Archives for December 2003

‘Prediction: Bills by 2.’

‘Because if there’s a definition of what these 8-6 Dolphins are this deep into the season, it’s that they lose to the very best teams (New England twice, Indianapolis, Tennessee and Philadelphia) and beat everybody else (except Houston). Buffalo is 6-8 and happens to be an everybody else.’

‘”They know I’m in that foxhole with them,” Williams said last week. “And they’re in it with me.”‘

‘There won’t be a lot of scoreboard watching going on this afternoon at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Miami Dolphins. That’s only because the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts play tonight.’

‘”We’re not worried about our own jobs,” he said. “We’re not worried about Dave’s job at this point. We’re not worried about anything, but winning and getting a chance to play in January. Everything will sort itself out one way or the other. No one in his locker room can control whether or not we get cut or whether or not Dave gets fired or any of the other crap that is going on.”‘

‘”We would hope that our players have a little more class and a little more concern about their team than doing something like that,” team President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said this week. “We would look at that as a very selfish act, and not even having spoken to (Bills coach) Gregg (Williams) about it I’m sure, as well as I know him, he would say the same thing.”‘

‘The Bills have not indicated the nature of the injury, but Williams has been walking gingerly since the end of last week’s game at Tennessee. Coach Gregg Williams said the second-year player would be a game-time decision.’

‘”There are a handful of broadcasters who are so distinctive (that) when you hear their voice you immediately think of their teams,” said Steve Sabol, the president of NFL Films. “He is associated with the Bills the way Ray Scott was with the Packers and Chuck Thompson was with the Colts. I could be blindfolded and hear that voice and in my mind I’m in Buffalo and it is Jim Kelly or Bruce Smith. Like all the great radio broadcasters, his delivery and the timbre of his voice approximates the rhythms and the shifts of the game. He has a certain energy to his voice that added to the pictures.”‘

‘”Gregg (Williams) has to take care of his family, I have to take care of mine,” said Buffalo defensive tackle Sam Adams. “I don’t play for him and he doesn’t coach for me.”‘

‘Congratulations to Buffalo Bills right guard Ruben Brown on his selection to an eighth straight Pro Bowl, but I’m starting to wonder if he might become the first player elected to a Pro Bowl the year after he retires.’

‘Farewell, Voice of the Bills.’

‘Lindy Ruff and Gregg Williams live just a few houses apart in the same Buffalo neighbourhood. And they may soon also be walking together to the unemployment line, if their respective Sabres and Bills don’t soon straighten out.’

”’There is no guessing game,” Dolphins linebacker Junior Seau said. “It’s not going to be a chess game. It’s not about out-smarting someone. We know exactly what they have. They know exactly what we have. There really isn’t a science to what goes on.”’

‘Dolphins sources have indicated that Wolf, who retired after the 2000 season, might be an intriguing possibility for a Miami team that could opt for a strong general manager system should coach Dave Wannstedt be fired by owner Wayne Huizenga.’

‘”They paid money, and they come to the games and they watch our games on TV and that, therefore, pays our paychecks. But I think that’s the extent of our relationship as far as I’m concerned. It’s great when you do meet true fans, but I don’t hold them responsible to be true fans. Fans are fans.”‘