Archives for December 2004

‘Banta can handle both punt and kick-snap duties. The 11-year pro, who has played with the Colts, Jets and Lions, was sitting at home in Chattanooga, Tenn., and keeping his skills sharp as best he could, waiting for a team to phone. “I got tired of snapping to a gym wall. It’s fun to snap to somebody again,” said Banta, who was released by Detroit during training camp. “You get that phone call and it’s like, ‘Yes.’ Somebody finally wants you and you’re joining a good team.”‘

‘The Bills have to beat out three of the four other contenders. Assuming Buffalo wins out to finish 10-6, here’s how it could happen (listed in order of probability of falling out of the race)…’.

‘Playoffs or not, it is coming together well. “We are playing really good ‘team’ football,” quarterback Drew Bledsoe says. “That’s what’s allowing us to win. … All three phases can beat another team. If we put them all together, then we’re really hard to deal with.”‘

‘”I keep thinking about what Coach (Jim) Mora once said: ‘Playoffs?! Playoffs?!’ We’re not that good,” defensive back Troy Vincent said. “We can’t think that far ahead. We are exactly what our record says we are, 7-6. We can’t think about post-season play. Our biggest challenge is this week. It’s going to be a playoff-type atmosphere, because they’re still in the hunt, too.”‘

‘Meanwhile, steady long snapper Jon Dorenbos injured a knee covering a kick against the Cleveland Browns last Sunday and is day-to-day for the Bengals. Dorenbos was not able to practice on Wednesday and Banta started his crash course in getting used to working with punter/holder Brian Moorman and place-kicker Rian Lindell. Coach Mike Mularkey described the signing of the versatile Banta as “killing two birds with one stone,” providing depth at two positions.’

‘Donahoe has mentioned often that he’d like to make Buffalo his last job.’

‘Jon Kitna gets the start. He led the Bengals to an 8-8 record last season.’

‘Starting right tackle Mike Williams was back at practice Wednesday. Williams is listed at questionable with a knee injury. Long snapper Jon Dorenbos did not practice and is listed as questionable with a knee injury he sustained last week against Cleveland. Corner Nate Clements was held out of practice with a shoulder, he is probable.’

”’I think the biggest thing with me is I’m just going to have to get past the first five minutes,” Spikes said. ”But other than that, I’m not holding anything back. I’m just going to let it go.”’

‘Jon Kitna ran the offense in practice, getting ready to make his first start of the season against the Buffalo Bills. Kitna was the league’s Comeback Player of the Year last season, but hadn’t taken a snap until Palmer got hurt last Sunday.’

‘Until McGahee, the offensive line appeared quite overrated and unable to protect immobile quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Travis Henry is a good back, a 1,300-plus rusher the last two years. McGahee looks more like a great back.’

‘”No. 1, I’ve never been in a month of December this late, and having something to play for other than pride,” Spikes told the Cincinnati media in Wednesday’s conference call. “No. 2, this is where it all started; when I was greener than the grass and turf at Cincinnati. It kind of goes back to the first day I stepped up on the field.”‘

‘Buffalo has 38 sacks and 28 takeaways and makes teams earn their yardage. The Bills allow just 4.42 yards per play, second in the NFL to Washington (4.38), and they rank third in the NFL in total yards allowed.’

‘The Bills have won four straight games, but only one of those has come against a winning opponent. The Seattle Seahawks currently sit at 7-6, but the Rams (6-7), Dolphins (2-11), and Browns (3-10) all have struggled in the latter part of the season.’

When the Bills were 2-5 and coming off an ugly loss in Baltimore, those three words rang a bit hollow for me, so I decided to call Tom. I figured if anyone could help make sense of the 2004 Buffalo Bills, it would be Tom — as in Tom Donahoe, the president and general manager of the Buffalo Bills. Donahoe explained that the players and coaches were frustrated, but not in the same way that fans were frustrated.