Archives for October 2003

‘In NFL terms, “doubtful” means the player has a 25-percent chance to play. Pennington, though he’s starting to practice a little bit, will not play Sunday. The earliest hope is Oct. 26 against the Eagles in Philadelphia and the more realistic return date is Nov. 2 against the Giants, the team that sent him into surgery and rehab in the first place.’

‘While Vinny Testaverde ran the starting offense against the scout defense, Pennington took snaps from Lott about 20 yards behind the line to mimic the plays. Pennington, who had surgery on his dislocated left wrist 6 1/2 weeks ago, did not work with the scout team in seven-on-seven drills. He is expected to do that today.’

‘”It’s Herm’s decision,” Abraham said. “Whatever he says, I’ll live by. It has not been discussed whether or not I’m going to play.”‘

‘”Then, right before I was getting on the plane to come back here, I saw that story and it kind of showed me that maybe it was for a reason that nothing happened to anybody. I wasn’t hurt and no one else was hurt. Sure, the Hummer was (damaged) and the pole, but they can be repaired. Someone’s life can’t.”‘

‘Edwards confirmed Pennington had been throwing in the team’s practice bubble for three days last week before he threw in front of the media on Monday. “It’s day-to-day,” Edwards said, flashing a smile. “He’s showing a lot better. It’s good to see him out there throwing the football.”‘

‘He’s one of the premier players in this league and he played like a tremendous warrior this last game (an OT victory against Cincinnati). Even when he strained his groin on the last play, he did it on the elevation to the catch and he still ran and took the ball down inside the 10 yard line. He’s one of those few guys that when he steps on the field, people can argue that he’s the best player out there.’

‘”I just apologize to the fans, my family, coaches,” Abraham said, “everybody around who has any kind of feeling for me and knows anything about me and hopefully knows what kind of person I am.”‘

‘But let’s not get carried away. Edwards said Pennington will not play against the Bills.’

‘”When they draft you and the fans and everybody expect things from you, how can you prove to them if you aren’t getting an opportunity?” said Thomas, adding his playing time is more adequate this season. “Sixty percent of last year I was getting like one snap a game. I can’t do anything with that. You have to accept all the media stuff and the fans saying, ‘He’s not doing that.’ They don’t know, they don’t watch the individual players and say, ‘Well, he got one snap a game, so we can’t talk about him, we can’t say stuff about him.’ ”’

‘”These rumors as soon as he started throwing … better than what my wife asked me yesterday,” Edwards said. “She just figured he was playing. She had a great point. ‘Only given up two sacks all year, why can’t he play?’ Honey, lay down, you’re tired. But you know, that’s my wife. She asks a crazy question like that when you come home at 1 in the morning. That’s all right. It’s a bye week, you’ll be OK in the morning.”’

‘That 1992 Chargers team is the only NFL team to lose its first four games and come back to make the playoffs. I was in the locker room at Giants Stadium two Sundays ago after Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys dropped the Jets to 0-4, and I didn’t see a tear shed. Nor did I sense any outrage at the fact that the season was slipping into oblivion. And that’s the biggest indictment of the 2003 Jets.’

‘Without Moulds, the Bills would have to elevate two untested rookies: undrafted free agent Clarence Coleman, fourth-round pick Sam Aiken. Coleman doesn’t have a catch this season, Aiken has been inactive.’

”’I think you all are getting more excited than me,” McGahee said, laughing, to a group of reporters. ”Yeah, I’m getting excited. I’m looking forward to see how things are going to turn out.”’

‘The move was made to accommodate television schedules.’

”’I don’t know if he’s ahead, but for him to go out and throw and for all of mankind to put it on TV like we found our lost son, I have to say something,” Edwards said. ”His status is doubtful. It’s not like I can hide it any longer. He’s been throwing for three days.”’