Archives for December 2006

‘McGahee had been knocked woozy and lost a fumble after being leveled by a helmet-to-helmet hit by linebacker Zach Thomas on the Bills’ first possession.’

‘”It’s definitely loser go home in terms of the playoffs,” said Bills receiver Lee Evans. “To give ourselves a chance we definitely have to win out starting with this game. It will be a high-intensity game.”‘

‘Buffalo, 20-16.’

‘”I guess I am surprised a little bit because of the new position he’s playing,” Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally said. “But he just works like crazy on his techniques. He’s a gifted athlete and he just kind of figures it out. Every day and every week he gets better.”‘

‘Without Hunt there would have been no Buffalo Bills, no New England Patriots, no Miami Dolphins, no Raider Nation and, for that matter, no Dallas Cowboys either.’

‘If there’s any justice, ex-Bill Pat Williams will make his first Pro Bowl this year. If it doesn’t happen this year, it may never happen, since Williams is 34.’

‘”Playoff-wise, it’s win or go home,” wide receiver Lee Evans said. “That’s what the rest of the season boils down to. To give us a chance, we’re definitely going to have to win out. Starting with this game right here, I think both teams are in the same situation. Both teams are fighting and it will be a high intensity game.”‘

‘Of all the units that will be on display, the best – by a wide margin – is Miami’s defense. It ranks No. 2 in yards allowed, No. 1 in fewest yards per play, third in sacks and fifth in points allowed. The Dolphins have given up only 34 plays of at least 20 yards, the lowest total in the league, and Bills coach Dick Jauron said his offense – which has shown signs of life in the second half of the season – has a huge task on its hands.’

‘People would be surprised if they knew what about you? “That I’m 5-foot-8 and I won the slam dunk contest at Wisconsin when I was a sophomore.’

‘As a result, both Buffalo and Miami are mathematically alive for a wild-card playoff berth, though the odds are infinitesimal. Ahead of them for those two post-season spots are Jacksonville and Cincinnati (both 8-5), the Jets, Kansas City and Denver (7-6) plus Tennessee and Pittsburgh, which have the same record.’

‘”We did (use audio from the video) in Cleveland, which was 100 years ago when I was a defensive coordinator (1991-94),” he said. “I think every team in the league does it. Our players were all laughing today. (Defensive end) Kevin Carter said, ‘Hey, we did that in St. Louis eight years ago.”

‘”He has a good grasp of our system,” the coach said. “He’s worked hard. He’s a smart individual.”‘

”’We usually talk after the games,” Evans said. “After the game, [we] figure out how each of us is doing. We’ll speak once a week. Usually the week we play each other, we probably talk a little more because I’m coming down, got people down there. Vice-versa when he comes up here.”’

‘Bills coach Dick Jauron is a former special teams coach and Bobby April is considered a special teams guru. The Bills lead the NFL in net punting (39.7), are second in punt return average (11.8) and are third in kickoff return average (24.8). The Bills held the Jets to one return for three yards last week. Dolphins punter Donnie Jones placed three kicks inside the 10-yard line last week, but Miami’s return teams have not been special this year. ADVANTAGE: Bills.’

‘It was Hunt who gave Levy his first NFL head coaching job, in 1978. And, though Hunt approved Levy’s firing in 1982, he also had a hand in helping him get the head coaching job four years later with the Buffalo Bills, with whom Levy reached the Super Bowl four years running.’