Archives for October 2002

Some people think it’s really cool to walk into an NFL locker room. Try walking into the visitor’s quarters. Imagine taking an elementary school classroom, lining the walls and the middle of the room with locker stalls, and filling it with 53 extra-large sweaty men.

Peter King in his MMQB column: "I think I wonder how long it's going to take before the NFL world figures out Drew Bledsoe. It's amazing. The Raiders picked him three times, but that defense had been playing pretty well, and the Bills rolled up 479 yards on Oakland, 417 from Bledsoe's right arm. Bledsoe has played five very-good-to-excellent games, and his deep arm looks like Dan Fouts' in his prime."

Head coach Willie Burnett of Turner-Carroll High School has been named the Buffalo Bills' high school football "Coach of the Week" for the fifth weekend of the 2002 season (Oct. 4-5). Burnett led his team to an impressive 26-6 victory over arch-rival St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute last Friday night at Johnny B. Wiley Pavilion in Buffalo.

Bledsoe and the Bills finally ran out of late-game dramatics.

Watch the plays of the week for Week 5.

‘After blowing out their first three opponents, the Raiders played a team that may not have been their equal, but was certainly a worthy adversary.’

‘"My role is (defined) by how the defenses play," Porter said. "If they want to double Jerry and Tim, then it’s up to me to step up. Today, I had some single-coverage situations and I could step up."’

‘Walker, the 6-foot-8, 345-pound tackle out of Cal, held his blocks, made his assignments and didn’t give up a sack.’

‘Sunday was one of those old-fashioned AFL shootouts, between two AFL originals, the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. And the Raiders had the last shot.’

‘Well, Bledsoe has been kicked out of only one NFL city. Gannon has been sent packing by four NFL teams, beginning with the Patriots, who drafted him in the fourth round in 1987 and got rid of him two weeks later. Gannon then played for Minnesota, Washington and Kansas City with such success that he didn’t suit up for almost two full seasons.’

‘Raiders tight end Roland Williams played his high school ball at East High in nearby Rochester and went on to star at Western New York’s Syracuse University. Williams only had one catch for 14 yards, but he led the team in two other categories. Tickets supplied: 50. Wings bought: Two huge cases of Buffalo chicken wings for the team’s drive bus ride to the airport.’

‘Drew Bledsoe’s passing statistics are spectacular ones. The defense’s weekly yields are not.’

‘Bledsoe and his offensive mates traded punch for punch with the Raiders’ Hall of Fame-caliber attack. But the Bills’ defense once again proved it is not ready for prime time.’

‘The Bills also are paying the price for playing two inexperienced players at safety with Wire and Prioleau. Both had coverage breakdowns that led to touchdowns.’

‘"I was just trying to read his eyes," Buchanon said. "I kind of read his eyes a little bit, and he kind of telegraphed it a little bit. You know, that’s Drew Bledsoe. He can put it just about anywhere. Maybe he saw something different. I don’t know. I was just trying to do my job."’