Archives for November 2004

‘"I haven’t made that decision on No. 2, that’s probably something that will happen on Saturday," coach Mike Mularkey said in reference to Losman’s status.’

‘All of that is understandable, but playing exclusively on the road in prime time is a long-term disadvantage because the hosts generally are better-than-average teams and their fans get extra pumped up for night games on national TV.’

Nutten is ready for his encore (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Dishman gets a double dose of knee trouble (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

‘Just like old times’ on Rams line? We’ll find out (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Rams turn over their flu vaccine to health officials (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Tom Nutten is back at his old spot (Belleville News Democrat)

Dishman will be sidelined four to six weeks (Belleville News Democrat)

Rams hold another physical workout (AP)

Martz: No interest in Dolphins job (AP)

Rams’ Holt practices, expected to play Sunday (The Sports Network)

Inside slant (CBS Sportsline)

Strategy and personnel (CBS Sportsline)

Notes, quotes (CBS Sportsline)

Buffalo Bills Head Coach Mike Mularkey (StLouisRams.com)

Buffalo at a Glance (StLouisRams.com)

Head Coach Mike Martz (StLouisRams.com)

Rams Continue Full Contact (StLouisRams.com)

Open Locker Room (StLouisRams.com)

Snow Roast (StLouisRams.com)

Hometown Huddle (StLouisRams.com)

‘Choosing the final four minutes of a nationally televised road game, against the defending Super Bowl champions that were whipped into a feeding frenzy, for your prized rookie passer to get his feet wet wasn’t the wisest thing coach Mike Mularkey could’ve done.’

‘Rookie free agent Rashad Baker will get the call to start at free safety against the Rams’ No. 4 passing game featuring Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt on Sunday, replacing veteran Izell Reese. Production from the free safety spot has been a problem for the Bills for years.’

‘Buffalo (3-6) is one of 11 teams still alive for two wild-card spots in the AFC, but six clubs (Jacksonville, Baltimore, San Diego, New York Jets, Cincinnati and Houston) have better records.’

‘(On how the team has handled this season): “I think they have handled it pretty well for starting off 0-4 when I don’t think any of us thought we would. To overcome that and win three out of our next four showed that they can overcome adversity. I think they all knew that something good is going to come out of what has taken place. A lot of those losses were last minute close losses, we were really in the game. The only really true game that I felt that we were out-played and out matched was this past game against New England, where we didn’t play very good. They know how close they are, it’s just a matter of winning the close game and winning on the road. That’s something that we have to learn how to do.”‘

‘Standing at 3-6 this season, with a new coach in charge, Buffalo doesn’t appear to be headed back to the playoffs anytime soon. But with the NFL as competitive as ever, the Bills could be only an impact player or two away from contending again. The Bills have discovered one of those players already and they are fairly certain the other is on the roster.’

‘”We’re just trying make some changes that I think will hopefully give us a spark like we have done with running back, and we’ve done with other places,” head coach Mike Mularkey said in explaining the move.’

‘Reese has known for weeks that he was going to lose his job anyway when Troy Vincent gets back.’

”’The biggest challenge playing the position of quarterback is being hardheaded enough to move on,” Bledsoe said Wednesday. ”I’ve had a couple of long nights tossing and turning. And I’m moving on, moving forward.”’

‘During the summer, I read a newspaper reporter’s opinion that Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe was actually going to be better because he couldn’t be any worse than last year. That’s like saying he’s going to be better because my Magic 8 Ball told me so. Clearly, in the harmless world of sports, that kind of flimsy logic is acceptable.’

‘The Bills and the NFL are encouraging fans to volunteer and give back to their communities through the annual United Way Hometown Huddle program. In keeping with that theme, several players were out helping to collect for the Salvation Army’s Gift of Warmth program to help those in need this Holiday season.’

‘Coach David Backes of Hutch-Tech High School has been named the Buffalo Bills high school football “Coach of the Week” for the eleventh weekend of the 2004 season (November 12-13).’

‘We didn’t stop the Patriots running game on Sunday because we didn’t attack. For whatever reason we didn’t attack the guys up front like we have done the entire year and you saw how vital that is to stopping the running game.’