‘The Colts will open the season with an encouraging, 31-20, victory.’
BillsBeat - September 9, 1999
Colts' Run Defense Will Be Tested In A Hurry
‘The Bills had the NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense last season (135.1 ypg). But more telling than the raw numbers is Buffalo’s commitment to the run. Despite the passing options provided by quarterback Doug Flutie and wide receivers Eric Moulds and Andre Reed, the Bills rushed a league-high 531 times in 1998. “Buffalo has the mentality to just pound you if they want to,” Fangio said.’
Flutie Back To Stir Things Up For Buffalo
‘Apparently big bucks don’t guarantee thick skin. Throughout the preseason Phillips handled his two pricey quarterbacks like a pair of fragile Little Leaguers, granting them equal status on the depth chart as co-starters. But Johnson, the oft-sacked former USC star who fires bullets, but sometimes wanders into trouble, knew the score. “It’s Doug’s town and Doug’s team,” Johnson said, “until something happens.”‘
Panos Will Miss Opener Against Colts
‘”I went to see the doctor yesterday and he said it would be in my best interest to sit down for this week,” Panos said. “But they all agreed if I absolutely had to play and there were no other guards here, I would play. “I don’t like the situation, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m going to listen to them.”‘
Inability To Run No Worry For Bills
‘”Did we play a game yet that means something?” asked fullback Sam Gash. “My whole thing about this deal is to wait and see when the season starts to see what we do, what they allow us to do, and we’ll get it done. “Yes, we didn’t run the ball in the preseason, but I can care less.”‘
BillsBeat - September 8, 1999
To Pick a Champ, Cull Out the Losers
Look at this piece of idiot analysis:
“You can dismiss any team commanded by a Munchkin at quarterback: Chicago
and Buffalo.” Using logic like this, some guy named T. J. Simers manages to come up with Jacksonville beating Minnesota in the Super Bowl.
To this I respond:
Oh yeah, well our Munchkin beat your Super Bowl Champs last year! How do you explain that! Hmmmmmm?
NFL Power Poll
Sure, the Bills come in at #6 overall here, but the Fish at #2? Get real.
As for the Jets…. look for them around #8.
Bills Team Report 09/06/1999
“There is no quarterback controversy.”
Also, Sal calls Nails (listed 354) as “definitely in the 370 range.”
Zeigler will Start vs. Colts
Panos won’t play vs. the Colts, giving Zeigler the nod. In other news, Wade also has this to say about Anthony Gray “”I pick the team based on all aspects of their play. I like Gray, but I liked the other two guys better.”
Flutie Named the Starter
Wade finally comes clean and calls Flutie the starter, *but* he also says that RJ will see some playing time. This sounds a lot like the plans instituted for McNabb in Philly and McNown in ChiTown. Perhaps history will look back on the QB Class of ’99 as having a sixth member.
No More Containers?
TBD columnist, A. James Nicholas is hot under the collar Bills fans. The new container rules instituted by the Bills this year at RWS are short-sighted at best and a big corporate money grab at worst.
Thankfully, Shout! and TBD have given him a forum to release some steam!
Kickoff 1999! - Bills vs.Colts
The Bills start the 1999 season with a visit to Indianapolis to play a dangerous Colts team.
TBD columnist, Eric Schweitz, takes a look at the kickoff of the new season – the Bills vs. the Colts!
Running Wild
‘The reason the running game has been lagging is more a matter of preseason strategy than missed blocks, blown assignments and aching muscles, according to Smith. “We haven’t opened up the whole offensive package because we don’t want to show teams what we’re going to be doing in the games,” he said. “We’re limited to three or four runs that we’re trying to execute.”‘
Bills Name Three Players To Practice Squad
‘The three are fullback Brian Edwards, running back Lennox Gordon and wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel, the team said Tuesday. They were among 13 players cut by the Bills on Sunday. Teams are allowed to keep as many as five extra players for their practice squads.’
Reed Brings Along His Proteges
‘”It’s nice. They’re my proteges,” Reed says of Moulds and Price. “It’s a sense of accomplishment for me. I try to set an example for everybody here. As far as receivers go, as a veteran, as a leader on the team for a lot of years, you take that upon yourself to be an example. When it comes down to it, the younger guys are going to look up to us veterans. We didn’t stay around this long not knowing what we’re doing.”‘