Archives for November 30, 2001

‘Sutherland’s gaffe, taking a couple of steps after hesitatingly calling for a fair catch, cost the 49ers a penalty. He more than made up for that last Sunday in Indianapolis, when his 134 yards on four kickoff returns (plus 14 more on a punt return) gave the team advantageous field position in its 40-21 victory over the Colts.’

‘A metal plate above the locker of each 49er mentions the NFL honors they have garnered. Jeff Garcia’s has inscriptions for his Pro Bowl selection and for being named the league’s Most Improved Player last year.’

‘"The most wonderful years of my life were in Buffalo," he [Bruce DeHaven] said. "I had two of the greatest special-teams players in the history if the league in Steve Tasker and Mark Pike. We went to four Super Bowls and won 100 games in the ’90s. . . . I have no complaints at all."’

‘Flowers claims he is too light to effectively play defensive end in the NFL, and until he can gain weight and keep it on, his struggles figure to continue.’

‘Johnson played eight games, completing 62 percent of his throws. He said he’d like to return to the Bills next year but nothing has been determined. His cap number for 2002 is $11.25 million.’

‘"If the Bills want me back, I’d love to be here, but who knows what they’ll want?" Johnson said. "I have a lot of free time, and I think about it all the time. And you never know what’s going to happen."’

Mike Shepherd is probably going to be replaced as Buffalo’s OC after this year. It will be interesting to see if GM Tom Donahoe, who in the past has been a Kevin Gilbride fan, brings Gilbride in as the OC there.