Archives for December 6, 2002

For the 16th consecutive year the top high school football student-athletes in Western New York are being honored by the Buffalo Bills for their participation on the football field and in the classroom. All of the 41 scholar-athletes are seniors who played varsity football and have maintained an academic average of a 90 or above in their studies. The 2002 "All Academic Team" is co-sponsored by the WNY High School Sports newspaper.

The Bills will honor three high school football championship teams from the region during pregame ceremonies prior to the Bills-San Diego Chargers game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday, December 15. This is the eighth straight year that the Bills have honored the Harvard Cup championship team and any teams from the region that play in the NY State Championship games played in Syracuse.

ORCHARD PARK – The Buffalo Bills will honor the top 11 high school football coaches in Western New York on Sunday, December 15 when the coveted "Coach of the Year" award is presented during ceremonies at the Bills-San Diego game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

‘The Pats were so dominant in the first meeting – a 38-7 victory in Orchard Park, N.Y., in November – that they are faced with an interesting quandary. Do they stick with what worked so well back then? Or do they try something new, figuring that the Bills won’t get fooled twice by the same game plan? Or maybe the Bills will be expecting them to change, so the Pats could really trick them and do just what they did the last time.’

‘Hayes’ struggles this season have been well documented. Signed away from Carolina in the offseason, he was supposed to use his 6-foot-4 frame to provide Brady with a big target. Instead, he couldn’t dislodge David Patten from the starting lineup and couldn’t prevent rookie Deion Branch from assuming the No. 3 position.’

‘”We were a hot topic early and then we went on a little three-game slide that put us behind the eight ball,” Bledsoe said. “The bottom line is, we’ve just got to play better. Even in this last game (38-21 over Miami), we were fortunate to come away with a win. We still made too many mistakes, and made the kind of mistakes that will really hurt us against a team like the Patriots.”‘

‘In old Foxboro Stadium, the wind ran up or down the field most of the time. It was either in a player’s face or at his back. "In this (Gillette) stadium, it looks like as the wind increases it has a little bit of a swirling effect," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "It runs part of the way down the field at the open end, at the lighthouse end, but then it seems to quarter more toward from the home bench to the visiting bench.’

‘Seattle ranks dead last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game and rushing yards per attempt, but Buffalo is not too much better than the Seahawks in either category. The Bills rank 31st overall in rushing yards per game and but 27th in yards per attempt. They cannot be feeling all that confident after Miami’s Ricky Williams ran for 228 yards last Sunday in Buffalo. The Dolphins lost 38-21 despite the fact that Williams had touchdown runs of 45 and 55 yards.’

‘"Having Antoine out there gives you a lot of flexibility," said Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. "He can play inside or outside. He is excellent in pass coverage and run support. Anytime you have a guy who can play more than one position in this league it’s a big plus for a defensive coordinator."’

‘"It’s a real dangerous move to have in your repertoire because when you have a tackler coming onto you the only way you can avoid him getting to your body is by using that," said Bills free safety Pierson Prioleau. "Otherwise he’s going to be able to get into your body."’

‘Price is seventh in the AFC in receptions (72), fifth in yards (1,020) and second in receiving touchdowns (nine). His average of 14.2 yards per catch is second only to teammate Eric Moulds’ 14.3 among the top 10 receivers in the conference.’

‘In 1998 the Bills lost to Drew Bledsoe and the Patriots 25-21 in what will undoubtedly live as one of the most bitter and bizarre defeats in team history.’

‘Pleasant is an appropriate last name for the Patriots’ 6-foot-5-inch, 280-pound defensive end. But when describing him, other words come to mind, including respect, passion, conviction, and wisdom.’

‘Tedy Bruschi, listed as doubtful on the injury report, didn’t practice.’

‘Running back Kevin Faulk made the Pats’ first big play of the game (a 19-yard reception on third-and-10) and another one that put it out of reach in the third quarter (a 45-yard swing pass for a touchdown that was ultimately ruled a run). In all, he was a key part of the Pats’ short passing attack that completely befuddled the Bills.’