Archives for November 2008

‘As a former Buffalo Bill (2001-06), Clements is eager to make a good showing on his return to Ralph Wilson Stadium as a member of his new team. This season he has two interceptions, eight passes defensed, 50 total tackles, one forced fumble and a touchdown on a blocked field goal return.’

‘This is his first game against Buffalo since the 49ers lured him away with an eight-year, $80 million contract that included $22 million in guaranteed money.’

‘”He would address the team, and he would do a much better job than any of our coaches would do at the time in terms of motivating us and getting us ready to play,” Edwards said. “And that’s the type of person he was. He still had it. I don’t know what age he was, but he was still coming in and still had everything upstairs.”‘

49ers’ Clements moving on to next challenge (San Francisco Chronicle)

49ers game preview (San Francisco Chronicle)

49ers’ Clements making return visit to Buffalo (San Jose Mercury News)

Raiders slightly less worse than 49ers (San Jose Mercury News)

Walsh lessons resonate for Buffalo quarterback (Sacramento Bee)

49ers scouting report (Sacramento Bee)

Weather or not, Niners heading east (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

49ers vs. Bills preview (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

49ers Waive Brooks (49ers.com)

‘"At this point in the season you have to be able to run the football effectively," said Bills receiver Lee Evans. "When you can run the football effectively, it kind of just automatically opens up the playbook because you get them thinking about running and you definitely have opportunities in the passing game."’

‘”I think that we’ve faced the 3-4s and we’ve seen what a majority of their defenses can do,” said Edwards. “Hopefully we can handle it.” Thus far this season, Edwards and the Bills have done anything but.’

‘”It was almost like a recruiting trip coming out of high school going to college,” Spikes recalled of his last appearance at the Ralph as an opposing player. “I saw the mock jerseys with “Spikes,” and I remember them saying, ‘Spikes, you’re a free agent. We want you here.’ … Once I got there, it was a great fit for me. To have the success that I had there as quickly as I did … it just kind of affected everything else after that.”’

‘”I’M LOOKING forward to it … just so much history,” Spikes said of returning to “The Ralph.” “I think it was the first place I really could call home because I had so many good times and still talk to a lot of people there.”‘

‘”It’s big,” said Bills coach Dick Jauron. “Clearly it paid off last week. If we had been playing better in the weeks before, it would have paid off then, too. Field position is critically important. But when you’re giving it away [making turnovers], it kind of cancels out.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills placed defensive tackle John McCargo on the injured reserve list Friday, ending his season and probably ending his career with the team.’

‘"I do feel like having him back takes a lot of pressure off of me,” said Edwards, who is coming off a turnover-free performance after giving the ball away 11 times in the previous four games. "I’m not over-thinking things (with Reed in there). I’m not doing things that I don’t have to do. I know that Josh is going to get open and I know what he’s thinking and he knows what I’m thinking.”’

‘”What we need to do, I’ve said this all along, is we need to learn from those [losses] and use those down the stretch for the next five games,” quarterback Trent Edwards said. “We need to use those things we went through if we ever do face another situation like that. We’re finding a way to fix the problems quickly and moving on to the next game.”‘

‘”Oh no, I’m letting it roll. I can’t wait to let it roll,” said 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes, who signed with the Bills as a free agent in 2003 and played three seasons in Buffalo before being traded to the Eagles in ’07 and joining the 49ers this season.’

‘”I still think they love me a little bit,” said Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowl selection during his four seasons with the Bills. “But a few boos would be OK, too. I’m just ready to play and let it go. I’ve been looking forward to this one ever since the day I signed with San Fran. That should give you an indication of how much I’ve been looking forward to this.”‘