Archives for October 13, 2000

When inquiring about Chargers right tackle Vaughn Parker’s ticket list for Sunday, one needs to only look at his jersey number: 70. "I ordered 70, but it might get up to 75,” said Parker, the former Buffalo prep star who is headed to familiar haunts this weekend. "It’s cool to go home."…In Parker, Buffalo gets to see one of its good guys. This offseason he donated a substantial sum to his alma mater, St. Joseph High. He gave $10,000 for a new weight room and $20,000 for an endowment, which he has committed an additional $20,000 to for each of the next four years.’

Weekly picks from the Buffalo Post.

‘Antowain Smith didn’t talk for long on Wednesday. But the beleaguered and benched running back, whose request for a trade before Monday’s National Football League deadline went unfulfilled, said more in a few minutes after practice than he has in three-plus years of much lengthier interviews.’

‘Price has caught 11 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown. But when you’re a high draft pick, you’re held to a higher standard. It’s not enough to play well. You have to do things that impact the outcome of games in your team’s favor. Unfortunately for the Bills, there have been too many games when Price’s presence hasn’t been felt.’

‘"Erik had a little problem with his heel to start the season, but he’s fine now and I’m pleased with him," said Phillips. "He’s very quick off the ball, he’s shown that." What he hasn’t shown is the ability to sack quarterbacks that led the Bills to use the 26th overall pick in the draft to select him. "Erik has a ways to go yet," said 10-year veteran defensive end Phil Hansen, who has been sort of a mentor to the 22-year-old rookie ever since Flowers ended his brief training camp holdout and reported to St. John Fisher College in late July. "He’s improving each week, but he has to understand this is a professional level."’

‘Every time the San Diego Chargers run on the field, a couple of turnovers by the quarterbacks are practically guaranteed, usually with disastrous results. They’ve committed 14 so far this season, including 12 interceptions, which is the biggest reason they’re 0-6 with no apparent relief in sight. Since the start of the 1998 season — Leaf’s rookie year — Chargers quarterbacks have churned out more turnovers than your average bakery.’

‘Sunday’s most indelible image should be Buffalo’s left tackle, John Fina, standing over Miami defensive end Jason Taylor, who in turn was lying on top of Bills quarterback Rob Johnson. You could also substitute Robert Hicks or Marcus Spriggs for Fina and Dolphins rush specialist Trace Armstrong for Taylor.’

‘It’s kind of the same as last week, almost like we’re on a roller-coaster of emotions," said Morris, referring to the Bills last-second loss to Indianapolis. "We got a high point and then all of a sudden we got a big, hard low point.’

‘Johnson, the Bills’ quarterback, sympathizes with the fact that Riley, the Chargers head coach, is winless. But with Buffalo having lost three straight, Johnson’s concerns are selfish, despite the Chargers’ 0-6 start. Their friendship dates back to Johnson’s final three seasons at USC when he was the Trojans’ quarterback and Riley was offensive coordinator.’

‘Thus far in the 2000 season, the Chargers have proved they can’t win with Ryan Leaf taking the bulk of the snaps. Or Moses Moreno. Or Jim Harbaugh. The simple solution? Don’t give a majority of the playing time to anybody.’