Archives for December 2008

‘The running back spoke glowingly of his time in Toronto, saying how much he enjoyed the organic grocery store near where he lived, the Thai restaurant where he liked to eat and the Canadian people all around, who always seemed to embrace him –and his differences.’

‘(On what the difference in offense is from earlier in the season) – “I think in most of our losses, it’s been pretty clear and it’s kind of the universal in football anywhere, and certainly in our league, is that you can’t turn the ball over as much as we have been turning it over and not taking it away. We’re losing that differential by a great deal in most of our losses. Then in the win in Kansas City, it was just the opposite. We took it away, didn’t lose it. Field position becomes a huge factor when those things happen and when you have field position you tend to score more points. I think it’s relatively clear what we’ve done wrong. We certainly give credit to all of our opponents. Everybody in this league is good. They can beat you and when you help them out it just makes it that much easier to beat you.”‘

Miami Dolphins’ Ricky Williams found solace in Toronto (Miami Herald)

Jason Allen’s status for Sunday’s Miami Dolphins game still unknown (Miami Herald)

Ricky Williams’ love for Toronto is mutual (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Four Dolphins lead AFC in Pro Bowl fan votes (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Coach, players focus on sweeping final four games (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins’ Ricky Williams fondly remembers CFL, Toronto’s “true fans” (Palm Beach Post)

Bills’ return teams concern Dolphins coach Tony Sparano (Palm Beach Post)

Bills’ Trent Edwards might miss Dolphins’ game (Palm Beach Post)

Players differ over issue of owning gun (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins Coach Sparano hopes to spread positivity (Orlando Sentinel)

Williams fondly remembers season in Toronto (AP)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Buffalo Bills Transcripts (MiamiDolphins.com)

Miami Dolphins Transcripts (MiamiDolphins.com)

Four Dolphins Lead Pro Bowl Balloting (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘”I want the Buffalo Bills to stay where they’re at . . . stay on that side of the border. I don’t think the team’s going anywhere, to be honest with you. As long as I have anything to do with it, they’re going to stay in Western New York.”‘

‘The Bills play three of their final four against division rivals, but it may be a moot point if quarterback Trent Edwards isn’t healthy.’

‘Miami has lost seven of nine games played in Buffalo after Dec. 1, including two playoff games. When the NFL assigned the Dolphins game for Toronto, Bills fans sighed while the Dolphins celebrated. A “lucky draw” is how coach Tony Sparano put it.’

‘Buffalo’s 25-16 loss to the Dolphins on Oct. 26 ignited their 1-5 slide while igniting Miami’s 5-1 hot streak. Turnovers were the story — the Bills committed three in the fourth quarter and squandered a 16-7 lead. It goes without saying, they can’t afford a sloppy performance again and expect to win and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Even though the game will be played indoors in Toronto’s Rogers Centre and not outside at Ralph Wilson Stadium, both clubs will want to run the ball. The Bills held a 119-52 edge in rushing in the first meeting and Marshawn Lynch is running even better now. A running game will benefit whoever starts at QB for Buffalo, Trent Edwards or J.P. Losman. Defensively, the Bills need to get pressure on Miami’s savvy veteran Chad Pennington, who threw for 314 yards the first meeting while being sacked once. CB Terrence McGee, who played on a bad knee that game, was eaten up by Ted Ginn Jr. (seven catches, 175 yards) and he’s eager for the rematch. Bills special teams need a rebound game after last week’s game against the 49ers. The club’s No. 3 and 4 punt and kickoff return units need to make something happen against Miami’s 31- and 32-ranked coverage units.’

‘The Bills went from scoring 54 points against Kansas City to three against San Francisco and players are still at a loss to explain why. The Chiefs defense is ranked 32nd in the NFL — last — but the 49ers is a less-than daunting 23rd and it ranks 27th in points allowed. “We had plenty of opportunities to score a lot of points, but we just didn’t do it and as close as we were to the goal line, the opportunities were right there, but plays just didn’t get made,” WR Lee Evans said. “I don’t know exactly, it wasn’t all one thing or another, but bottom line, being able to run it down in the red zone really helps your passing game.”‘

‘”It’s part of the deal when you don’t win,” Jauron said. “You know when you don’t win that there’s going to be criticism and it’s going to be deserved. So you go on. You try to improve and you try to do the things that’ll make everyone happy: And that’s win football games.”‘

‘"At the end of the day," said former NFL head coach Jim Fassel, "you tell your players ‘The field is 100 yards long, 53 yards wide and the rules are the same and we’ve got to go win. I don’t care if it’s at a high school stadium, in Buffalo or somebody’s back yard, we’ve got get ready to play. But if it turns out the Dolphins win this game by less than seven points, if they had played outdoors in Buffalo, Buffalo probably wins the game."’

‘Last month, Goodell addressed a Quarterback Club luncheon gathering in Buffalo. "It’s a franchise we’re very proud of," Goodell said. Will the Bills stay in Buffalo? "It’s going to depend on your passion for this team," he said.’

‘"That’s a phase of the game that could really kill us," coach Tony Sparano said Wednesday.’

‘Buffalo Bills fans who had too many beers during Sunday’s game against San Francisco, then who decided to get behind the wheel, were met by a small army of law enforcement officers this side of the Peace Bridge. Some may scoff at the co-ordinated effort to sniff out impaired drivers. We applaud it.’

‘Losman has been unhappy with how the Bills have treated him, and doesn’t plan to re-sign with the team once his contract expires after this season. "Personally, it’s a great opportunity for me to be able to get a chance to play well and do well for a numerous amount of reasons," Losman said. "But all that stuff is going to work out, so I’m not really focusing on that. I’m really focusing on this team and this opportunity that we have together right now."’

‘"One of the things that Bills players and fans look at is ‘When are we playing the Dolphins?’" Kelly said. "When we found out they were coming to Buffalo in December, everybody was excited. And then, of course, when we found out they were playing this game up here, it was a little bittersweet because we wanted the Dolphins to come up when they were enjoying that 70-, 80-degree weather down there and come up to Buffalo where there’s a little snow on the ground and have that advantage."’