Archives for August 2004

‘A training aid more absurd than the Drew Bledsoe “Get Rid of It, Drew!” (aka “The GRID”) alarm clock has yet to be invented.’

‘Meanwhile, a week ago, starting wide receiver Josh Reed averaged 29 yards on two kickoffs. And Saturday night, cornerback Terrence McGee, very likely to fill the nickel position which is the next best thing to starting, returned two kickoffs for an average of 55 yards, including an 85-yarder. And while he hasn’t gotten a great deal of game work, starting corner Nate Clements looks to be Buffalo’s regular-season punt returner. Plus, among the other first-teamers manning the Bills’ special teams is middle linebacker London Fletcher, a terror blocking in the wedge of the kickoff return team.’

‘"When (McGee) had his chances on the returns, he really hit the holes that were tight," coach Mike Mularkey said. "That’s what you’re looking for, especially on kickoff returns, a guy who’s not afraid to hit the hole. You don’t want anybody back there looking for it. If it’s there, go."’

‘”It’s the same thing that happened to me when we played against Miami, but it looks like it’s going to be OK,” Henry said. “This isn’t nearly as bad as last year. I’m breathing a lot better and moving around a lot better.”‘

‘In this cut-throat business, Henry’s injury comes at a good time for McGahee, who will get more repetitions with the first team.’

‘McGee returned three kickoffs for a total of 136 yards, including an 85-yarder near the end of the first half that set up the only Bills touchdown. "The team was the one making the holes for me, I just had to go through them," McGee said. "It was easy."’

‘Travis Brown has shown little to suggest that he’d be an improvement over Bledsoe. For all of his athletic ability, rookie J.P. Losman clearly isn’t ready to start for a playoff team in the NFL. He’d be exciting for as long as he could stay healthy, but he wouldn’t win many games. If the 2004 Bills are going to make the playoffs, Bledsoe figures to be the QB taking them there.’

‘The notion that they would hand the running game on a platter to McGahee, who ripped up his knee in the NCAA championship game 18 months ago, is absurd. McGahee, or at least his advisers, are showing lousy judgment. This is the NFL, where a team can go through running backs faster than the ambulances can cart them away; where today’s backup is tomorrow’s starter. And given the bruised ribs Henry sustained on Saturday, it makes no sense to deal McGahee.’

‘Forget multi-million dollar tackles and guards when a $49 alarm clock will do.’

‘Denney made a statement coming into the game for a fourth-and-one play at the Bills 7-yard line, nailing ex-Bill Antowain Smith for no gain with help from safety Izell Reese. With two preseason games left, Denney still has the nod to start but it appears this will be more of a rotation position than anything.’

‘QB Drew Bledsoe wasn’t feeling too good about the pass he threw to RB Travis Henry against Tennessee. It was behind Henry, who reached back and exposed himself to a full-force blast from LB Keith Bulluck. “I probably should’ve given him the ball a little bit sooner, either that, or taken it and run it myself,” said Bledsoe, who was running to his right.’

‘"I thought we did some good things," Bledsoe said. "We came out against what’s a very good defense and moved the ball. We ran the ball effectively against them and had time to throw it in the passing game. We were dropping back and getting it out quick. . . . We would have liked to put it in the end zone. We had a couple of chances. We still had too many penalties."’

‘"We’ve been trying to make it clear, but obviously we’re not doing a good job of it because it keeps coming up," Donahoe said. "We have no control over what outside sources say. We do have control of what our people say and what our players say. We understand, Travis understands and Willis understands that it’s a team game. It’s not strictly about Travis or Willis. We’re going to need all the players we can get to have a successful year."’

‘"It’s real satisfying to run the ball as well as we did (Saturday)," said Brown. "We need to clean up a couple of things and we will be OK."’

‘So why wait?’