Archives for November 28, 2005

‘"Conventional wisdom would suggest to me that Mularkey would maximize any professional gains by having Sam as a diversion to other issues and questions that might revolve around his coaching," Wright said. "I won’t sit back and allow someone … to try to minimize Sam Adams’ ability as a football player."’

‘Have you considered starting Duke Preston at left guard seeing as how the rotation of Mike Williams and Bennie Anderson has been ineffective?’

‘How sad it is that the bar has been lowered so much in Buffalo that the organization is satisfied with good efforts and rebounding from pathetic losses (efforts). When will you stand up as a GM and acknowledge that the team is not playoff ready and major changes are needed again?’

‘Pat Williams was asked if he had an explanation for Buffalo’s decision to allow him to hit the free-agent market after last season. “They are dumb,” he said. “That’s all I can say. They are dumb as can be up there.”‘

‘Coach Mike Mularkey said Monday tests were negative on Milloy’s foot, saying the safety merely stubbed a toe. Milloy limped off the field and didn’t return after he was hurt late in the fourth quarter, a few plays before Jake Delhomme sealed a winning drive with a 3-yard pass to Michael Gaines.’

‘So it’s come to this — an opponent visiting Orchard Park in late November puts out an effort charitably described as half-hearted and still wins.’

‘It was the type of game teams that are lacking find a way to lose.’

‘Virtually every time Carolina threw, Smith was double-teamed by Clements and safety Troy Vincent. “My mama knew they were gonna help (Clements) out,” Smith said. “I’m no idiot. I’m a professional, I read coverages.”‘

‘Once again, they found a way to lose a game that was handed to them.’

‘”We got in the red zone three times and we’re coming away with field goals,” Bills linebacker London Fletcher said. “They get in the red zone three times and they come away with two field goals and a touchdown. That’s the difference in the ballgame.”‘

‘Wright said Mularkey simply doesn’t want to play Adams. Their relationship has been strained at times during the past two seasons. Adams also has butted heads with other members of the coaching staff, and he voiced his displeasure over being benched in the second half of the Bills’ loss at New England five weeks ago.’

‘But the Bills bucked that trend Sunday in part because of the defense’s inability to get off the field. Carolina converted 9 of 14 third downs (64 percent) and held the ball for 35 minutes, 44 seconds. The Panthers’ second possession lasted more than 11 minutes.’

‘”Sometimes, quarterbacks aren’t as accurate when they’re moving,” Rucker said. “Or, if you force him to one side of the field, you kind of take the whole field away. We wanted to get back there and put some pressure on him. If he sits back there patting the ball and is comfortable, it’s going to be a long day.”‘

‘Given another year or two, and some more inspired drafting by Donahoe and Co., this team has a very good chance to become average again. You die-hard Bills fans might want to rush out and buy your tickets for next season, just in case.’

‘”He tried a few times (to get aggressive),” Smith said. “I beat him on the press a lot. On the third down when Jake threw it out of bounds, I beat him on the route, but I didn’t have enough room when I beat him. And he run past me telling me, “What are you going to do?’ Troy Vincent’s out there breast-feeding him. So if he wants to get off that (breast), come talk to me.”‘