Archives for December 9, 2005

‘If the Patriots do stop McGahee, that will force the young Losman to try and beat them through the air. Last week against the Jets, playing another mobile young quarterback in Brooks Bollinger, the Patriots were more aggressive and never let Bollinger get comfortable in the pocket. Look for them to use a similar approach this week. Eric Moulds, the Bills best receiver, has been suspended for this game and rookie Roscoe Parrish will start in his place. Parrish is an explosive player with blazing speed but he is nowhere near the polished receiver that Moulds is. With a young quarterback and an inexperienced group of receivers, there is no reason to believe the Patriots won’t be aggressive on defense again this week.’

‘Moulds’ personal adviser, Greg Johnson, said the dispute occurred when Moulds left the field after experiencing pain in his Achilles’ tendon. Moulds wanted to have the tendon examined by a trainer when Tolbert asked Moulds to get back on the field, Johnson said. Moulds declined and was benched for most of the final three quarters.’

‘McGahee wasn’t added to the injury report, and coach Mike Mularkey said he believes McGahee will be fine when Buffalo (4-8) hosts New England (7-5) this Sunday.’

‘Flutie started 15 games the following year, but Bills coach Wade Phillips stunningly benched him in favor of Rob Johnson for what became known as the ”Music City Miracle” playoff loss in Tennessee. Flutie told the Press-Enterprise that he believed it was Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson who pressured Phillips into the switch. ”Why (Wilson) doesn’t believe in my abilities, I don’t know,” Flutie was quoted as saying. ”All we ever did was win games and put people in the seats for him … But whatever.”’

‘It’s been no coincidence that Losman’s and Evans’ numbers have improved ever since, as the two have suddenly developed a chemistry. “I think he’s certainly getting a lot more comfortable with the offense and a lot more comfortable with me,” Evans said of Losman.’

‘"He and I just talked about everything that had happened," Moulds said of Thursday’s one-on-one interview with Wilson. "Actually, he wanted me to play, but at the same time we both felt that I didn’t practice the whole week, so it wouldn’t be fair to my teammates for me to go and play this Sunday. We kind of used the rule that if you don’t practice, you don’t play that week."’

‘”He plays with a lot of emotion, he’s good with his feet, and he can keep a play alive,” Patritos rookie defensive back Ellis Hobbs said. “He gives those receivers a lot of time to run their routes. If they need to get open he’ll buy some extra time for himself and his receivers.”‘

‘”The thing he told me is that he’s in my corner and he appreciates everything that I’ve done over the past 10 years,” Moulds said. “He said I’m one of the players that he knows goes out and plays every play. For him to say that, it meant more to me than anything.”‘

‘This classic power struggle isn’t just about Mularkey and Moulds but the institution and the inmates. Mularkey has more authority, which he’s brandishing to send a message for the future. What’s the old schoolyard rule when a man is outnumbered? Punch the guy who looks the toughest. In this case, it’s Moulds.’

‘”He has great instincts, he’s a smart guy, he’s not afraid to hit you, and those are the type of guys you want on your football team,” Gray said. “The more Jimmy plays the better he’s going to get.”‘

‘That distinction goes to Ron Smith, a backup receiver for the San Diego Chargers who caught the winning 50-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to beat the Bills in the divisional playoffs in the 1980 season. Smith had caught only four passes all season and had only four TDs in an NFL career of five-plus seasons. The catch cost the Bills a trip to the AFC final against the Raiders, whom the Bills had waxed in the regular season. The Bills might have won the Super Bowl that year.’

‘Patriots over Bills, 27-16.’

‘”He was thrilled to death,” Lou Ann Daniels said. “He found out at 10 at night and I told him he had to go to bed. He was like ‘Huh?'”‘

‘”Mr. Wilson has been a class act to us since 1996,” said Moulds’ adviser, Greg Johnson. “We’ll respect the team’s decision and move forward.”‘

‘New England 28, Buffalo 10.’