Archives for November 19, 2001

‘While some will gush over Van Pelt’s acumen in running the West Coast Offense that so bewildered and ultimately broke Rob Johnson, the Bills provided no evidence Sunday that the final seven games will be much less tedious than the first nine.’

‘Before, during and following their four-year control of the AFC, Kelly was the Bills. Once the Super Bowls stopped being an annual entitlement, the dynasty slowly declined with him.’

‘"We had opportunities…we’ve just got to come up with the plays."’

‘Seattle’ performance Sunday was hardly perfect. The Seahawks’defense was shredded for 316 passing yards from Alex Van Pelt, a quarterback who hadn’t started an NFL game since 1997. Seattle also had to recover an onsides kick in the last two minutes to beat a team that’s won just once. But in the NFL, a win is a win.

‘With a fourth quarter catch, fullback Larry Centers who finished wit 66 receiving yards on the game, now has 6,093 for his career, passing former Bill Ronnie Harmon (6,068). Centers has become the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards by a running back.’

Peter King on RJ: "I think Rob Johnson (shoulder) will not play football again this year. The Bills' management team of Tom Donahoe and Gregg Williams , after watching Johnson play for half a season, might have otherwise had a tough decision on whether to re-do the quarterback's contract over the long term. But it won't be so tough. Donahoe's a believer."

Quotes from Kelly, Gregg Williams, Peerless Price, Centers, Van Pelt, Holmgren, Hasselbeck and Alexander.

Yesterday, the retired wide receiver returned to Orchard Park to watch his former quarterback, Jim Kelly, get inducted onto the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame. Feats like yardage marks and touchdown records are what got Kellys name on the wall. But Lofton, who must have had Plato in his hands, molded the day into something much larger. “Look at a football player”, he said, “and you see a narrow strip of a man.”

The Hawks take a 23-20 win, their first ever in Buffalo in two appearances, and hand the Bills their fifth-straight loss at home this season, and seventh dating back to last season.

‘The Seahawks’ front four failed to mount a significant pass rush most of the game, but Michael Sinclair came up big with the game on the line. Sinclair teamed with linebacker Chad Brown to sack Alex Van Pelt, forcing a fourth-quarter fumble that sailed into the arms of defensive tackle Antonio Cochran. The turnover led directly to the clinching field goal.’

The Bills (1-8) lost sloppily and are off to their worst start in 16 years. They’ve also lost seven straight at home — their longest stretch since dropping eight straight from 1983-84. Van Pelt showed flashes of efficiency in making his first start in four years, finishing 28-for-42 for a career-high 316 yards passing and two TDs.

‘"We have a critical mistake at the most inopportune time…"’

‘"He was the focus of our team. He was the catalyst. He was great in the clutch."’

‘The Bills have allowed six running backs to reach the 100-yard barrier this season so limiting the production of the second-year pro out of Alabama was significant.’

‘Van Pelt was far from perfect, but this was the best the offense has looked all year, even better than the San Diego game.’