Archives for November 29, 2005

‘Moving on, because I have already talked and whined about the Losman situation enough this season, one thing that would truly discourage you about this game and in prior games would be McGahee’s lackluster performance. Yeah, it has been pretty darn ugly to say the least. But you know, with the way this offensive line has played, I am hard-pressed to go pointing fingers at the guy. The line is straight-up awful. And the finger for that goes to GM Tom Donahoe. He might have thought his young quarterback would have been able to work around this problem with his legs this season, but look at any successful offense in the NFL and note their offensive line. Most of these lines are great, whereas the Bills’ is just as awful as an Ashlee Simpson CD. Yes, I am not exaggerating, they are that bad.’

‘The Niagara Regional Police set up their largest DWI checkpoint of the year at the bridge after the Buffalo Bills game. In all, 73 motorists were tested for drunkenness and 10 had their licenses suspended for 12 hours.’

‘Their 13-9 loss has dropped them to 4-7, two games behind the first-place Patriots in the AFC East. Realistically, Buffalo has to go 5-0 just to have a shot at the playoffs. Everybody knows that the odds of that are about as good as me winning the lottery…without a ticket. The Bills should just start their younger players and develop them for the future. If they finish 4-12, 5-11, or 6-10 (a likely scenario), they’ll have a high draft pick and will be able to get another young star to build their team around.’

‘Williams, one of the Bills’ all-time first-round busts, was even worse at left guard, where he was given a shot when free agent signee Bennie Anderson continued to play poorly. Indeed, his struggles overshadowed those of fellow free agent Mike Gandy left tackle. Both have been yellow flag magnets. Rookie center Duke Preston might be an answer at either center or a guard spot, but it doesn’t appear either veteran Greg Jerman or sixth round draft pick Justin Geisinger will be any more than backups. But the Bills have to find out – about Losman, too – which is why the season’s final third is so important for Buffalo.’

‘Before the game, former Bills’ backup quarterback Frank Reich was honored with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Distinguished Service Award. He played nine seasons with the Bills as Jim Kelly’s backup and is best remembered for engineering Buffalo’s 41-38 overtime victory over Houston at then-Rich Stadium in a1993 wild-card playoff game.’

‘While it’s clear Adams is less than 100 percent, Wright is perplexed that Mularkey would sit one of his best players in such a critical game. “The bottom line is when you want to win games and when you’re in a playoff hunt, you’ve got win with your best players,” Wright said. “If a guy wants to play on Sunday, then you play him. If you don’t want to start him, fine, don’t start him. But the guy can help you. Sam Adams wants to play football and the coach made him a distraction. The coach created this issue.”‘

‘Five years and the O-line is still a mess. Five years and the defensive line can’t stop the run. Five years, and Donahoe has turned a proud Bills franchise into the AFC’s version of Arizona.’

‘”In talking to him, he’s disappointed that he didn’t get to dress and I’d be upset if (all inactive players) weren’t,” Mularkey said. “I’m not sure about the (inactive) rule, but that’s one of the worst parts of the job, not dress seven guys when they’ve practiced during the week.’

‘Here’s what any Bills’ fan, or Mike Mularkey or Tom Donahoe has to hope: the next time this situation happens, whether it’s in a week, or a month, or next season, Losman will have a flashback of recognition, and in that instant, take a step forward in the pocket and deliver the package on time to win the game.’

‘Wright said Adams’ somewhat lax practice habits have irked Mularkey, but that Adams, a member of Super Bowl teams in Baltimore and Oakland and who anchored Buffalo’s rise to a dominant defense the past two seasons when paired with Pat Williams (now with Minnesota), has always been a team player. “He is not going to bury my client because you have personal issues with him,” Wright said of Mularkey. “He is what he is. Sam never has been known to be a great practice player, but he plays on Sunday. You don’t pay him to practice, you pay him to play.”‘

‘During Buffalo’s failed comeback drive in the final two minutes, Losman had WR Eric Moulds open down the deep left sideline but threw too far to the outside and out of bounds because he sensed Carolina DE Julius Peppers was about to crash down on him, and he pulled the trigger a tad too soon.’

‘Strong safety Lawyer Milloy suffered a foot injury in the game, but it’s not believed to be as serious as first thought. X-rays also were negative. Milloy stubbed his toe and twisted his foot awkwardly. His status will be updated Wednesday.’

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

‘You now have 7 losses with 5 games left. Sure you could win the final 5 games finish 9-7 and nip a struggling New England team for a division title, and I could win the Nobel Peace Prize.’