Archives for October 2004

‘If you were named NFL commissioner for a day, what changes would you make?

"I think they’re too critical on defensive players these days. They get tighter and tighter about not placing a hand on a receiver, especially this year, but they need to be as critical on offensive players because they push off and do the same things. I think it should go both ways. You can’t take that aggressiveness away from the defense. I know people want to see points but I think a lot of fans like great defense, too."’

‘Willis McGahee is not Clinton Portis, and for that, Ray Lewis couldn’t be happier. “He’s a special kid, a hard worker,” said Lewis. “He loves this game, never means any disrespect. He won’t blast off like Portis did. He’s not that type of guy.”‘

Ravens say they’re still in running (Baltimore Sun)

Roethlisberger haunts Ravens (Baltimore Sun)

In marketing, Ravens, ‘Skins split up rights (Baltimore Sun)

T. Taylor hopes to add boost (Carroll County Times)

Top Raven respects Bills’ McGahee (York Daily Record)

High-scoring affair unlikely in Baltimore (York Daily Record)

Boller Is Scrambling to Adjust to the NFL (Washington Post)

Ravens’ Taylor seeks to fill J. Lewis’ big cleats (Washington Times)

Trench warfare (BaltimoreRavens.com)

‘The Bills (1-4), who squeezed out their first victory of the season last week against winless Miami, won’t treat Taylor any differently than they would Lewis. “It’s like Miami. Everybody thought it was going to be a cakewalk, and then Sammy Morris did a heck of a job,” said Bills defensive co-ordinator Jerry Gray, referring to the 91-yard rushing effort by the latest replacement for the departed Ricky Williams.’

‘Perennial All-Pro Jonathan Ogden is considered to be the best offensive tackle in the NFL. His imposing presence presents Schobel with the greatest challenge of his young career. "He’s good. There’s no question about it," Schobel said. "He’s huge. He can move. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’ve got something to prove."’

‘"When our guys protect me like they did the last game, it makes my job much easier," he said. "I’m able to work to a third and fourth receiver so I don’t have to make my best guess with the first one and hope it works out. I can actually scan the field and find my guys and it allows me to play more effectively and efficiently.’

Ravens in purple haze with no J. Lewis (Baltimore Sun)

Billick breaks precedent, says T. Taylor will start (Baltimore Sun)

No small role (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Reed Road (BaltimoreRavens.com)

”’People would say to me, ‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that,’ and I would say, ‘Yeah, just watch me,”’ Reed told Dale Weiss’ American history class. ”Twenty-five years ago, I was in this same classroom, walking the same halls, doing the same things you guys are doing now. The key is that I had good parents who taught me to make the right choices, do the right things. If you listen to those who care about you, the sky’s the limit.”’

‘Henry and Milloy will start while Jennings will definitely dress. His ankle injury has kept him on the second team while taking reps this week.’

‘Hey Willis, what is your opinion of the fans here in Buffalo?

WM: Great. I love them. It doesn’t get any better than this.’

‘Ravens 17, Bills 7.’

For a team commonly considered among the National Football League’s elite, the Ravens haven’t done squat since destroying the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV waaaay back in January 2001.

‘Drew Bledsoe has struggled a bit the past few seasons but he’s starting to look a lot better. He’s only as good as the people around him. Back when he was in New England he had a very good offensive line. He played with those guys a long time and the Bills line is still trying to mesh together. When you play with people for a long time you get a feel of what they’re going to do on the field. That’s how it was when I player with Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and all of those guys. You get to a point where you can almost read each other’s minds and I’m not sure the Bills have that right now. It will come, but those things take time.’

‘Yearning to return to the West Coast and believing he’d be better suited to playing linebacker, Enyart asked for a trade and was dealt to Oakland for the 1971 season. He was on his way to winning a starting defensive spot – he had nine unassisted tackles in the first half of an exhibition game – but a block to the knees against the New York Jets in the preseason wound up ending his career. He tried to come back a year later with Green Bay but didn’t pass the team physical.’

‘He will be inducted along with ten other members of the Class of 2004 at the annual awards dinner on October 27 at the HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo.’