Archives for December 21, 2003

‘”We don’t know what to believe anymore because you hear soooo much stuff about it,” one Bills veteran player said this week. “Gregg is good. He treats us like men and you can see we’re still busting our asses for him but you just hear so much about how he’s gone. If our offense didn’t struggle like it has we may not even be talking about this.”‘

‘The Bills (6-9) bumbled their way through the game, an apparent letdown after they were eliminated from playoff contention with last week’s 28-26 loss at Tennessee.’

‘Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s season-long struggles continued. He finished 12-of-24 for 114 yards passing, the eighth time this season he’s failed to break 200. That’s a significant drop from last year, when Bledsoe set 10 franchise passing records in his first season with the Bills.’

‘Bills tackle Mike Williams missed Sunday’s game against Miami because of an injured right knee.’

‘Nickel back Terrell Buckley returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown and the Dolphins forced four turnovers and recorded six sacks in a 20-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Call it the Misery Loves Company Bowl.’

‘But there will be no AFC East title. There will be no postseason for the fourth consecutive year. For that, Bills fans, you can blame the Dolphins.’

‘So why expose McGahee to a desperate Miami defense, with Zach Thomas, Sammy Knight, Junior Seau and their pals playing with sparks coming out the ear holes of their helmets? Why think about playing McGahee in the final game next week in New England with Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and the rest of the Patriots’ defense seeking reparations for that 31-0 pasting the Bills laid on them on the opening day at the Ralph?’

‘Buffalo has had its chances since ’95, but the Bills never neared another title game. Smith caught the flu before they lost to Pittsburgh in Brown’s first year. Kelly’s career ended with a playoff knockout against Jacksonville in ’96. Buffalo suffered through Billy Joe Hobert and Todd Collins before Levy retired. Along came the Rob Johnson-Doug Flutie debate. Miami beat the Bills in ’98. Home Run Throwback was in ’99. Since, it’s been four years of frustration.’

‘Irv has moved away, John Otto has died. Each year, another part of what defined Buffalo for us departs. A foot ball team, and its voice, is a constant in an era of protean rosters and marketing-driven uniforms.’

‘To make room for Whitman, the Dolphins waived wide receiver Kendall Newson, who caught two passes for 55 yards in a reserve role this season.’

‘If the Dolphins make an improbable playoff run that ends in a Super Bowl sprint, he will be allowed to continue coaching the Dolphins as he has done since 2000, according to a source close to Huizenga. But if the next few weeks don’t deliver that storybook ending, Wannstedt could be dismissed or asked to move aside, the same source said, adding that decision is “definitely not yet made.”’

‘We keep talking about all this talent Miami has, so there has to be a reason that talent keeps falling short at important times in important games, right?’

‘Wannstedt makes all personnel decisions but relies on Spielman and others for advice. Insisting he has no regrets about last offseason, Spielman defended his and Wannstedt’s personnel record and addressed criticism of several moves.’

”’You know what’s frustrating?” he began, in a voice not quite his — a voice a shade higher, and faster, and wobbly. “The negativity that surrounds this team. The doom and gloom we get all the time. It’s not that we’re not trying.”’