Archives for October 2004

‘"It’s definitely a concern," Belichick said. "Steve spent a lot of time here last year and he’s a very smart guy. He graduated from the Naval Academy and was a double major, so he’s smart. He was here and did a lot of things for us on a volunteer basis and was helpful for myself, the defensive staff and the defensive linemen."’

‘“Anybody that you come across anywhere outside of the building, you have to just be careful of being influenced by comments, positive or negative,” Mularkey said. “There is too much work that goes on in here for anybody really outside to know the amount of time and effort that goes into it. It’s not like they’re going out there to try to please the crowd,” he said of his players. “That’s not their objective. They’re trying to win a football game. To me, that’s just a distraction. If you bring it up they’re going to be looking for it, so I really have not addressed it that way. I’ve just said be careful of outside sources.”’

‘The casual observer might disagree. The Bills had the Patriots by a mile in every aspect possible, including energy, discipline and execution. Drew Bledsoe never has such an easy time with a Bill Belichick defense. The Bills’ defense was flying all over the place, inducing four Tom Brady interceptions, one of which was run back 37 yards for a touchdown by Buffalo’s Son Of Sam, Sam Adams (whose dad was a former Patriot lineman). Given the 13-1 regular season (and a Vince to boot) which followed this game, only a shattering development like the Milloy release could have precipitated such a horrid result for the Patriots.’

‘Vincent, a former Eagles star defensive back now playing for the Buffalo Bills, remains a major supporter of Trenton. “It’s not difficult maintaining my interest in Trenton. I have the right people in charge here and Mayor (Doug) Palmer keeps me in the know,” said Vincent.’

Rhythm not thrown off by their line dance (Boston Globe)

Can Szabo corner the market? (Boston Globe)

Law longs for Milloy (Boston Herald)

Snake-bitten Klemm hurts foot (Boston Herald)

Snapping streak is no small task (Boston Herald)

Are Belichick’s secrets safe with Szabo? (Providence Journal)

Rotating in, out of games gets OK from offensive line (Providence Journal)

Old friend Szabo could give Buffalo an edge (Woonsocket Call)

Belichick’s comments provide fodder for Bills (Woonsocket Call)

Bills use book as motivation (Springfield Republican)

Brady, Bledsoe face off in Buffalo Sunday (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

O-line’s tough enough (Quincy Patriot Ledger)

New England at Buffalo (Quincy Patriot Ledger)

Pats anxious to face overdue Bills (Patriots.com)

A Beating Not Soon To Be Forgotten (PatsFans.com)

‘”It seems like it has been a long time since we have played,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said to open his Friday morning press conference. “I think everybody is anxious to get back out on the field and play again. We know how tough it is going to be in Buffalo, but in terms of playing a game, we have had a lot of preparation time, a lot of meeting time and [we have] run a lot of plays. Hopefully we are ready to go. I think everybody is feeling anxious about getting out there. We know we have a lot of regular weeks coming up, and we haven’t had any yet. Hopefully, we are into a little bit of a routine here. I think the players are looking forward to it.”‘

‘Guards Chris Villarrial and Mike Pucillo practiced on Friday. Both have improved and if they don’t have any setbacks, could be upgraded and ready for Sunday against New England.’

‘When pressed on the accuracy of his comments in his conference call with the Buffalo media, Belichick sidestepped the issue just as he had when the New England media was asking questions about Holley’s book. "I’m not getting ready for any book talk," he said. "I’m just talking about getting ready for a game. That book, some of it, was done a year or two ago, and I don’t think it’s very relevant for this week’s game."’

‘Buffalobills.com visitors selected punter Brian Moorman as the Tops Game Ball of the week winner for his performance against the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 19. Moorman completed a 24-yard pass on fourth down to cornerback Kevin Thomas, which was the first completion by a Bills non-QB since Chris Mohr’s 44-yard pass to Daryl Porter on Nov. 19, 2000. Buffalo’s two-time Pro Bowl alternate also tallied two punts inside the 20 yard line and registered a 63-yard boot, marking the 38th time in 58 career games he has connected on a punt over 50 yards.’

‘Bills 20 Patriots 17.’

‘Patriots 20, Bills 17.’

‘No one is talking about the supposed phenom in Buffalo these days. Donahoe’s draft decision may be one of the worst choices in the last decade. But there is time for McGahee, 22, to prove Donahoe’s decision rewarding. It’s just been very slow.’

‘”You never like to see a quarterback get a whole bunch (of sacks),” Brady said. “I know that the stuff I’ve seen on Buffalo, the stuff they’re always trying to work on is not take a sack . . . I’m sure he’s not trying to take any sacks, he’s trying to find the open guy and get it to him. But sacks are part of the game when you throw the ball a bunch, too.”‘

‘Bills, 19-17.’

‘”You never know how they’re going to come out,” said Bills cornerback Troy Vincent, who faced the Patriots last season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. “They came out against us with a lot of two-tight end, one-wide receiver sets. When you’re thinking they’re going to come out and open the ball up with a no-huddle offense, they do something totally opposite.”‘