Archives for December 31, 2004

‘Chris Villarrial returned to team practice on Friday. Coach Mike Mularkey said the guard didn’t do everything, but "he did enough."’

What does having a WR like Eric line up on the other side mean to you? How does it make your life easier?

LE: It’s tremendous because he’s somebody I can talk to about the game and it I’m unsure about something and you don’t want to go to the coaches, he’s somebody that has been there and done that. He’s like a coach on the field so it makes things a lot easier.’

‘Anytime you’re fighting for the playoffs you want your fate in your own hands. Unfortunately, the Bills need a little help. If it happens for them, great. It was meant to be. If not, they have nothing to be ashamed about. Their season is not a wash. You can see the resilience and the character in this team these past eight weeks or so and that’s something for everyone to build on for next year. It’s disappointing if they don’t make it, but after an 0-4 start, not many people outside the organization even expected them to have a winning season.’

‘"The worst was at the border," Tindale, 33, said. "You would be holding up 50 cars because the border guard would want to talk football with you."’

‘Bills 17, Steelers 16.’

‘"The way I look at it," he said, "I need to go out there and have a blast, just like I have the last five, six weeks. I’m proud and humbled by our success, but I’m not going to do anything other than work hard and try to do my little part to win this game."’

‘"I haven’t exactly been in a position to be the lead-in of "SportsCenter,’ " said Lindell, who has made 6 of 7 field-goal attempts in the final seconds of regulation or overtime during his five-year career. "It’s been weird that I haven’t gotten a chance to win a game, but that’s a good thing because we’ve been playing so well that the games have been decided by the fourth quarter. But as a competitor, you’d like to have a role in winning a game or two."’

‘"Marvin said that he and (quarterback) Peyton Manning may only play about a quarter," Moulds said. "But I was trying to tell him to ask (coach) Tony Dungy to let them play at least a half and let Peyton try to add to his touchdown record. Marvin said he would mention it to coach Dungy. Hopefully those guys will go out to Denver and play well."’

‘Are the 2004 Bills better than the ’73 Bills? Close call. If they beat the Steelers, I say yes. If they don’t, I say no. This year’s team is more balanced and has a much better defense. The ’73 Bills rushed for 3,088 yards, which still ranks second most in NFL history, even counting 16-game seasons. But the Bills were last in the league in passing, completing just 96 passes all year and just four for TDs. The defense was ranked 14th out of 26.’

‘The integrity police need a reality check. Teams have often seized the opportunity to protect or rest their better players in advance of the playoffs. The initial 16 games constitute Phase One of a two-part series. Once a team has accomplished all it can in Phase One, its focus shifts to Phase Two, the postseason. It is under no obligation to strive to play well on behalf of teams who’ve performed to a lower level. As always, it’s every team for itself.’

‘In a lot of ways, it’s going to be like looking in a mirror.’

Steelers’ Scott returns for start vs. Buffalo Bills (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

State Capitol loses biggest Steelers fan (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Fourth-grader uses heart and helmet to help others (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Farrior fined for facemask penalty (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Steelers to face tough offseason choices (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Bettis, Roethlisberger nab honors (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Roethlisberger Steelers injury list unchanged (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Q & A with Dan Kreider (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Steelers have a debt to pay back today (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

PrediXtions: Steelers vs Bills (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Scott replaces Townsend at left cornerback (Beaver County Times)

Rothlisberger’s jersey is top seller (Beaver County Times)

Looking at: Craig Colquitt (Beaver County Times)

More awards for Bettis, Big Ben (Washington Observer Reporeter)

Steelers realize dangers of late-season letdown (AP)

Bettis, Roethlisberger Earn Steelers’ Pro Football Writers Awards (Steelers.com)

Ben Roethlisberger and Jerome Bettis Press Conference (Steelers.com)

Farrior deserving of more than MVP (Steelers.com)

‘The Buffalo Bills may be excused this weekend for assigning one of their bench warmers or assistant coaches to keep tabs on the New York Jets-St. Louis Rams contest even as the Bills take on the powerhouse Pittsburgh Steelers in the last game of the season.’

‘”What really sticks out about this kid is that he avoids a lot of sacks. He has a real ability to get away. His passes also look sharper and crisper and he’s gotten a better feel for the personnel around him. He’s just going to be a phenomenal football player.”‘

‘Van Pelt has formed a special bond with the Western New York area near Buffalo, where he’s worked the past 10 years, first as the Bills’ backup quarterback and, beginning this past fall, as a radio analyst for their games. But Van Pelt longs to be even closer to the game. His NFL legacy is as a player who made the most of his ability and always came prepared. The Bills valued his ability to step in if needed, but they also knew his work in the filmroom allowed him to serve as a sort of player/coach at his position. He essentially was a two-for-one type of player.’