Archives for December 29, 2005

‘The most comical element of the Bills starting Holcomb over Losman for the team’s most meaningless game of the season is the obliviousness of the organization as a whole. Everyone is basically pointing and laughing as the Bills continue to allow the patients to run the asylum. Of course, I’m talking about the veterans on the team who have supposedly been rubbed the wrong way by Losman. Mularkey is trying to please his older players by throwing them a late-season bone (Holcomb). In my view, those vets can either accept that Losman’s the future or be shipped elsewhere.’

‘”He’s throwing the ball good,” Mularkey said of Losman. “But with more work on the turf (in practice), he got sore last week. . . . I’d like to get him in the game at some point. Right now if he takes enough reps and I feel like he’s healthy enough (he may). But I’m not going to put him out there if he’s not healthy.”‘

‘Crowell was coming to the end of a three-year contract he signed as a rookie. He would have been a restricted rights free agent in March, meaning the Bills could have locked him up for 2006 with a minimum offer of about $700,000. Now he is locked up with a multiyear contract. Crowell has played middle and weak-side linebacker for the Bills. Should Spikes encounter any problems in his return from his injury, Crowell has showed he can fill the weak-side role.’

‘”As you look at his performance, look at the statistics,” linebacker London Fletcher said of Holcomb, who threw for 308 yards in Buffalo’s 37-27 victory over Cincinnati last week. “Even in the losses that we’ve had with Kelly behind center he’s proven that he’s definitely a starting quarterback in the NFL and definitely a starter for us.”‘

‘”It means something to the whole special teams. When you get something like this, it’s really for everybody,” said McGee, who was quick to share the award with his teammates.’

‘Mularkey said that it’s likely he would start Holcomb again, but that could change depending how Losman feels the rest of the week. “I’d like to get him in the game, if he takes enough reps and I feel he’s healthy enough, but I’m not going to put him out there if he’s not healthy,” Mularkey said. “That’s not fair to him or for our team. He looked good today, but we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”‘

‘The four-year, $18 million contract extension awarded CB/KR Terrence McGee earlier this season hasn’t changed the electrifying third-year pro.’

‘Running back Willis McGahee had his best game of the season in this year’s first meeting against the Jets, a 27-7 win at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Oct. 16. McGahee gained 143 yards on 29 carries and scored a touchdown. He’s had only one 100-yard game since, and hasn’t topped that threshold in his last seven outings. Who’s to blame? The line? The coaching staff? Himself? “Well, I’ll take it. I have no problems taking it,” McGahee said. “Things didn’t go the way you expect, and you just have to overcome it and move on.”‘

‘With 1,134 rushing yards, Willis McGahee has already eclipsed his rushing total from a year ago when he had 1,128. The second-year running back, however, has taken a step backwards when it comes to scoring — reaching the end zone just five times this season compared to 13 in 2004.’

Herm rumor swirls (New York Daily News)

Edwards there for Dungy (New York Daily News)

Abraham may be a goner (New York Post)

Herm ponders Chad’s future (New York Post)

Herm passes on Chad (Newsday)

Vermeil flatters Edwards and adds fuel to rumor (Newsday)

Vermeil speaks up for Edwards (Newark Star Ledger)

Wait-and-see strategy (Bergen Record)

Looking ahead: Jets vs. Bills (Bergen Record)

Pennington key to what direction Jets will go (White Plains Journal News)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Butler Signed to Practice Squad (NewYorkJets.com)

Difficult Decisions Lay Ahead (NewYorkJets.com)

Questions Surround Jets (NewYorkJets.com)

Annual Coat Drive (NewYorkJets.com)

Jets vs. Bills game release (NewYorkJets.com)

‘Holcomb has more wins and better numbers than Losman this season. And don’t think his teammates haven’t noticed.’

‘Crowell, Buffalo’s third-round pick in the 2003 draft out of Virginia, was eligible to become a restricted free agent this offseason.’

‘Buffalo Bills linebacker Angelo Crowell, who has played well in the absence of the injured Takeo Spikes, was signed to a contract extension by the club on Wednesday.’

‘In his third year, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Crowell stepped into the starting rotation nicely after fellow LB Takeo Spikes went down with a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon. The injury caused Spikes to miss the rest of the season.’

‘Mularkey commented on Willis McGahee, saying the star running back has not regressed. The coach also reinforced that he has confidence in his defense, saying that Lawyer Milloy and London Fletcher have played great all year, and that safety Rashad Baker has been a victim of the numbers game, not poor play.’