Archives for December 5, 2003

‘The 2003 number one pick worked with the offense all week in practice which is also a first. He usually worked with the scout team.’

‘“Willis had a good week of work. He practiced with our offense every day this week,” Williams said. “We’ll go down to the final warm-up before we make a decision.”’

‘Contestants will attempt to throw a football into a Tops shopping cart from 20 yards away. The grand prize winner will receive free groceries from Tops as well as a VIP visit to a Bills practice to meet Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the rest of the team.’

‘”Our crowd has been tremendously supportive,” explained Williams, “we are famous throughout the National Football League with how loud it is here and we need to play well and give them something to cheer about.”‘

‘The Bills have a bad combination of things going on heading into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium, as they have a woozy Drew Bledsoe and an injured offensive line.’

‘The Bills said Thursday that Wilson had purchased the remaining 3,000-plus tickets for this Sunday’s game with the New York Jets and donated them to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western New York.’

‘The Bills are second in the NFL, allowing just 19.3 yards on 43 kickoff returns, and they haven’t given up a return longer than 35 yards. The Bills have already held two of the league’s best return specialists – Kansas City’s Dante Hall and Washington’s Chad Morton – to less than 20 yards per return.’

‘”I was really excited for the opportunity,” Tucker said of his first starting assignment last week. “Everybody likes to be able to go out there and turn it loose. But my personality is I can always play better. If I do play this week, I’ll be looking to improve on last week.”‘

‘”We work on our red zone every day,” offensive coordinator Paul Hackett said after Thursday’s practice for Buffalo on Sunday. “Chad doesn’t make bad decisions down there. I think he just zeroes in, he heightens his focus.”‘

‘Edwards declined comment specifically about the escape-clause story. But he has told people he wants to be around the Jets for the development of “No. 10,” meaning Pennington.’

‘”It feels really good,” Henry said. “I’ve been going up the ranks slowly. These last few weeks we’ve really run the ball effectively. It’s always good to reach the 1,000 mark in this league, so it feels really good to be close to it.”‘

‘”First of all, he could die, but that’s rare,” says Tator, who’ll be chairing a seminar on concussions in hockey for roughly 500 doctors, therapists and coaches tomorrow at Air Canada Centre. “If your brain gets another blow before it has recovered from the first blow, it could cause massive brain swelling and death.’

‘Showing a tolerance for pain that seems to increase with age, Martin finds himself on the brink of key milestones against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. With 11,230 career rushing yards, he needs 7 yards to pass O. J. Simpson for the No. 12 spot in N.F.L. history and 123 yards to pass the former Jet John Riggins. If Martin reaches 131 yards, he will join Barry Sanders as the only other back to begin his career with nine straight 1,000-yard seasons. Sanders ended his steak at 10 seasons by retiring suddenly.’

‘Edwards, who will earn an average of $1.3 million for the final two years of his deal, was adamant that he’s not seeking more control, insisting he likes the existing structure. “Everything is fine here the way it is,” Edwards said. “I’m happy with the way we do things here. We’ve got a good structure. I’m not looking for more [input] than I already have.”‘

‘With all this, after that 0-4 start, the 5-7 Jets are somehow still breathing and dreaming about a most improbable playoff run. With all the complaints about his clock management, Edwards has managed to steer the ship through the storm to port. “He’s a master motivator,” Sam Garnes said.’