Archives for November 19, 2005

‘The Bills are 0-4 on the road, where they’ve allowed a whopping 335 yards per game, as well as 11 touchdowns, while scoring only four TDs as they’ve struggled inside the 20-yard-line.’

‘”I have to admit now that he’s greater than anticipated coming in,” Smith, now the GM, said by telephone this week. “You never know until you get a guy that goes from college to the NFL. That’s why seventh-rounders go to the Pro Bowl and first-rounders are busts. It’s the mystery of our business. He had all the maturity, all the talent, and then you wait to see what you’ve got. He’s just phenomenal.”‘

‘Bills offensive coordinator Tom Clements has decided to withdraw from consideration for the head-coaching job at Temple University, according to a representative from International Management Group, the firm that represents Clements. IMG confirmed that Temple had contacted Clements to set up an interview about the job.’

‘Murphy’s one noticeable flaw is his tendency to act like a cheerleader after big plays by the Bills. Many play-by-play men around the league do the same thing, but Bills fans were spoiled for years because Miller gave the air of objectivity even when he got excited.’

‘While Kelly Holcomb’s head has yet to clear, apparently Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey got his together.’

‘Losman, a 2004 first-round draft pick, declined interview requests on Friday, a signal he does not want to lose focus on what is a very big opportunity for him to win the starting job back permanently.’

‘”To be honest, I felt it was a matter of time before it happened,” Spikes said. “It was something I was dealing with from last season. You can sit out, yeah … but one thing I’ve learned about the Achilles’ injury is that once you start to develop tears, because of a lack of blood flow there, it’s not going to heal like a hamstring or groin.”‘

‘There are no longer any ex-Bills players on the Chargers roster but this is still Buffalo West in many ways. In addition to Smith, four former Bills scouts work for the Chargers, including assistant GM Buddy Nix. The coaching staff includes ex-head coach Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator, offensive line coach Carl Mauck and Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton, who coaches wide receivers.’

‘Why Lockport? First off, O.J.’s connection to Lockport starts with 1977 LHS graduate Chris Hall. Hall, a Lockport success story who works and lives in Miami, met Simpson years ago. Hall and O.J. travel to Buffalo with family and friends to attend about four Bills games a year. Since the Halls are Lockport people, and very kind and gracious at that, their visits to Western New York obviously take them through Eastern Niagara. That’s where the gossip began.’

‘Wyche said he takes 13 pills a day but he feels “good enough” to run and lift weights regularly. Doctors have told him he will need a heart transplant in “2-4 years. But every year they say 2-4 years, like it’s rolled over. When they say one year, I’ll start worrying.”‘

‘It’s the Bills’ Terrence McGee who has Schottenheimer fretting. McGee is the NFL’s top kickoff returner, averaging 31.1 yards per return. “We definitely have to step it up because they have great special teams,” said Clinton Hart, who’s third among Chargers with nine special teams tackles. “So why not shut down the best and show people where we belong?”‘

Ailment cost Wyche TV job, not sense of humor (San Diego Union Tribune)

Veracity is questionable on injury lists (San Diego Union Tribune)

McCardell wants Bolts to play on (North County Times)

Bills get a kick from their returns (North County Times)

Merriman Merriman, Foley return to practice (AP)

Losman gets nod for Bills (Chargers.com)

‘And, since he hung up his whistle as a high school and college football coach, he’s been able to reach out more to the 33,000 or so “Bills Backers” around the country. He’ll be signing autographs from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Boomer’s in Port Charlotte, the Bills Backers’ local home.’

‘It was the first major event for Kelly and his wife Jill since the death Hunter, who was inflicted by the inherited nervous system disorder that claims most of its victims in their first two years of life. “This is an evening that we have never had before,” Kelly said. “This is a ball that Hunter is not with us for anymore, but he is looking down on us.”‘

‘After starting the season 0-2, the San Diego Chargers have won 5 of 7. There only two losses during that stretch are to strong NFL title contenders, the Steelers and Eagles. Meanwhile, Buffalo is a sterling 4-1 at home but is 0-4 on the road. Because this one is in San Diego, the Chargers are 10 point favorites.’