Archives for September 5, 2003

‘"It’s always good when you can try to improve your team by any measure," Williams said. "He’s an awful good football player. He’s very intelligent. He’s been the quarterback for them on the defensive side of the ball in their multiple coverage packages."’

‘”I think you can already start to see some of his influence in the defensive scheme, some blitz-zoning, some different pressures,” Belichick said of the new-look Bills defense. “They are doing a few things schematically a little different than they did last year on defense. They have added some players like Spikes and Posey, Adams to go with Pat Williams on the defensive line. [Ryan] Denney is starting for them at left end so they look like they have incorporated a little bit of some scheme changes and then also some personnel changes. They look bigger on defense especially with Adams in there and Williams. They have added some pass rushers in terms of Posey and some playmakers in terms of Spikes. They are a good solid team that has added some players and added some scheme things in the offseason.”‘

‘Over 100 individuals from various branches of the United States Armed Forces will be on hand and will assist in displaying a special 10-yard by 30-yard American flag on the field.’

”’The addition of Sam Gash is a big one for us, but it was also very, very unfortunate to see Larry move on. I hope he doesn’t come back and haunt us too much this week.”’

”’We have done a pretty good job of reducing those (sack) numbers through the preseason although they’re just preseason games,” Gregg Williams said. ”But I’ve liked what I’ve seen the last couple of preseason games out of that unit. That’s been an emphasis that we have talked about, reducing negative plays from an offensive standpoint.”’

‘"I thought I would make whatever I make this season and go on," Milloy said. "Then (Belichick) calls me in a week before the game and that really threw me off guard. I wish it would have been handled in a different way (but) that organization and (Belichick) made the process speed up. I thought it was really unfair for what I’ve brought to that organization. The type of leadership and loyalty . . . that’s what really hurt."’

‘Milloy will earn $7 million this season in base salary and bonus with the Bills instead of $6 million over two years, which was New England’s final offer. The rugged 6-foot, 210-pounder – who averaged 121 tackles a season for the Patriots – will also get to play in a defensive system that will use him near the line of scrimmage. The Patriots had gotten away from using him in that role and his statistics fell off sharply in 2002.’

‘Smart? No. But it just shows how confident Belichick is. Or arrogant.’

‘”Buffalo is one of our most mature and most successful markets,” said Philip Yawman, executive vice president of corporate development for Choice One. “Our partnership with the Buffalo Bills has had a significant impact on our visibility and brand in Buffalo and throughout Western New York.”‘

‘Sure, Milloy told the media he was impressed with how eager the Bills were to get him. But you have to wonder with Dan Snyder in the bidding war – quite possibly offering money exceeding that of Buffalo’s offer – if a desire to spite Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and company helped the Bills’ cause.’

‘The steel-shouldered Gash, back here for a second time after a three-year stint with Baltimore, said Milloy can count on better days here. He had a six-year stay in New England and, similar to Milloy, didn’t like how his New England experience ended. “I told him I’m glad to see him and said, `It’s about time,’ ” said Gash. “I’m very happy to see him, and obviously, I think he’s going to mean a great deal to this team.”‘

‘Specifically, Milloy, though it’s difficult to imagine him playing a key role in Buffalo’s defense mere days after joining it, figures to be able to assist his new teammates, particularly one new old teammate (quarterback Drew Bledsoe), in deciphering the Patriots’ coverages, audibles, and formations. “We will have to pay particular attention to some of the things like that, the communication signals, the play calling, and so forth,” Belichick said. “Nobody knew our defense any better than Lawyer did over the last three years. He handled a lot of the audibles and checks in the secondary.”‘

‘Poston said the Redskins offered more money over seven- and five-year terms, but he wanted the certainty of up-front cash, and Bills owner Ralph Wilson stepped up.’

‘They’re already calling it “The Incest Bowl.”’

‘“I think he has a lot to prove and I think he’ll make the whole defense better, even the team better,” Fauria said. “He’s not a defensive leader, he’s a team leader. I hate to say it. He’s a friend but he’s the enemy now and that’s weird.”’