Archives for August 5, 2001

‘The defense sacked Bills quarterbacks 11 times and Tim Couch completed 10 of 14 passes during a full contact scrimmage yesterday before 8,537 fans in Sox Harrison Stadium. Technically, the Browns won 30-12, but the scrimmage was not about keeping score.’

‘A fight broke out when Bills tackle Ruben Brown took exception to remarks by cornerback Daylon McCutcheon. Brown weighs 304 pounds, McCutcheon 180. McCutcheon did not back down. He didn’t have to. Teammates Keith McKenzie and Gerard Warren jumped into the fray as players from both teams joined in.’

‘He said he’ll likely be coming back to Canton in the near future for the enshrinement of three of his former players — quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas and defensive end Bruce Smith.’

‘Based on what happened in yesterday’s scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns, the Bills still aren’t ready. They are, however, getting closer.’

‘Had quarterbacks been live targets in yesterday’s scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns — you know, like they are in real NFL games — Johnson would have been limping, frowning and his snowy white uniform would have been covered in mud and blood.’

‘"I think I showed the coaches that I could play a little bit, but none of it really matters, it was just a glorified practice," he said. "Next week it will be a little more live and I have to continue to improve over the next 3-4 weeks to prove they should keep me around on the 53-man roster."’

‘"He brought an attitude to the running game the same way the offensive line brought an attitude to the run game," Coach Gregg Williams said. "That is, get up in the hole, get north and south."’

‘"Where would you rather be, than right here, right now?" said Polian, the former Bills general manager who hired Levy in 1986. "Marv, there is no place in the world we would rather be than right here, right now with you."’

‘In 14 1/2 minutes, he hit the high points of an extraordinary 76-year journey and the people who made it possible. To paraphrase Churchill, this may have been Levy’s finest hour.’

‘"It seems I’m made to play in this league."’