Archives for October 5, 2004

‘The players need to be held accountable for their actions. You hate to take your best players off the field, but you have to send a message. You can’t play stupid football. Stupid football will make you lose every time, it doesn’t matter if you’re the most talented team in the league. If you don’t play smart, you’re not going to win. That’s been the biggest issue so far. Until they get this problem cleaned-up it’s going to remain a serious issue. Obviously you hate to take certain guys off the field, but if you have repeat offenders that just aren’t getting the message then maybe, you need to bench them. Hopefully it won’t come to that, but if you’re able to damage a guy’s ego he may think long and hard about what he’s doing on the field and it may help to fix some of those mistakes.’

‘Coach Mike Kane of Olean High School has been named the Buffalo Bills high school football “Coach of the Week” for the fifth weekend of the 2004 season (October 1-2).’

‘The Bills currently rank 1st in the AFC in both kickoff returns and kickoff coverage.’

‘But that doesn’t change the fact Bills’ players lack a sense of fear. Just because the head coach doesn’t get in their face doesn’t mean there can’t be consequences for dumb or careless play.’

‘"I think that has a huge effect on your secondary when you have a guy like Lawyer Milloy out and Troy Vincent," head coach Mike Mularkey said. "We understand we’re young back there, and we got to make sure that we’re putting these guys in a scheme that they’re confident. We know if we’re sitting there and we’re guessing, "Do we think he can do it?’ he’s probably doing the same thing. We’ve got to just be smart about how we scheme with the younger guys."’

‘Your vote for Evans can be placed on NFL.com beginning Tuesday morning and ending on Thursday afternoon. The winner will be announced Thursday afternoon on NFL.com.’

‘”Everyone has to be accountable to each other,” Buffalo offensive lineman Ross Tucker said. “When everyone is watching, you’re held accountable.”‘

‘The Bills are not sure about the status of center Trey Teague, who also left Sunday’s game with a knee injury. Coach Mike Mularkey said he didn’t know the results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam done on Teague’s left knee Monday. Mularkey thinks it may only be a sprain but isn’t sure if it is severe enough to keep Teague off the field.’

‘"It’s going to get worse, too," Rex said. "Donahoe’s first draft class was his best. Guys like Aaron Schobel and Jonas Jennings were value players in their first contracts. What’s coming behind them? Josh Reed isn’t value. Mike Williams isn’t."’

‘”You just roll with the punches,” he said Monday. “It’s a business. No spot is guaranteed to you, you know what I mean? My time will come. I’m not going to rush it. I’ve waited this long. I can wait as long as it takes.”‘

‘They beat the Dolphins (0-4) Sunday in Miami, 17-9. Now the Bills (0-3) and the 49ers (0-4) are coming to town, followed by an Oct. 24 showdown against the Patriots (3-0) in Foxboro. Such possibilities. Oops, forgot the gag order.’

‘There’s already talk about the possibility that the Jets, who host 0-3 Buffalo this Sunday and 0-4 San Francisco the following week, might still be undefeated when they face the Patriots in Foxboro in three weeks. The Pats (also 3-0) host 0-4 Miami Sunday, but have a challenge the following week when they host 3-0 Seattle. “How about Buffalo?” Edwards shot back when asked about the chance for a clash with the Pats on Oct. 24. “That’s who we play. That’s all I’ll comment on is Buffalo.”‘

‘First up, the 0-3 Bills, who’ve scored a whopping 37 points in their first three games, have a rookie coach and half their secondary on the shelf. Don’t see the Jets’ first loss coming this weekend.’

Two sides to Patriots’ success story (Boston Globe)

Team caught short by injuries to receivers (Boston Globe)

Brady, Pats prepare (Boston Herald)

Bruschi comes up big again (Boston Herald)

Pats still a bit streaky (Boston Herald)

Winning tradition transforms fans (Boston Herald)

Streak on back burner (Boston Herald)

Stretch play for Patriots (Metro West Daily News)

Converting on third (Metro West Daily News)

The Bills came and Brady conquered (Providence Journal)

Patriots’ Bruschi continues to stop at nothing to come out on top (Providence Journal)

Dolphin mark impresses Law the most (Providence Journal)

It was a win, but it wasn’t pretty (Woonsocket Call)

Bills can’t faze Patriots (Springfield Republican)

Brady has an edge (Nashua Telegraph)

Bill Belichick Press Conference (Patriots.com)

Patriots at Bills Post-Game Press Conference (Patriots.com)

Grogan’s Grade: Week 3 (PatsFans.com)

‘The Bills watched film as a team for the first time staying over an hour extra. Mularkey says it’s useful to do once in awhile so players are accountable to each other.’