Archives for December 5, 2006

‘"I’m just excited about the opportunity and looking forward to it," Manning said.’

‘"He’s got the fans into it," said fellow defensive lineman Eric Powell. "He’s got his own little fan club behind the bench."’

‘The Bills announced there are still about 7,000 tickets available for the Dolphins game.’

‘The time change is projected to at least triple the television viewing audience. “With the Bills winning two of their last three games — all decided by a field goal — and the Dolphins earning victories in four of their last five games, the move to the 4:05 PM ET start will enable many more fans across the country to see these two teams on the rise. It’s a much bigger showcase for Buffalo and Miami,” said Howard Katz, NFL Senior VP of Broadcasting.’

‘”It’s tough for him and it’s tough for us,” said Jauron, who indicated that Crowell is not expected to have surgery. Jauron added that Crowell will likely be placed on the injured reserve list later this week.’

‘Here’s a closer look at some of Tomlinson’s best runs on Sunday…’

‘Ellison, who started four games earlier in the year when Takeo Spikes was out with a hamstring injury, was activated for Sunday’s game. He likely would replace Crowell, but Jauron left his options open. Crowell is also the Bills’ “nickel” linebacker on passing downs. Spikes filled that role against the Chargers after Crowell went out and had one pass breakup to go with nine tackles.’

‘The only way you can win with defense like that is to win the takeaway battle. The Bills were plus-7 in the four games prior to Sunday’s loss to San Diego, when they were minus-2. But playoff-caliber teams impose their will. They run the ball. They stop the run. The Chargers won the ground war, 197 yards to 63.’

‘San Diego beat the host Buffalo Bills by only 24-21 on Sunday, but that doesn’t alter my opinion that the Chargers are the NFL’s best team and the most likely winner of Super Bowl XLI.’

‘Twenty years removed from Brighton High School, Lewin is in his second year calling the play by play for the NFL San Diego Chargers.’

‘”It seemed like I spent a good team of time talking to Ed (Sunday),” said Jauron after his team saw its two-game winning streak snapped and its wild-card playoff hopes all but dashed. “When you’re on the losing end of it, it’s hard to keep perspective. You always feel like you’re getting the wrong end of the call. My experience has generally been that when you take time and review it, like most games, some of them went your way and some of them didn’t. It was a long day.”‘

‘Knowing they didn’t match up with the star-studded Chargers, Dick Jauron and his staff needed to find ways to at least slow down San Diego’s key personnel. That didn’t happen. Compounding matters was poor clock and timeout management.’

‘QB J.P. Losman on the loss that snapped Buffalo’s two-game win streak: “The coaches, the players, this organization, we think we’re headed in the right direction. It’s up to us. The players are the ones who are going to have to tweak it a little bit on the field. Things aren’t going to be black and white like we draw it up, so we’re working on all of those little things right now. We’re moving in that direction, but there are still a lot of things we need to do.”‘

‘Perhaps Phillips was a little too odd for Buffalo, a little too countrified. What he is, though, above all, is a winner, one of the best defensive minds in football. The 59-year-old’s proven it time and again. The Bills and their city took him for granted, however.’

‘As impressive as Tomlinson’s performance was on the field, he was equally impressive off of it – a consummate professional and genuine human being at the same time.’