Archives for December 28, 2004

‘In September, Buffalo was 0-4, and playoff chatter would have elicited a one-word response that is the same as its coach’s last name. After six wins in a row, however, it has become the team no one wants to play.’

‘I don’t think the NFL should take any action to make teams play their starters in what are usually meaningless games. If you’re good enough to wrap things up early on, then you should have the luxury of doing what you believe is best for your team.’

‘Cowher said his plans for the game would not change even if another playoff berth were not dependent on the outcome. “This is not about what we owe anybody. It’s what we owe ourselves. This is how you play the game,” he said. “We’ve got to play the game the way we know how to play the game. Those aren’t things you can turn on and off, and if you think you can turn it on and off you’re going to be mistaken and be led down a road that’s going to be very disappointing.”’

‘Let me just say this in regard to this football game, certainly we are looking at the playoffs and we will certainly keep that in mind as it relates to the health of our players. But we are not going to approach this game any differently than we have approached the other 15 games. I am a firm believer that you are who you are. We are a football team that we when we step on that field, we are going to play our way. It is for no other reason than that. I think the last thing you can do is try to go into any football game and diminish the importance of it. Certainly, you are going to keep the big picture in mind, but we are going to go out there, and we are preparing this week as we always have to go up there and win this football game. It is going to be a big challenge for us because certainly Buffalo, with all the things that they have at stake, they are the winners of six games in a row, eight of the last nine games, they are a very formidable opponent and they can be an opponent that we see somewhere else down the line. We are not going to diminish that. We will get our week off. This to me is a little bit different that if we were playing in six or seven days. If you are playing that first week, then maybe you would approach it differently. But I look at the fact that we have a bye week. We are going to get our time off. We have to go up and play football. That is what we are planning on doing.’

‘Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher announced at his Tuesday press conference that rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is questionable for Sunday’s regular-season finale against Buffalo because of bruised rib cartilage.’

‘”We waited down in the hotel lobby for them, but they never showed up. They didn’t even call,” Cousineau said. “I didn’t need to have my rear end kissed by the Bills, but the way they treated me was about as rude as it gets. For whatever reason, the Bills were playing hardball with me right out of the gate. Barber had played with the Bills, and I found out later that he didn’t treat any players very well. This was at a time when a lot of players were leaving Buffalo.”‘

49ers report card (Contra Costa Times)

Fans not in mood to appreciate (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

49ers report card (Oakland Tribune)

Strategy and personnel (CBS Sportsline)

‘"We always knew what we could do as a unit," said left tackle Jonas Jennings. "We hit every bump in the road that we could hit during the first four weeks. It was only a matter of time for things to start going our way and we started believing in each other during that time. We’ve got a little swagger and confidence now and that’s how we go out and play."’

‘"I knew the names of the players in the room, but when I walked in, I couldn’t have pointed out Jim Kelly or Bruce Smith or any of those guys," joked Levy. "I said, ‘What it takes to win is simple, but it isn’t easy. Run, throw, block, tackle, catch, kick better than your opponent. We’re not going to do it with a bunch of X’s and O’s. We’re not going to do it with a bunch of talk. We’re going to go to work on fundamentals.’ And I did point out to them, ‘I’m going to ask three questions for you to answer. I know mine. Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How are we going to get there?’"’

‘So here we are. Six weeks after being left for dead in Foxboro, the Bills will host the 14-1 Steelers next Sunday with their playoff hopes very much alive. The bandwagon is overflowing, taking on passengers at a dizzying rate. That’s me hanging on at the rear, still properly skeptical but grateful for an exhilarating ride.’

‘"Really, it’s tough to comment on Pittsburgh right now until I get some tape on them and get a better feel for their personnel and their schemes," Mularkey deadpanned. "No, I think all of us were enjoying the moment when it was happening (over the 49ers). You don’t get chances to be in that situation and let the younger guys get a chance to play. I was enjoying watching them play. I’ll leave it at that."’

Roethlisberger’s rib injury not serious, but record run will come to end vs. Bills (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Steelers hope ‘road’ paved in black, gold (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Forever focused (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Farrior, not Lewis, is praised (Beaver County Times)

Steelers use injuries as motivation to win, not excuse for losing (AP)

Steelers win despite injury to Big Ben (The Sports Network)

Inside slant (CBS Sportsline)

Strategy and personnel (CBS Sportsline)

Notes, quotes (CBS Sportsline)

Burress happy to be back (Steelers.com)

‘”It has been a kind of spark for us in a number of games,” said Bledsoe, who looked comfortable running the hurry-up as he completed 21 of 32 passes for 172 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and only one sack, which came when he scrambled out of the pocket and was dropped one yard behind the line of scrimmage. Coming into this game I felt we were going to use it more extensively. I felt like we had good matchups outside with our receivers,” he said.’

‘Say what you want, but a lot of starch has been taken out of this game.’

‘Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher will probably limit the playing time for many of his other starters as well Sunday. The Steelers don’t care about this game. For them, the regular season is over. The season they care about is their postseason, which will begin with a home game at Heinz Field on Jan. 15 or 16.’