Archives for December 2004

‘Vincent’s transition is more a move of selflessness than an indication that he can no longer play cornerback consistently well. Bills second-year cornerback Terrence McGee has done a solid job replacing Vincent, while Izell Reese and rookie Rashad Baker weren’t making much impact at free safety. “The thing I’d hate to do is take Terrence off the field, have Troy go back to left corner and still have a younger guy at free safety,” said Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, whose third-ranked defense has played a significant role in Buffalo’s rebound from an 0-4 record to 7-6.’

‘Donahoe is not going anywhere. He is one of the best pure football men in the NFL and would get snapped up in a minute if the Bills fired him. In a changing time for management, Donahoe is a great leader whose decisions are starting to pay off in Buffalo.’

‘Fans going to Paul Brown Stadium will feel as if they’re in Buffalo while watching the Bengals and Bills. For the 1 p.m. kickoff, it should be about 20° with a wind chill of 0° to 5°. By the fourth quarter, it should be about 17 with a wind chill of 0° to minus-5°.’

‘Bills, 30-20.’

‘Moorman, if not for the emergence of wunderkind Willis McGahee, might be the Bills’ most valuable player.’

‘Having sons playing on opposite sides might create some family conflict as for whom to root. But Aaron Schobel said his parents won’t have that problem. “They just want us to play well,” he said. “Who wins, it doesn’t matter. As long as their boys play well and come out of the game injury-free, they’ll be happy.”‘

‘This season is the first time he has played a game in December when his team was above .500.’

‘Field position will be important and Buffalo’s special teams are among the best in the NFL. Whichever team gets better play, or a big play, from its special teams will have the advantage.’

Getting finer with time (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Palmer is all but ruled out (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Bengals staying focused (Cincinnati Post)

Barring miracle, Kitna’s the starter (Cincinnati Post)

Spikes happy with move to Bills (Cincinnati Post)

Bengals vs. Bills (Cincinnati Post)

Kitna gets chance to prove his merit (Dayton Daily News)

Lewis notes McGahee comeback (Columbus Dispatch)

Kitna gets nod (Bengals.com)

The Cell Phone Game (Bengals.com)

Bengals practice squad move (Bengals.com)

Injury report (Bengals.com)

Key matchups (Bengals.com)

‘”We’d run ’em in practice and I say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,'” Villarrial says. “And then we’d go out there on Sundays, and our opponents would wind up being completely fooled. I’m a believer now. Mike Mularkey and Tom Clements are like mad scientists. Anything goes with them. I can’t wait to see what they pull out of the hat next.”‘

‘”This is what I wanted to do, to be part of something special,” Spikes said. “The emotions are going to run wild, man. The biggest reason is I’ve never been in the month of December, this late, and still had something to play for other than pride.”‘

‘Mularkey said that Clements told him he was able to go full out and it went well. The Bills head coach said he’ll see how the cornerback feels on Sunday. He’s listed as probable with a sore shoulder.’

‘Takeo Spikes is going back to Cincinnati this week and we’ll see how he handles the situation during the week. We don’t want him to get so tight that he doesn’t play well. I want to make sure he goes out and does his job, cutting it loose, just as he has done for the last year and a half with the Buffalo Bills. As a coach, I don’t want to build any pressure on him going back home where he got drafted. I think it’s just another game for Takeo and there isn’t any animosity toward the Bengals. He has to out and play like that because a player can get so wound up that he doesn’t play well.’

‘The rookies hosted a Holiday party for 80 kids from the Salvation Army, Big Brother Big Sisters of Erie County, Gerard Place, Seneca Nation and Northwest Buffalo Community Center. The event was held in the Paul Maguire Club at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Over a dozen players from the Buffalo Bills attended the party, including quarterback J.P. Losman, wide receiver Lee Evans, and running back Shaud Williams. Even offensive lineman Ross Tucker stopped by along with newly acquired tight end, Rod Trafford.’

‘This idea of promoting the Bills with the community benefiting is carried through in the Buffalo Bills Student Leaders program. Every month, students are given a promotional item to distribute at their school. Thus far, the students have taken full advantage of a great opportunity to give back. The schools have been extremely responsive and the Student Leaders have truly made a difference.’