Archives for October 5, 2004

‘Vincent hurt his right knee Sunday after pushing Patriots wideout Bethel Johnson out of bounds on a reception on New England’s opening drive of the game. Vincent was immediately carted to the locker room and did not return.’

‘It’s hard to imagine a worse scenario for president and general manager Tom Donahoe in regard to his leadership with the Bills.’

‘Are the Jets really this good? Are the Bills as bad as their record would lead you to believe?’

‘"I feel like I’m ready. The only thing I need to work on is the little things. Don’t do my own thing, just play the defense. I’ve really got to focus this week in practice so I’m ready for the game Sunday."’

‘All those things you mentioned are things to build on but Buffalo, realistically, needs to go 10-3 the rest of the way to make the playoffs. Got a mortgage you want to bet?’

‘Gregg Williams was fired in part because the Bills never became a disciplined team, ranking among the NFL’s most penalized clubs during his three seasons as coach. Three games into Mike Mularkey’s tenure, however, not much has changed.’

‘He and his staff spent the bye week promising to clean up a laundry list of what they called "correctable" mistakes. The Bills then went out and played one of their sloppiest games yet with 11 penalties, several dropped passes, two turnovers, and seven sacks. The lack of discipline is alarming this far into the process.’

‘The Bills take a 2-11 record in their last 13 road games into the Meadowlands to face the unbeaten New York Jets on Sunday. In those games, QB Drew Bledsoe has thrown 10 TD passes, 17 interceptions and been sacked 45 times. Buffalo has committed 38 turnovers and collected just seven takeaways (minus-31). It’s hard to believe the Bills were once 3-1 under Bledsoe on the road. He was also 2-11 in his last 13 road contests with New England.’

‘Asked by a reporter if it was a good idea to run the speed-challenged Bledsoe on a rollout, Mularkey replied, “I think it is, knowing what I know compared to what you know.”‘

‘The errors you saw in Game 1 will surely be replicated in the season finale. How do I know? Because the players making the most persistent mistakes are veterans.’

‘And finally, 7-22. It’s Buffalo’s record in AFC East games since the 2000 season.’

What happened with the last minute fumble with Drew doing the play-action pass with the defenders coming in unblocked? Was that how the play was supposed to be played or did someone miss their block? I don’t understand that call. Also, I really think next year’s roster should include some big offensive linemen to protect Drew, don’t you? I believe he could be a great leader of the team if he had more time to throw the ball.

Mike Mularkey: We missed a block. We had a run through on a blitz and didn’t come off fast enough on it and it blew the play up.’

As a GM, do you feel you have shortchanged this team by getting zero production out of the first day draft picks in 2002 and 2003? All we have to show for those first day picks are 2 DE’s that can’t rush the passer, an offensive tackle who is a liability vs. speedy DE’s, a WR in Josh Reed who has been the poster child for inconsistency, and players like Coy Wire and Angelo Crowell who have been nothing but special teams players.

‘Buffalo lost two offensive linemen during the Patriot game. Center Trey Teague suffered a left knee injury in the second quarter. Test results are not yet available. Left tackle Jonas Jennings was knocked cold in the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Vince Wilfork. Jennings was resting at home Monday.’

‘"They blitzed on just about every play," said Brady, whose effective 17-for-30, 298-yard, two-touchdown passing effort helped bump his career mark to 43-12 as a starter with a 31-17 win over Mularkey’s Buffalo Bills. "They were living and dying with it. And when they blitz, I know there is going to be one-on-one coverage out there somewhere. I have a lot of confidence that my guys are going to get open against it. I know I’ve got to find them."’