Archives for September 2001

‘The Steelers are like sharks this week. They smell the blood in the water.’

‘When the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) meet the Buffalo Bills (0-2), the game is more likely to come down to which quarterback can avoid losing the game rather than which quarterback can take the game by the throat and win it.’

‘The team on Wednesday announced security measures that will be in place Sunday, but also said there will be a tribute to the terrorists’ victims. Some types of vehicles will be barred from stadium parking lots, and several items that fans are used to carrying into the games will be banned at the stadium’s outer gates. Aircraft will not be permitted overhead. But a pregame ceremony will pay tribute to the terrorists’ victims, miniature U.S. flags will be distributed, and many local firefighters and police will be on hand.’

‘A sign on the entrance to the Bills’ locker room Monday: ATTITUDE. Blame No One Expect Nothing/ Do Something.’

‘"I just need to get into the end zone one time," said Burress, entering the second game of his second pro season Sunday in Buffalo. "That’s all it’s going to take for me to get that feeling back. I’m not going to throw the ball in the stands or act the fool or anything."’

‘The Bills have allowed nine sacks in two games, which prompted a question to Brown about what the problem might be. "We got too many of that," Brown said. "That is the problem."’

‘Burress has what looks like another chance to excel Sunday when the Steelers play the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Burress, 6-foot-5, will be matched largely against cornerbacks Ken Irvin, Antoine Winfield and Nate Clements, all of whom are 6-8 inches shorter. But Burress said that is no guarantee that he will succeed.’

‘Buffalo Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe still has several friends in Pittsburgh, especially in the Steelers’ locker room. One reason: When he resigned as the Steelers’ director of football operations in January 2000, he wrote a personal note to every member of the team.’

‘I’m really looking forward to the Buffalo game. It’s been a pretty good series over the years, probably for a lot of the same reasons we’ve had a rivalry with Cleveland. We’re both blue collar towns and the teams that represent those cities take on that city’s personality. I anticipate a pretty physical game.’

‘”This is the hand we’ve been dealt with, for whatever reason — injuries, coaches, off-season (changes). Whatever, this is where we’re at.”‘

‘"Don’t think I haven’t thought of that, but yeah, it would mean a little bit more," Farris said. "You’ve always got something to prove in this league, but the fact it’s the Steelers means a little bit more to me."’

‘"Heightened security is a fact of life in the society we live in today," said general manager Tom Donahoe. "We have taken measures, and it will be obvious, but we will try to do it in a way where it doesn’t disrupt the fans’ enjoyment."’

‘Everything will be inspected.’

‘"It is interesting," said Cowher. "If anybody looks at us, last year we were 0-2 and finished with a winning record. The two previous years, were were 2-0 and finished with losing records. All that I will say is that I think you need to be careful in drawing too quick conclusions too fast. You don’t want to get too far away from being in the chase, but at the same time, the most important thing is not about other people."’

‘Of the six touchdowns the Colts scored on Buffalo, Williams was most upset with the three drives that lasted only two plays each. "What I saw on most of the (big) plays was somebody trying to do someone else’s job."’