Archives for December 2006

‘Clements considers himself one of the league’s elite cornerbacks, and expects his next contract to reflect that status. Champ Bailey set the standard when he signed a seven-year, $63 million contract that included an $18 million bonus with Denver in 2004.’

‘The game originally had been scheduled for 1 p.m.’

‘The same windy weather that helped the Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins a week earlier at Ralph Wilson Stadium turned into their enemy in Sunday’s 30-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Mother Nature showed she doesn’t discriminate.’

‘The Bills playoff hopes evaporated faster than good gift wrap in December with this loss and Dick Jauron and his staff must shoulder much of the blame.’

‘The Bills were humbled by the play of rookie sensation Vince Young, the Titans’ athletically gifted quarterback who threw for two TDs and ran for another. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell respected Young’s mobility so much, he had his defensive ends keep containment on the edges rather than rush up field. Young still got loose eight times for 61 yards, including a 36-yard TD scamper in which he headed left, then reversed field and weaved through six or seven Bills on way to the end zone. “We changed things up this week because of Vince and what he does on the ground,” DE Chris Kelsay said. “Anytime you have someone special like that, I think you have to do things differently. You have to have someone on him every single play and he still made plays, so congratulations to him for being such a good player. He plays with his head and with a chip on his shoulder. He’s a really good quarterback and he’s going to be for a number of years in this league.”‘

‘The second and final killer drive for the Bills occurred in the third quarter. Leading 26-20, Buffalo was knocking on the door of the Titans’ end zone. Unfortunately for tight end Robert Royal, it proved to be among the worst sequences of plays in his career.’

‘The Bills’ playoff dreams officially died when J.P. Losman’s desperation heave on a fourth-and-5 play from the Titans’ 28 was intercepted with 41 seconds left. On another day, the Bills surely could have tried a 45-yard field goal to win it. But the 25 mph winds at Ralph Wilson Stadium made that option at least 3 yards outside the range of Rian Lindell. So for the sake of 3 yards, the Bills dropped to 7-8.’

‘”I loved it,” Henry said of the decisive drive. “I wished I had more situations like that. We knew we could run the ball on them so we wanted to come in and control the clock with the run game. The offensive line blocked really well. They gave me some creases and I made the reads and hit it up there hard.”‘

‘The Titans faced fourth-and-2 with 14 seconds remaining on the Bills’ 36-yard line, a distance Buffalo would ultimately confirm too long for a field-goal attempt into a fierce wind. Young rolled left, looked long, pumped and began a memorable journey through the Bills’ defense.’

‘But in the end, this loss was reminiscent of so many others in recent Bills history. With a game and a season hanging in the balance, the defense came up small in the fourth quarter. The Bills’ defenders would make horrible Santa Clauses because when it really matters, you can’t count on them to make a stop.’

‘”It would have been different if the wind gusts had died down,” Lindell said. “It’s kind of tough to say, “No, I can’t make it.’ You try not to say that too many times. [Jauron] asked me and I didn’t know what to say. I try to leave up it to them and if it’s a field goal I’ll go out and try to bang it and hope for the best. But to tell you the truth, it would have been a tough one to make.”‘

‘Took too long to decide to go for it. Late third-and-1 pass failed. If Royal catches TD we’d be praising them.’

‘The Buffalo News interviewed two dozen people who wore Titans jerseys or sweat shirts to find out how Bills fans treated them before, during and after the game. Only two said they wouldn’t come back. “There were a lot of guys who were jerks,” said Destry Evans of Harrisburg, Pa., who said Sunday’s game would be his last Bills game. “It was not fun. The more they drank, the worse they got.”‘

‘And they have no one to blame but themselves.’

‘Leading 26-20 and playing with the wind in the third quarter, wide receiver Lee Evans threw a perfect option pass to Royal in the left corner of the end zone. Royal caught the pass but failed to get both feet in bounds even though there was enough green to spread a blanket for a picnic.’