Archives for December 2004

Tough task this Sunday (Cincinnati Enquirer)

50-50 chance QB Palmer will play (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Offense is on a record run (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Who’s quarterback? (Cincinnati Post)

Perry might get chance to play (Cincinnati Post)

Kitna praises Palmer (Dayton Daily News)

Exam reveals no serious harm to Palmer’s knee (Columbus Dispatch)

Dillon makes peace after upbeat return (Columbus Dispatch)

Palmer might play against Buffalo, despite knee injury (AP)

Bengals’ Palmer questionable for Sunday (The Sports Network)

Marvin Lewis News Conference (Bengals.com)

Palmer questionable for Bills’ Homecoming (Bengals.com)

Bills sell out PBS (Bengals.com)

‘And the Bills are an exciting team. They’ve found the offensive personality that has been missing in the person of running back Willis McGahee.’

‘”He can be here as long as he wants. He’s done a good job. I’m happy,” Wilson said. “We’re friends. He had a very tough job to do coming in here.”‘

‘For sheer dominance, that group in 1964 and 1965 that won back-to-back AFL championships was pretty tough to beat. The ’64 team allowed an average of just 65 rushing yards per game, which is third best in pro football history for a non-strike season. The ’65 team gave up only 16 points per game and had a team-record 57 takeaways.’

‘Mularkey’s biggest worry may be keeping this staff together. Clements was a finalist for the head coaching job at Notre Dame, and is now among the candidates for the top job at the University of Pittsburgh. Gray’s name could also surface as a candidate for future coaching vacancies. “I’d love to see Tom and Jerry Gray get a chance, but I am a little spoiled to have the guys I have,” Mularkey said. “It makes everybody’s jobs easier.”‘

‘GM Tom Donahoe deserves credit for many moves over the past couple seasons, but the drafting of McGee may turn out to be the best value pick he ever makes.’

‘The unsung hero on this team is defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. He has quietly gone about his business and produced another of the league’s best defenses. He has shed Gregg Williams and Dick Lebeau, who were given much of the credit during Gray’s tenure. But, now this defense is his. They are producing turnovers, and getting pressure on the quarterback. He is a solid NFL coordinator, and don’t be surprised if a team looking for a new head coach takes a look at Gray during this off-season.’

‘Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, a former Titans assistant, made aggressive calls that rattled the Browns, including blitzes more than half the time. ”Every time Jerry was sending the pressure, it was getting there,” Vincent said. ”He realized that there was no need to turn the faucet off.”’

‘He lobbied Gray to blitz him; the Bills normally don’t send the free safety, preferring to use strong safety Lawyer Milloy for that role. “I talked to Jerry about that,” Vincent said. “If I’m going to free safety, at least get me the ball. And this week, he put a couple calls in the package and from the opening gate, my number was called. When that opportunity presents itself, I’ve got to make that play. It was there. And the guys were so productive up front, I think that set the tone.”‘

‘Kudos to rookie Mike Mularkey, who continues to push the right buttons against inferior competition to keep his team believing the playoffs are possible after starting 0-4.’

‘The Bills would’ve been happy for offensive coordinator Tom Clements had he gotten the Notre Dame head coaching job. But now that the job went to Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis instead, the Bills aren’t hiding their glee.’

Enjoy a high-flying, high-scoring squad. Watch Willis McGahee run. Root for Drew Bledsoe as the Jim Plunkett of the 21st Century. Admire the big hair of the chick next to you in her Andre Reed gamer. Have a wing.

‘WGR Sports Radio 550 has learned from a few sources that rookie TE Tim Euhus will have season ending knee surgery later this week.’

‘Lee Evans: Posted his 6th touchdown reception of the year which is the most by a Bills rookie since Elbert Dubenion had seven in 1960.’

‘It would be a different story if the Bills were in the NFC, where they’d be in the thick of the race in a conference that has only five teams with winning records.’