Archives for October 31, 2004

In the best, total team effort since week 2 last year the Bills defeated the Cardinals 38-14 in a game that was filled with the autumn elements that have become the norm in Western New York over the years.

‘”We are happy to recognize five people who have given outstanding service to the Buffalo Bills for many years,” stated president Jim Domagalski. “It is the people who work behind the scenes that help the team perform on the field, and we want to honor them for their hard work through the years.”‘

‘On Sunday, the Cardinals were undone by their own mistakes and plagued by the weather. Emmitt Smith had 64 yards rushing and Arizona managed just 213 yards of total offense in a game played in a persistent rain and 20-plus mph winds gusting in off of nearby Lake Erie.’

‘Terrence McGee responded with an 87-yard kickoff return for a score, propelling the Bills (2-5) to a 17-7 halftime lead. The touchdown return was the second on the season for McGee, who finished with 204 total return yards. The huge special teams play sparked Buffalo, which went on to record its highest scoring total since a Week Two matchup against Jacksonville in 2003, a span of 21 games.’

‘McGahee’s first touchdown marked the first rushing TD for Buffalo since Week 13 of last season.’

‘Buffalo Bills receiver Josh Reed hyper-extended his left knee while returning a punt 2 minutes into Sunday’s game against Arizona. Reed managed to walk off the field on his own, and was taken to the Bills’ training room for X-rays. The team announced that he would not return.’

‘Q: Still have a lot of allegiance to the Buffalo and the Bills?

A: I do. I enjoyed it there immensely. The people were wonderful, and we had great fans. There really is nothing else there in the way of major sports. There also are so many people in the Bills organization who remain friends, including the owner (Ralph Wilson), who was a wonderful guy to work for. We still talk on the phone from time to time.’

‘Lester, who was joined by NFL Hall of Famer and former Bills coach Marv Levy, said principles such as loyalty learned during his high school days have served him well. "In the backstabbing profession of professional football, they’ll never question my loyalty," Lester said. "And because of my loyalty, I’ve been able to sustain (my career)."’

‘”My mom is ticked off,” Henry said with a laugh last week. “That’s her being a mom. She’s worried about her son. She knows what her son is capable of doing. I had to calm her down, like, “Mom, I’m all right. It’s going to be all right.’ She doesn’t know that it’s a business. We can’t be doing that. This ain’t high school.”‘

‘Home-field advantage and better overall talent should give Bills the edge, 20-13.’

‘The Bills probably wouldn’t want to throw him to the wolves at New England on Nov. 14. But the St. Louis game at home on Nov. 21 might be a good time for his debut, no matter what happens on the field between now and then.’

‘"I’d have to be an H-back today," says DeLamielleure, speaking of the hybrid, part fullback-part tight end position. Shaw says that would be his job, also.’

‘"They asked me to do it when we joined the league last year," Adams said Friday after practice. "The second year, I recruited all the teams in the Northwest Football League as well as some other semipro teams in the area, so we could try to grow and expand the league to the West Coast."’

‘"We’re putting the blinders on," said defensive end Chris Kelsay. "Everything that’s happened in the past and everything that’s going on around us, all the criticism, we’re putting it behind us and focusing on Arizona."’

‘"This will sound so egotistical, but "I don’t think football is the only thing I can do’ is the only way to put it," says Wyche, who remained with the Bengals through the ’91 season. "I don’t think, like some people do, that this is it, that this is their lifeblood. I work hard and do those kinds of things, but if it doesn’t work out I’ll have something else I’ll work hard at."’