Archives for September 2003

‘You don’t think the Dolphins, off to a struggling start and with coach Dave Wannstedt’s job reportedly on the line, are resorting to an old issue to create some new adrenalin?’

‘“I’m sure it’s exciting for guys like Reed and Shaw to be in an offense like this. They know that if you take Moulds out, somebody else is going to get the ball.”’

‘For Surtain and Madison, their pride is under attack. If they fail, will their pocketbooks be next?’

‘The problem is the league put an emphasis on having three division games in the second half of the season and liked the idea of having so many in December, Lustig said.’

‘Bills: Getting Milloy was a huge boost, even if it hasn’t been that significant on the field. It told the team that management is willing to do anything it can to win. Players can’t ask for anything more.’

‘There’s nothing like a little saliva and a battle for first place in the AFC East to rejuvenate the rivalry between the Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.’

‘Chambers, 25, has watched Moulds for a different reason. Edification. Inspiration. He saw some of himself in the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder, when reviewing defensive tape cutups of the Bills and other teams with top receivers. "He makes a lot of great plays down the field, and that’s what I watch mostly," says Chambers, 5-11 and 210 pounds. "I am probably not as strong as him, but we’ve got the same body style. If I could compare myself to any other receiver in the NFL, it would be him."’

‘To help Henry, Buffalo hired running backs coach Les Steckel, who never played college or pro football but who has managed to hold down coaching jobs in the NFL since 1978 by buildling a reputation as an excellent teacher. It’s his job now not only to minimize or eliminate Henry’s fumbling but to prepare McGahee, as well. Steckel’s philosophy is that you can do something about fumbling, though that’s not a view that is universally shared.’

Sept. 17, 1980: After defeating the Bills 20 consecutive times – which remains an NFL record of dominance by one team against another – the Dolphins finally fell in Buffalo. Bills fans celebrated by rushing the field and tearing down the goalposts.’

‘In a loss to Houston, Williams touched the ball 22 times. In a defeat of the Jets, Williams touched the ball 38 times.’

‘"When I see Bledsoe throw the ball downfield, it’s a thing of beauty," says Kellen Winslow, the former San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame tight end and current Fox Sports Net analyst. "He lets it fly."’

‘"The reason we’re still doing this 22 years later is the listeners are there," Giraldo said. "A lot of Spanish-speaking people that come to this country love sports, and the best way for them to learn it is in their own language."’

‘"They’ve come out and shown that they’re one of the top teams in the league. They’ve certainly got the talent all the way across the board, offense and defense, to back that up," Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler said. "The statistics back that up. We’ve got to go out there and prove to the rest of the league and prove to ourselves that we’re of the same caliber."’

‘Whoever Moulds lines up against — be it opposite Madison or Surtain — you can bet it won’t take long for Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe to take a shot deep. Last season, Moulds caught touchdown passes of 70 and 57 yards against Miami and ridiculed Madison in the process.’

‘"He had 144 yards average against us in two games last year and I don’t know how many 100-yard games we had against us last year, but they do some good things. "He’s a hard guy to tackle. He breaks a lot of tackles. We definitely have to tackle to win this game, especially myself, I missed a few on him especially out there."’