Archives for December 2001

‘No one has to sell the importance of this Sunday’s game between the 1-11 Carolina Panthers and the 1-10 Buffalo Bills to Chris Slade.’

‘Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who practiced the past two days after missing the previous two games because of bruised shoulders, said he intends to return to the starting lineup on Sunday.’

‘Carolina’s matchup with Buffalo marks the first time since that New England-Cincinnati game eight years ago that two NFL teams with only one win to their name have met in a December game.’

“I don’t think he’s going to be able to go,” Seifert said. “I would love for him to be able to play, but I think it’s kind of a stretch.”

‘"I don’t know what’s up," Pat Williams said. "I’m mad about that. You’ve got to feel bad for the fans because they come to support us. They want to see us win, and we ain’t winning for them. It’s been backward for us. We haven’t been playing good here or away."’

‘Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Shawn Price will miss the rest of the season with ligament damage in his left knee.’

‘Centers has provided the team with veteran leadership since he arrived in Western New York this past May. Playing in for the NFL for over a decade, he has proved to be one of the league’s best fullbacks. ‘

"I’ll never forget that first time I walked into the Buffalo Bills’ team meeting room in early November of 1986 upon being appointed in midseason to take over as head coach," Levy recalled at his Hall of Fame induction. "Sitting in that room were a young Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Kent Hull and Darryl Talley were there, great leaders."

"I will disagree, and say [Larry Centers and Jay Riemersma] are adequate [blockers for the run]. Larry Centers, has, and has been, a good blocker in our system, and that’s another thing you’ll see us package things out and sometimes have success of bringing three, four wides and still running the football. It basically comes down to the five guys up front most of the time, because if the formation that comes into the ballgame, it dictates how many people you have to have in come in and block anyway."

‘The confidence-challenged Bills might take heart in one fact: Carolina ranks 31st on defense.’

‘Detroit’s signing of quarterback Scott Dreisbach off the practice squad creates an opening for David Dinkins.’

‘…the Bills figure to contest Detroit (0-11) and the Panthers for the second pick behind expansion Houston. At worst, the Bills will pick fourth.’

‘…but for the first time in the Bills’ weekly press release, Travares Tillman was listed ahead of Carpenter on the depth chart.’

‘The streak of 57 consecutive sellouts (every game at Ericsson Stadium since it opened in 1996) could be in serious jeopardy over the next few weeks. That could lead to the first television blackout of a Panthers game in Charlotte since the team moved into the stadium.’

‘Second-year Bills fullback Phillip Crosby, a native of Bessemer City, has blossomed in Buffalo this season. After being cut by the team last year, then signed back in April, he has played in every game and earned his first start last week.’