Two Bills Drive

”’When you crack it, it is going to almost be like a broken bone. Not that something bad is going to happen, it just may hurt and that is really the bottom line,” Goitz said. ”So if you can manage the pain, it doesn’t matter. … Some people are able to suck it up so you can actually still perform but you are hurting.”’

‘No small item for the Titans (9-4), who are now fighting for a playoff spot with a 53-man roster that includes 23 players with two years or less of NFL experience, 29 players with three years or less experience.’

‘McNair, who is in a walking boot, probably won’t practice at all this week in preparation for Tennessee’s home game with the Buffalo Bills. The quarterback most likely will be a game-time decision. He has made 45 consecutive starts dating back to Sept. 2001.’

“I really believe that that play catapulted us to the Super Bowl,” Williams said. “It made believers out of us. The next week, we went out and won another close game. That was a direct result of having pulled out that Buffalo game.”

‘“Really it’s way too early in the week to be able to determine how he’s going to be,” Fisher said.’

‘An MRI on the Titans quarterback’s ankle Monday revealed an old bone spur as well as a slight crack in the spur, ESPN’s John Clayton reports Tuesday. McNair is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. He will not practice at all this week, and his status will be determined closer to game time.’

Smith’s club finished the season with a 9-2 record and captured the Monsignor Martin Association AA Championship. He was also honored at the Monday Quarterback Club’s luncheon meeting held on Monday, December 8 at HSBC Arena.

‘”Since he was an old center and I was about 33 years old at that time, I thought he would understand my concern. We weren’t even talking money, I just wanted another two years. I’d never been hurt, never missed any games, never caused any trouble. I told Ringo I was concerned if it didn’t go well and he got fired, I would be a 34-year-old center and a new coach would come in and the first thing he’d say is ‘we’ve got to get rid of these old guys.’ I just wanted a little assurance. I thought Ringo would say, ‘Sure, Mike. I understand. I’ve been there before.’ Instead he said, ‘You’re playing here or you aren’t playing anywhere.’ So I just told him ‘I retire.’ Then later in training camp, he ended up trading me to Denver. I never figured that would happen, and then Denver winds up going to the Super Bowl. Outside of getting caught up in politics, I loved playing in Buffalo. The fans, the people. You just couldn’t get a better atmosphere for football than what they have in Buffalo.”‘

‘Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry is among the finalists for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week honors.’

‘If Steve McNair’s mobility is limited Sunday, the Bills would be wise to test him and see just how well he can function on the move. Bills head coach Gregg Williams, as Titans fans know, isn’t afraid to bring the pressure from anywhere in order to chase a quarterback, and McNair will be no exception.’

‘The Titans have lost two in a row and haven’t really played well in a month. They’ll need a strong effort this week against a much-improved Buffalo defense in order to get back on track and build some momentum heading into the playoffs.’

‘I think Gregg Williams has handled himself with more class than any coach on the hot seat in the NFL.’

‘”This is obviously good to see our hard work pay off,” he said. “It’s nice to see the defensive pride be what it is and play with the effort and contact that you have to play to be a big-time defense. . . . Our defense doesn’t hesitate whenever they have to take over on the field to go out and play and turn the offense away. That’s their mentality right now and it’s fun to go out and watch them play.”‘

‘If the Bills do finish 9-7, it is mathematically possible for them to finish ahead of the other four contenders – Tennessee, Miami, Denver and Cincinnati – for one of the two wild-card berths.’

‘”I never lost confidence in myself,” Sullivan said. “I still prepared every week and tried to hone in on my skills. I’m a mentally tough person and whatever was thrown my way I felt I could overcome it.”‘