Archives for September 2006

‘”He’s not real flashy,” said fellow Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay. “He doesn’t make a lot of hoopla over his plays or performance, and he doesn’t say a whole lot. But he’s a heck of a football player. Without all the fanfare, he goes out and gets the job done. You’ve got to take your hat off to a guy like that.”‘

‘It does look encouraging for Spikes to return next week because he was able to go through good workouts with Bills head athletic trainer Bud Carpenter on Thursday and Friday.’

‘"It wasn’t too bad," Ellison said of his rapid-fire introduction to the chaos that is the life of a linebacker on an NFL Sunday afternoon. "Once you get into the game, it’s football, it’s something all of us have been playing all our lives. This is a higher level, that’s all."’

‘Vincent’s hamstring has bothered him all through training camp. The Bills should have known he wouldn’t make it through the entire season without aggravating it. Had they released him prior to the season, not only would they have been able to keep Rashad Baker, but they wouldn’t have owed Vincent another dime.’

‘”John Wooden once said a player with ability but no character will lose,” Levy said. “We want players who are willing to put in a good day’s work.”‘

Dolphins’ not-so-strong safeties (Miami Herald)

Dolphins’ McMichael tries to block out frustration (Miami Herald)

Former coach, now 81, tries to help remake Bills from front office (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Wilkinson liable in developer’s suit (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins’ Chambers leaps into spotlight (Palm Beach Post)

Wilkinson could play vs. Bills (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins use disguise (Florida Today)

USA, Canada, Europe, Japan And Mexico To Compete In NFL Global Junior Championship At Super Bowl XLI (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘Chris Chambers vs. Nate Clements/Terrence McGee: Last season Buffalo matched Nate Clements up on Chambers in Miami a good amount of the time. This year Chambers typically lines up on the right side of the formation so it will be interesting to see Buffalo’s approach. Will they have Clements follow him around all day or will they let McGee have a crack at him as long as he lines up on the right side of the formation. Mike Mularkey will likely move Chambers around through the course of the game in an effort to get him involved early. If Clements or McGee can hold him to a day like he had last Thursday night (5 catches, 58 yards), Buffalo could be in good shape.’

‘”The one thing he told us,” said Miami receiver Chris Chambers this week, “if you beat the Buffalo Bills, you beat the whole city. That’s one thing we want to do.”‘

‘Fletcher said every team the Bills face is his archenemy. “Every Sunday is the same for me, it makes no difference who I face,” he said. “I treat them all the same. They’re all important.”‘

‘In general, however, I think the quality of offensive lines league wide is poorer than it was a decade ago, which hurts the consistency of pass offenses. There are four more teams, so that’s almost one fewer starting lineman per team.’

‘A shooting put Eric Powell in the hospital for 12 days. Five years later, he’s a defensive end for Buffalo. ‘All I wanted to know was what were the chances that I could play football. And the doctor said, ‘You might be able to.’ That’s all I wanted to hear, the ‘might.’ That’s like telling me ‘yes.”’

‘But that might be easier said than done. In Week 1, head coach Dick Jauron and offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild did everything in their power to simplify the offense for Losman and keep him out of compromising situations, using a lot of three-step drops and check downs. The result was an extremely efficient afternoon for Losman, in which he completed 65.2 percent of his passes and did not throw a single interception.’

‘Bills owner Ralph Wilson said Mularkey told him he was troubled by the criticism he and his family were receiving from his local detractors. It’s also believed he developed misgivings about the Bills’ front-office shakeup after a 5-11 finish, which included the return of the franchise’s Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy as general manager.’

‘Atkinson will work on the development of new corporate business for sponsorship and suite sales.’

‘The take from my recliner on J.P. Losman is give the kid a chance. He certainly has the arm and is much improved over last year’s version. He’d better get real good, real fast, however, for I fear the Bills defense will not be a dominating unit. Especially if the injuries continue. Learn fast Buffalo defensive rookies, WNY’s Monday morning smile may depend on you.’