Archives for December 2003

‘This team has always seemed to be talking itself into its own greatness, rather than really believing it. But the loss of faith was even clearer in the postgame locker room than it has been all along. The vibe wasn’t desperation. It was resignation.’

‘Konrad appears to be the only Dolphin who could miss the Bills game because of injury.’

‘Wannstedt, 81-82 as a head coach, appears almost resigned to his fate.’

‘The Dolphins have sunk three-quarters of their payroll into defense and for what kind of return? On Monday, in a game that was bigger than John Madden, the Dolphins tackled poorly and took egregious penalties.’

‘Fullback Rob Konrad suffered a Grade II concussion in the first quarter of Monday night’s 34-27 loss to Philadelphia and is not expected to play Sunday at Buffalo.’

‘Under the NFL’s complicated tie-breaking procedures, the only other way the Dolphins can get in is if they end up in a four-way tie with Tennessee, Denver and Baltimore at 10-6, or a three-way tie with the Titans and Ravens — provided Denver finishes 9-7.’

‘In the last three games alone, the former TCU star has six sacks and has also recorded a fumble recovery and forced a fumble – both career firsts.’

‘“I’m not really concerned about it,” Wannstedt said Tuesday. “I’m just concerned about this game. And that’s what the players are concerned about, and the coaches and everybody in this building. There’s not enough time to get caught up in all that stuff.”’

‘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.