Archives for September 2006

‘On Pat Williams: “I think from a talent standpoint, losing Pat is a hard guy to replace, because of things he was able to do from a physical standpoint and as you watch film on him you see him still reeking havoc over there in the NFC. Also from a personality standpoint Pat was a guy everybody loved having on the football team.”‘

‘The Vikings are holding opponents through the first three weeks to just a 28.6 conversion percentage, seventh lowest in the league. With Buffalo’s offense managing just a 27.8 percent success rate in moving the chains it’s easy to see the challenge the Bills could be faced with on third downs Sunday.’

‘On Spikes and the other injuries: We have him as questionable, that’s where all those guys should be. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Particularly with a hamstring injury, you just don’t know.’

‘Bills linebacker and HopeLine spokesperson London Fletcher encourages fans to bring their no longer used wireless phones to the game and deposit them in collection bins at any of the 10 gates as they enter Ralph Wilson Stadium. The first 1,000 fans to donate a phone will receive a poster featuring Fletcher. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.’

‘Vikings 27, Bills 19.’

‘"It helped me to stick around for as long as I have," said Neufeld, who is in his sixth season. "It’s been good for me. Sometimes it’s challenging because I have to play multiple positions, but that’s something I pride myself on being able to do. I’m able to step in when needed."’

‘New coach Dick Jauron was asked the other day if he felt his offensive coaches needed to get the tight ends more involved and he indicated that no, they didn’t. "I like our tight ends, let me say that, but I don’t know that we need to incorporate them more," Jauron said.’

‘”They did everything wrong there,” Williams said. “They got rid of all their good players. That’s the same reason why [Donohoe] got fired by the Steelers. He would never sign his guys back down there, either. He was doing the same thing he did in Pittsburgh when he was up in Buffalo, messing everything up. He spent five years there, and messed it up for five years more. They were trying to sign me during the season, but it was just hot garbage,” Williams added. “I told them, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ I’m just going to play this out and see what happens.”‘

‘Williams said he still has “homeboys” on the Bills, among them linebackers Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher. But he’s glad two front-office people are no longer there: former general manager Tom Donohoe, who was fired, and coach Mike Mularkey, who resigned. “All them dumb a–s are gone,” Williams said. “If they were still there, I would have a problem with (the Bills). But they got Marv (Levy) running things, and they’re trying to get things back on line.”‘

‘Under no historical restrictions, who would you like to meet? That was the question posed to members of the Buffalo Bills. Western New York’s pro football players offered a variety of responses in Bob Gosney’s Buffalo Bills Journal.’

‘On a day filled with Buffalo disappointment, there was nothing more deflating for the team itself than watching Losman lose nine yards on a horrendous play call. Maybe next time they’ll just hand it to McGahee.’

‘During the year my father was sick I began writing his initials on my wrist tape before every game, and I have done it since. It’s a way of dedicating my career to him. He was such a hard worker, and he was right to push me. My parents named me Takeo because it means great warrior in Japanese. I try to live up to my name.’

‘How unlikely was the loss? For the first time in the franchise’s 47 years, the Bills lost a game in which it had a 300-yard passer (Losman threw for a career-best 328 yards), a 100-yard rusher (Willis McGahee had a career-high 150 yards) and two 100-yard receivers (Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish combined for a dozen receptions for 107 and 104 yards, respectively).’

‘The Bills finished 3-of-12 on third down, and in effect gave the game away in the third quarter.’