Archives for November 2003

”’I wouldn’t say I’m in a slump,” said Toomer, who caught 13 passes for 305 yards, a 23.5-yard average, and scored two TDs in the first three games of the season, two of which the Giants won. ”A slump is I am not getting open. I’m getting open. I’m getting in the right position. I’m just not finishing plays.”’

Buffalo Bills QB Drew Bledsoe is experiencing headaches and nausea after sustaining a mild concussion (on Sunday), but is hopeful he will play against the New York Giants this weekend. Bledsoe did not participate in Thursday’s practice, and was added to Buffalo’s injury report. He is listed as probable and has a 75 percent chance of playing when the Bills travel to play at the Meadowlands on Sunday.

‘Henry was still wondering, 11 games into the season, why the Bills didn’t run the ball after supposedly changing their philosophy during the offseason. “That was the plan. I thought that was the plan,” Henry said. “Bringing Sam (Gash) in here, you would think that was the direction we would have (gone). Losing Peerless and Jay Riemersma and running the stuff we run now, it’s kind of hard without big playmakers like that in here.”‘

‘”I know the projects,” Williams said last week. “I know everybody. Everybody knows me.”‘

‘Q: Why wouldn’t the Bills consider converting Willis McGahee to a wide receiver? It would provide the Bills with a speed receiver, erase their need to spend a high pick on a receiver in April, and it would allow the Bills to have Travis Henry and McGahee on the field at the same time. – Kevin Hartnett, York, Pa.

A: This is an original idea . . . but not a good one. Players should play at their best position. Based on his college career, McGahee could be a great running back if healthy. With years of practice he’d be lucky to be a mediocre receiver.’

‘”There’s a lot of things that we could have been doing early in the season, but we weren’t, so it’s got to come to a point where you have to point the finger at somebody. We have the right type of players, so I don’t know.”‘

‘Now in his fifth season, Winfield has always been a dynamic, conscientious team player who, after putting together a season worthy of the Pro Bowl, was justified in letting off some steam at this late juncture. After all, he’s been making big play after big play (99 tackles, 8 for losses, 9 passes defended, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles) this season, only to watch his offensive teammates not come through.’

‘”It’s hot when you get here,” he said. “In five of the seven seasons I’ve been here, I’ve been on the hot seat. And (the Yankees’) Joe Torre is the only coach/manager that’s lasted longer than I have in this town.”‘

‘”When we went to the Super Bowl everything was great, you’re a genius,” he said of the Giants’ 34-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the title game three seasons back.’

‘Mitchell’s punt-return average of 4.1 yards is the poorest in the league, and his kickoff-return average of 20.5 yards is 18th in the National Football Conference among 20 returners.’

‘”Theoretically it’s supposed to be a home-field advantage, it just hasn’t been that way,” Toomer said. “But not because we don’t deserve it. We haven’t been playing to our expectations.”‘

‘”It’s the worst to play when you’re losing, period,” Toomer said. “I wouldn’t say the other one. I would say it’s just the worst place to play when you’re losing.”‘

‘All Mitchell would say yesterday was, “I’ve said all I have to say.” Monday night he complained of “too much uncertainty around this locker room” and how “nobody talks, nobody communicates.” He also accused the staff of making him a “scapegoat,” even though “I’ve been the hardest-working player all year.”‘

‘”They’re not going to be real excited to see us and they’re not going to be the most patient people if things don’t go right in the first quarter,” receiver Amani Toomer said of the fans, who have endured four losses in five Giant home games. “We know that. Once you know what you have to deal with it’s not going to shock anybody around here.”‘

‘The most frustrating part for Amani Toomer was that when he looked at the Buccaneers’ defense, he did not see the same dominant unit that made opposing offenses shudder.’