 seconds remaining that could have sent the game into overtime and possibly prolonged Buffalo’s playoff hopes another week. Henry was on the bench for that one, too.’

‘Before that final possession Bledsoe looked helpless trying to throw against a Tennessee pass defense that entered the game ranked 32nd in the league. However, his receivers didn’t give him much help, either.’