Archives for October 18, 2004

‘Mularkey has never deviated from the course. He’s never bought into the empty, wishful promise of desperate times requiring absurdly desperate measures, even as 0-0 became 0-4. From the onset of minicamp he’s carried the flag for hard-nosed, common-sense football, only to discover that common sense isn’t so common. His Bills would do the darndest things to beat themselves, and then, the next week, do them all over again.’

‘Bills coach Mike Mularkey said Adams was pulled because the team felt backup Ron Edwards played better. Edwards finished the game with a career-high two sacks and four tackles. "We just felt like we were getting done what we wanted done with Ron Edwards," Mularkey said. "He was being extremely disruptive and just kept that flow going."’

‘"I’ll tell you what, they did a tremendous job for me today," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe. "They did a great job in the running game, and in the passing game I had plenty of time to throw. We accounted for (Miami’s) one guy that is truly a special pass rusher, and the other guys just stood up and gave me great time to throw the ball today."’

‘He accepted an invitation to sit in the luxury box from Chris Hall, a former Lockport resident who lives in South Florida. "I’m a little surprised that it’s been so long since I’ve been back," Simpson said. "My whole point to my friends was that I was going to be under the radar. I came here to watch a football game, and that’s that. That’s what I’m doing."’

‘"I don’t gain my motivation and desire from outside circumstances," he said. "If that was the case, next week we’re playing the Rams, and I never played for them, so . . . I get motivation from myself. My best game did happen to come against my old team. That’s kind of the way it plays out sometimes."’

‘It was a cold, windy day at the Ralph, but it didn’t seem to bother the 72,714 fans.’

‘Wannstedt must think he’s still coaching Charles Haley, Ken Norton and Darren Woodson on Dallas’ awesome defense. Fish are way too vanilla.’

‘"I was the anti-Christ of the Buffalo Bills, but that was good for ratings," he said.’

‘"It’s excitement right now because you never know what that first win can do for you. It can turn your season around. I think the guys are excited about it," Moulds said.’

‘"That’s what you have to do to win," said Bledsoe. "When you can line up with them knowing you’re going to run the ball and you’re still able to do it and run 6 1/2 minutes off the clock, that’s how you win ballgames in this league."’

‘To boot, the Bills had to overcome another hefty total of penalties, missed tackles, negative plays and suspect coaching moves. But they won.’

‘"He has a chance to be a great back," gushed Wilson, who received a game ball on his 86th birthday. "He hits that line hard and he might get stopped, but he winds up barreling through for another three or four yards."’

‘The most likely spots for a Miami victory are home against Arizona Nov. 7, at San Francisco Nov. 28, and home against Buffalo on Dec. 5.’

‘Play of the game: Aaron Schobel’s third-down sack of Jay Fiedler with seven minutes to go in the game that turned out to be Miami’s last offensive play.’

‘Running backs: Let the running back controversy begin.’