Archives for September 2006

‘”They have good fans, they are there rain or shine, they are there regardless of the record,” said Trey Teague, who replaced his Bills uniform with a Jets jersey this offseason. “The Bills are pretty much the most important thing as far as entertainment in the town. We fully expect them to be there, loud and ready to support their team.”‘

Return to Buffalo Far Down List of Worries for Jets’ Teague (New York Times)

Chad to be back (New York Post)

Vilma’s talkin’ ’bout Willis (New York Post)

Call Chad the karate kid (New York Daily News)

Calf has Coles on sideline (New York Daily News)

Strong voice (Newsday)

Pennington off to healthy start for Jets (White Plains Journal News)

His body language is right on (Newark Star Ledger)

Injured Kendall appears doubtful (Newark Star Ledger)

Chad is the strong link on a weakened offense (Bergen Record)

Jet’s notebook (Bergen Record)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Jets Sign TE Zach Hilton & DT Matt Mcchesney (NewYorkJets.com)

Firm Defense and Fans Thrive Upstate (NewYorkJets.com)

Prolific Pennington Returns to Buffalo (NewYorkJets.com)

Jets Look to Bounce Back (NewYorkJets.com)

‘So far, so good. Through two games, Losman has yet to throw an interception and the offense doesn’t have a turnover of any kind. Ball protection remains a focal point for the players and coaching staff as they prepare to host the New York Jets Sunday in their home opener.’

‘”The good thing was, I was able to rest it last week and the guys went out and got a win. That was major,” Spikes said.’

‘The Bills’ win at rival Miami put the team’s huge Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada fan base on cloud nine. Coach Dick Jauron said he heard the fans were elated, but hadn’t experienced it first hand. “I haven’t been outside very much,” he said in reference to his long workdays holed up inside the Bills’ practice facility. “It is a great feeling that our fans are as good as any fans that ever lived. We like the fact that they win and lose with us. We’re aware of that. And if it feels anything like this building feels (after winning), then there’s a good feeling in Buffalo. That’s a very good thing.”‘

‘When McGahee has surpassed the century mark in his short career, the Bills are 9-3. Therefore, head coach Dick Jauron and offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild will be emphasizing the ground game against Eric Mangini’s Jets. All McGahee has to do is execute.’

‘He is the third Bills player to earn the AFC’s special teams honor in the past 10 weeks.’

‘One Communications will receive naming rights to the One Club — a premium indoor seating area at Ralph Wilson Stadium that includes 450 seats, and in-stadium signage. The company also becomes a major corporate sponsor for Bills training camp, held at St. John Fisher College in suburban Rochester.’

‘It will feel “a little different” to return to Ralph Wilson Stadium, Teague said, but he experienced a similar situation when he joined Buffalo after four years with the Denver Broncos, and then returned to Mile High Stadium. He will get past that. And despite Ralph Wilson Stadium’s reputation for raucous crowds, and despite the Jets having not won in Buffalo since 2002 (losing 8 of their last 11 games there), his teammates will get past those obstacles as well, he said.’

‘On Josh Reed becoming a more dependable outlet: It seems that way; he’s doing a great job for us when his number has been called. They’re double covering other guys right now, taking it away and clouding those guys. It leaves him in the slot to be able to do those types of things. It’s good for him. He’s come through for us in a big way, not just that, but in the run game too. He’s making some tremendous blocks out there.’

‘On the last game being a perfect example of Bills special teams abilities: To me, it’s exciting because here we are, it’s only the second game and we see such a stellar performance from the special teams unit. That just shows the quality and character of guys that are on those units. It would be easy to rest on our laurels, being best in the NFL the past two years, but that just shows that we have guys who have a lot of heart and won’t be satisfied until we’re the best every time we step on the field.’

‘On looking more comfortable in the second game as opposed to the first: I wasn’t patient like I was this past game. The first game, I was just trying to get somewhere. Last week, the coaches sat me down and said this is how we’re going to run this play ‘you can go either here or here.’ So that’s what happened and it helped me get ready for the Dolphins.’

‘"We feel better than we did a week ago about it, let’s put it that way," said Jauron of Bowen’s progress as well as that of Takeo Spikes. "We’re going to have to wait and see."’

‘On keeping the young guys grounded: I think the coaching staff does a good job keeping guys focused on the task at hand. The thing about the NFL is you’re only as good as your last ball game. That’s just the way it is. You can play great defense for 10 weeks and on that 11th week you may not play well and that’s what you’re labeled as. You have to go out and perform regardless of what everyone says about you.’

‘On what he expects from the rest of the season: I guess there are a couple of things. We’re only an eighth of the way through the season and it’s very early in the year to go either way. Nobody knows what’s going to happen long term, but we do know that it’s a long year. When you talk about the number of games in the regular season, 16 games, it doesn’t sound like a lot, but for our sport it’s a lot of games and a lot of preparation. Nobody knows how it’s going to go injury-wise, how things are going to happen. Teams start off hot. It’s just real early.’