Archives for December 2003

‘”I do take pride in that, but that shows the character of these guys,” said Williams on Monday. “They love to play and there are a lot of things throughout the course of the week with rehab and the strength training, that massive amount of meetings we have and the practice sessions, but they love to play on Sunday and it shows every time they step out there.”‘

‘This is your coaching staff at its finest. There’s a simple reason Henry wasn’t on the field. He’s not in the Bills’ two-point “packages.” It shouldn’t come as any great surprise. Kevin Gilbride, the offensive coordinator, has proved time and again he has no faith in his running game in short-yardage situations.’

‘”When Billy was in the 5th grade, his brother, Joe, was starting quarterback for Wa-Hi. Their father, John, was the head football coach at Walla Walla Community College. Joe Volek was a good high school quarterback, he eventually went on to start for two years at Montana State. There was a talented sophomore quarterback at Wa-Hi that year whose dad was the offensive coordinator at Wa-Hi. The player was Drew Bledsoe, the coach was Mac Bledsoe. Halfway through the season, the talented sophomore replaced the very good senior at starting quarterback. This infuriated John Volek to no end. “As I was watching Billy lead the Titans to victory over the Bledsoe Bills I could not help but think, I know `Big Cat’ Volek must really be enjoying this moment, as young Billy is getting the revenge for brother Joe and dad John.”‘

‘”There is a lot at stake for a lot of people these last couple weeks,” Donahoe said. Many of those people are coaches, headed by Gregg Williams, whose contract is up, and beleaguered offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, whose unit could not mount a successful fourth-quarter comeback for the fourth time in the past six games, resulting in losses by margins of 4, 2, 3, and 2 points.’

‘Call me crazy, and I’m sure you will, but this guy has hit the proverbial wall and I don’t think he can be considered the quarterback of the Bills’ future. I think the Bills should let him go, sign an emerging free agent – how about Tennessee’s Billy Volek? – and move on.’

‘Buffalo has a score to settle with Miami after Ricky Williams carried 42 times for 153 yards in the Dolphins’ 17-7 victory back in September which started the Bills on a season-long downward spiral. Miami still has to prove it can win in cold weather, and here’s a perfect opportunity because it’s going to be cold.’

‘Even worse than Henry’s exclusion from the final drive was his absence on the game’s biggest play, the two-point conversion attempt with 24 seconds remaining that could have sent the game into overtime and possibly prolonged Buffalo’s playoff hopes another week. Henry was on the bench for that one, too.’

‘Before that final possession Bledsoe looked helpless trying to throw against a Tennessee pass defense that entered the game ranked 32nd in the league. However, his receivers didn’t give him much help, either.’

‘RT Mike Williams is playing better as his second season winds to a close. The former No. 4 overall draft pick has fared well in recent weeks pass blocking as he contained New York’s Michael Strahan and didn’t allow Tennessee’s Jevon Kearse to register a sack when lined up against him.’

‘”I don’t know whether he’ll be able to make it either week,” head coach Gregg Williams said Monday.’

‘Players also like Williams swagger and self confidence, even though that’s been dented in the past few months, and they even like the fact he had the guts to do the unexpected at times, even though the unexpected usually turned into an expected disaster. But he made some promises he couldn’t keep, and he made some poor hiring choices, and he often didn’t appear to manage the clock or the game well from the sidelines. He also never seemed to “get it” that sometimes, the head coach has to take the hit even when he knows it wasn’t his fault.’

‘It was a fitting end to the Bills season. They complained about a few calls that they believe would have made the difference, their quarterback had another costly fumble, and the offensive coordinator made a questionable choice with the game on the line. I thought that last play of the game was inexcusable.’

‘Things were kind of down and out Monday as players gathered for the first time knowing they’re out of the playoff race. All guaranteed they’d play hard for themselves and the fans in the final two games against Miami and New England.’

”’We could’ve done things earlier in the game and not been in that situation,” Teague said. ”You can’t dwell on one play.”’

‘Buffalo Bills safety Izell Reese tore his left calf and is likely to miss the rest of the season.’