Archives for December 2003

‘Two police officers with machine guns were stationed at one entrance, but the New England Patriots refused to say if security procedures had been tightened for their game Saturday.’

‘Very few players showed up and it spelled a 31-0 loss. Ruben Brown got the ball rolling early in the week and was not allowed to play in the game or make the trip by Gregg Williams. All that Williams will say is it’s personal reasons. It’s a shame the head coach and the organization doesn’t feel it owes its fans an explanation on why their eight time Pro Bowler was AWOL.’

‘”I think for us whenever somebody kicks your butt, if you are completive, if you are a fighter, you are going to come back,” safety Rodney Harrison said. “And regardless if you come out and say it or not, you want revenge. Basically that’s what happened with us. They are a tough team. Despite their record, they have a great defense, fourth in the league, I think and the offense is full of talented guys. But the guys on our squad just made a lot of plays.”‘

‘The Bills (6-10) lost seven of their last nine games in the last game of coach Gregg Williams’ three-year contract. He never took them to the playoffs, and an announcement about his future is expected this week.’

‘The season indeed spun full circle for the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Just ask Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe.’

‘The Pats (13-2) are hardly a tonic for what ails Bledsoe, who has thrown for 11 touchdowns and as many interceptions and can’t seem to get the Bills offense out of neutral. In fact, the Patriots have made life miserable for opposing QBs all season, limiting them to an NFL-low passer rating of 56.9 and a completion percentage of 53.0, second lowest to Dallas’ 48.8.’

‘”At times, you know, he’s just pressed too hard,” said Buffalo coach Greg Williams, who, along with Bills offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, is on the hot seat. “He’s tried maybe at times to do too much. But all good players, all top players think, ‘I’m going to put the team on my back and I’m going to overcome everything and win it for my team. Especially at the quarterback position, I think there’s this tendency to do that.”‘

‘A loss might be more beneficial to the Bills at this point than a win in that it would improve their draft position. The Bills currently are in a three-way tie for the 11th spot in the draft. A Bills loss and wins by Pittsburgh and the Jets (also at 6-9) would ensure the Bills at least the 11th position.’

‘Williams hopes to go out with a win, but that won’t be easy. The Bills have not done well on the road this season, failing to score an offensive touchdown in four of their five road losses.’

‘”It’s up to Mr. Donahoe and my agent,” he said. “If they can come up with a deal then I’ll be here. Right now I don’t know what they’re going to do. I would love to be back.”‘

‘So now it’s time to unfasten our seat belts. Thanks for the ride, Van. It was fantastic.’

‘”It’s the opposite ends,” he said. “God knows what they’re mindset is right now. Early in the year they probably said, ‘We can’t wait to play these guys again.’ Now, it’s probably like, ‘Man, (who cares?)’ But you have to finish the year out. I hate looking back and regretting.”‘

‘”It was nothing personal. I want to win. Everybody does. Some people may need extra motivation, but I’m going to talk to everybody whether he likes it or not.”‘

‘Patriots are 16-2 in games when Antowain Smith rushes for a TD.’

‘New England has won eight of nine games decided by eight or fewer points this season. By contrast, Buffalo is 1-4 in such games, those four defeats coming by a total of 11 points, effectively extracting them from the playoff race.’