Archives for November 2006

‘"We need confidence," Buffalo general manager Marv Levy said. "Their ability level is maybe a little bit better, but they need confidence and confidence is built by victory on the playing field."’

‘Bills wide receiver Josh Reed stayed overnight in a hospital after suffering a bruised kidney in yesterday’s win over the Packers. Reed is resting comfortably, but will stay one more night for observation.’

‘Of the chances McGahee will play on Sunday, Jauron said "It depends on how painful it is and depends on the extent of the fracture and all of those things that we’re still learning."’

‘The Bills didn’t do everything right Sunday, but they made big plays late when they needed them most.’

‘"Injury-wise it’s a broken ninth rib," said Jauron. "My understanding is we’ll just see where it goes. It’s painful obviously and they’ll do some more tests today. He’s scheduled for a scan today to examine it further."’

‘"Yeah I think everybody is (frustrated)," said Losman after Sunday’s win. "We’re in this process still where we’re learning a new offense and we still have some young guys. We’re trying to find out what our limitations are and what we can and cannot do. It’s been frustrating and they’ve been tough times, but you have to keep your head up and stay positive and believe in each other and trust one another and focus on your job just to keep this thing going. If you keep fighting and keep hanging in there, boom we’ll pop one like we did."’

‘Sen. Charles E. Schumer is trying to organize senators representing states with smaller-market pro football teams to exert pressure on the National Football League to help Buffalo and similar franchises. There’s no guarantee where that will lead, but it’s an effort worth making.’

‘”This lifts the spirits and gives us some confidence,” said receiver Peerless Price. “You don’t understand how hungry this team was, because we’ve been battling,” defensive tackle Larry Tripplett said. “We needed this win real bad, and it feels fantastic.”‘

‘But pardon me for not dancing a jig around the press box after this one. This was not a very encouraging or artistic performance. The Bills were lucky to get away with a win. The offense did everything in its power to hand the game away. But Favre couldn’t take it. He tossed the football into the gift horse’s mouth.’

‘It seemed after Sunday’s loss that he can sense the end is fast approaching, a trip to the playoffs ever the more unlikely. It seemed that he’s drawn some satisfaction in proving to himself that he still has game while accepting he also has limitations that distance him from his prime.’

‘”We sputtered,” said right guard Chris Villarrial, one of the two linemen still at the same position where he began the year. “It took us awhile to get things going. We were self-destructing again and it kind of felt frustrating at first. But we stuck with it. The defense kept us in it and good things happened.”‘

‘”It’s convenient to sit there and say, “We played a great game except for four plays,’ ” McCarthy said. “If you’re in the other locker room, they feel good about those four plays. Minus-4 in the turnover ratio? You’re not going to win too many football games.”‘

‘”Obviously, [McGahee’s rib injury] was bad enough and sore enough that he could not finish,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said. “Josh has a kidney bruise. [The team doctors] are going to look long and hard at that one. We’re just going to have to see how quickly either one of them can come back.”‘

‘”We had our chances, that goes without saying,” said Favre, the future Hall of Famer who passed for 287 yards and threw his 407th career TD pass to Driver in the third quarter that pulled the Packers within 10-7. “Guys from that distance are not going to be wide open and he was covered on that one just as he was on the previous touchdown. That was a good play on their part. The ball didn’t bounce our way on that particular play. But I don’t second-guess the decision from a play-calling standpoint or where I threw the ball.”‘

‘There is no doubt the Buffalo running back and former controversial first-round draft choice of Tom Donahoe is one of the most popular Bills of recent vintage. But I’ve been of the opinion for quite a while now that McGahee might be one of the most overrated Bills as well.’