Archives for December 2008

‘”We do feel like we have the potential and the talent to be contending in the playoffs right now,” Buffalo receiver Lee Evans said. “But, obviously, that didn’t come to pass for us, so we’re definitely going to have to learn from the mistakes and the lessons of this season and pull together one last time for one last game.”‘

Is this Cassel’s last call? (Boston Globe)

Fallen ‘angel’ pays a price (Boston Globe)

Matt Cassel finale? (Boston Herald)

NFL tells Wes Welker that he’s no angel (Boston Herald)

Buffalo continues to show fortitude (Providence Journal)

Horizons are bright for Patriots QB Matt Cassel (Providence Journal)

Pats no Jet set yet (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Still anyone’s game (Springfield Republican)

Cassel would like to be back but may not return (AP)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Patriots – Bills Injury Report – 12/24/2008 (Patriots.com)

Lee Evans Conference Call (Patriots.com)

Dick Jauron Conference Call (Patriots.com)

Matt Cassel Press Conference (Patriots.com)

‘The game is the first for the Bills at home in 28 days. They have lost 15 of their last 16 games against the Patriots, including 10 in a row following a 20-10 loss on Nov. 9. They are trying to avert an 0-6 record against the AFC East.’

‘The Bills run into a very motivated Patriots (10-5) team that needs a win over Buffalo to stay alive in the AFC playoff race. New England was never pressed in handing the Bills a 20-10 loss in early November, running off 78 plays to Buffalo’s 43 while harassing QB Trent Edwards into a miserable 13-of-23, 123-yard day passing with two interceptions. New England backup RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 105 yards on 26 carries with one score. On Sunday, the Bills will have to contend with top RBs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan. Failing to shut down the Patriots’ No. 7 running game will allow QB Matt Cassel to have his way with a Bills defense that was shredded for 532 yards last week by Denver. Offensively, Edwards has to show the ball protection he did against the Broncos and show that he’s learned how to attack a 3-4 defense. He has four TDs and eight interceptions in seven games against that look this season and nobody schemes it better than Patriots coach Bill Belichick.’

‘”We love him. He does a lot for us. It’s our fault the way the season has gone; it’s not his fault. We just haven’t been making plays.” — CB Terrence McGee, on coach Dick Jauron, whose future with the club will be decided after the season.’

‘Johnson’s obvious eagerness to make the most of necessarily scarce opportunities has made him an evermore appealing option, especially considering his relatively obscure pro beginnings. Forget his draft position — even though Johnson was nabbed 183 spots after Indiana product James Hardy, he possesses the capability to plug a hole in the Bills’ hull that was supposedly patched with the selection of his more prominent teammate.’

‘When Trent [Edwards] went down that was certainly a big blow to the offense. Anytime your starting quarterback goes down, it’s always tough. Guys stepped in and tried to make plays and it just didn’t work out for us. It’s always tough like that. I know you are dealing with the same thing up there with [Matt] Cassel. He’s stepped in a done a really good job, but that’s always tough. It takes a little to get used to. He [Edwards] came back and we played well, but things just didn’t work out for us.’

‘Certainly, it’s always disappointing in our business when you don’t get into the playoffs. That’s what you’re aiming for. It’s what everybody wants but there is nothing you can do to change it. Certainly it’s a disappointment. At the heart of our business and the integrity of our game, and maybe of everybody’s life in general, is effort. I said all year our guys have done a nice job of working at it in practice, working in games and keeping their attitude going no matter what. When we were getting the bounces when it started and let’s face it we won a number of very close games to start it off and then we’ve lost a number of very close games as we’ve gone on through the season. You have to accept both sides of it because that’s who we are, but sure it’s disappointing. It’s disappointing to us.’

‘Several players said Wednesday it’s important to win for Dick Jauron because they want him to remain their coach. "Definitely," Bills defensive tackle Marcus Stroud said. "Anytime you have a coach like Coach Jauron, you want to stand up and play hard for him, and if that’s going to determine whether he’ll be here next year or not, we’re going to try to turn it up an extra notch and play that much better."’

‘The entertaining video clip was put together by the Bills video production crew in conjunction with Langston Walker’s "68 Seconds" show on buffalobills.com. On his show, the players make their valiant efforts to sing the timeless classic Buffalo Bills style.’

‘Lynch is nursing a sore shoulder that kept him out of most of the second half of Buffalo’s win at Denver this past Sunday, while Peters has a knee injury that forced him to miss the Broncos game.’

‘”Based on what Buffalo did (Sunday) on the road in Denver, I think that right there tells you how they’re going to play,” Belichick said. “They are a good football team.”‘

‘Patriots 23, Bills 17.’

‘Bills 33, Patriots 30.’

‘With 12 points last Sunday in the win at Denver, Lindell has already set a career high for points in a season with 124. His previous best was 117 back in 2004. Those 12 points also gave Buffalo’s kicker the sixth double-digit scoring game of the season, also a career high.’