Archives for January 2002

‘”He’s one of the best people I’ve ever been associated with,” said Bills offensive lineman Jerry Ostroski. “There isn’t a phony bone in that guy’s body. You won’t find a better teammate or friend. He will be missed.”‘

‘Rookie coach Gregg Williams and his staff had more growing pains this year than a teenager with a new weight set and Williams would’ve been better served hiring a pair of experienced coordinators last winter. But now that Mike Sheppard and Jerry Gray have gotten their hands dirty, their second years should operate much smoother. Why start over?’

‘Donahoe’s recent comments about Johnson’s durability and burdensome contract lead one to believe that the Bills are ready to file for divorce. Still, talk that Donahoe will meet this week with Johnson’s agent have kept open the possibility that he may return. Let’s hope not.’

‘”I want to be remembered as a consistent, dependable guy everyone could depend on,” Hansen said. “I got everything out of my God-given talent, and I believe I used all the tools at my disposal, and got everything out that I could.”‘

‘"I want to be remembered as a consistent, dependable guy," Hansen said. "I wasn’t Bruce Smith, and I couldn’t do what Bruce Smith did. I believe I used all the tools at my disposal, and got everything out of my talent that I could."’

‘Rookie Travis Henry, the Buffalo Bills leading rusher, will have arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday to relieve tendinitis in his right knee.’

‘Although he never received Pro Bowl recognition, Hansen started 148 of 156 games with the Bills and was regarded as one of the team’s most consistent players, compiling 867 tackles.’

‘One of just two Bills remaining from the team’s Super Bowl runs of the early 1990s, Hansen leaves the Bills as the team’s second-best sack producer, with 61.5, and the team’s active leader in games played (156).’

‘”My body and my heart tell me it’s time to move on. I’ve known for a long time now that this would be my final season. I tried to keep it a secret because I didn’t want it to become a distraction to any of my teammates,” Hansen said. “I always thought the focus should be on the opponent.”‘

‘Nine of the Bills’ 16 games were decided by a touchdown or less. That means they were competitive. But they won just three of those games. That means they weren’t good enough to make the plays when it counted.’

‘"I think it’s a partial dislocation, and the doctors said it should take about six to eight weeks to completely heal."’

‘Fiedler is 4-0 against the Bills since becoming the starter last year.’

‘The Bills wrapped up their 42nd season with a 34-7 loss to the Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon at Pro Player Stadium, a game in which the Dolphins were able to keep the Bills offense off the field in the first half. As a result of a dominant 30 minutes early, Miami wore out the Buffalo defense in the second half, and broke open a close game in the fourth quarter.’

‘There couldn’t have been a more fitting end to this pathetic season for the Buffalo Bills.’

‘But losing this way, manhandled on both lines of scrimmage, melting down with penalties and special teams mistakes — Dolphins safety Brock Marion returning an interception 100 yards at the buzzer for the merciful exclamation point, for crying out loud — well, there won’t be any false pretenses engulfing the club heading into free agency and the draft.’