Archives for December 9, 2002

‘That’s because there was no comparison. It was Brady in a landslide. Once again.’

‘“It makes life a whole lot easier,” said cornerback Otis Smith, who created the game’s killer turnover when he ripped a ball from Peerless Price’s hands in the fourth quarter, a literal takeaway.’

‘Statistically it might have been the worst performance of Bledsoe’s Buffalo tenure, but practically speaking it was even worse: Not only did the Bills continue a season-long habit of shooting themselves in the foot, but yesterday it was the veteran quarterback who did most of the shooting.’

‘“Ty Law looks like he’s having another spectacular year,” said Bledsoe.’

‘One interception, two, three interceptions, four.’

‘The Pats had three touchdowns taken off the board because of penalties in their 27-17 win over Buffalo yesterday at Gillette Stadium.’

‘And right now, Belichick is a size-12 boot, Bledsoe an ant.’

‘He may have shipped Bledsoe off to Buffalo, but Belichick has kept him in his back pocket all along.’

‘Smith said he partially jarred the ball loose from Price in the first quarter, so “I figured if he gets his hands on it again, if I was in position to tackle him, to try it again. It turned the game around totally. Turnovers were a big difference today.”‘

‘Yesterday, in his first visit to Foxboro as a member of the Buffalo Bills, former franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe fell flat. He threw interceptions early. He threw them late. He threw four altogether and did nothing to diminish the perception earned in New England of being a quarterback that gags when stakes are raised and expectations peak.’

‘While he completed 32 passes and threw for two touchdowns, Bledsoe’s errant tosses were the story of the day. He flipped four interceptions, one coming at the Pats’ 1-yard line and two others ending any hope of a fourth-quarter rally.’

‘”I wanted to make a play on it, but I didn’t think the ball was going to come down,” said Seymour of his reaction to seeing the ball headed his way. “But I got it. I’ve been hanging around the receivers,” he said with a grin.’

‘The play that changed the game for good, the end-zone interception by Tebucky Jones in the second quarter, was just like they drew it up.’

‘Brady misfired a few times in the first half, but still wound up completing 11-of-16 passes for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns.’

‘It was a dumb throw. Which made the Patriots look smart.’