European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 30 the stars and stripes sports tuesday August 30, 1994bill finally comes due for Buffalo by Dave Goldberg a football writer things never change in Fredonia n.y., where the Buffalo Bills hold summer Camp. Every year Jim Kelly Bruce Smith and their lesser known teammates coming off another super bowl loss say in Masse a a we la be All they re usually Correct. The Only problem for four straight seasons has been their final game which has happened to be the super bowl. _ and so Marv Levy repeats the Litany a we forget about that game the Day afterwards and concentrate on the this years future looks a Little dimmer. A the salary Cap forced the Bills to Cut $7 million from their $41 million payroll which is loaded with Long term contracts to Kelly Smith Thurman Thomas and Cornelius Bennett. The Long term deals left them unable to afford the services of several Long time starters notably cornerback Nate Odomes and left tackle Howard Ballard. The Advent of Bill Parcells in new England has helped balance the division the patriots May join Miami and possibly the new York jets As challengers to the Bills reign atop a division they be won five of the. Last six years and Marshall Faulk could improve the Colts. A Buffalo Bills still if buffaloes not the favorite to win the division who is a a a a a a a a a a. Three of the four starters in the secondary Are Likely to be new and the offensive line is in some disarray but the nucleus that a helped win four straight acc titles is still there. It is aging however. There a Kelly at quarterback handing off to Thomas Smith at defensive end Bennett at linebacker and a solid corps of outstanding if less heralded veterans linebacker Darryl Talley Center Kent Hull wide re Civ cars Andre Reed and Billy Brooks safety Henry Jones linebacker Marcus Patton and special teams Dynamo Steve Tasker. Levy and general manager John Butler also have done a Good Job of integrating younger players like offensive tackle John Fina cornerback Thomas Smith and linebacker Mark Maddox. Still stockpiles diminished by free Agency. Levy is depending on plugging the Hole left by Ballard a defection to Seattle with Jerry crafts a 360-Pounder a slimmed Down to 330. And Jones is the Only sure thing in the secondary where the Corners Are Thomas Smith and Mickey Washington. A we a be of a Bruce Smith says. A we still have our nucleus. Maybe we re getting older but we re getting Wiser Marshall feels abused by jets by the new York times a defensive lineman Leonard Marshall is still angry at the Way the new York jets treated him during the off season. Marshall a former giant defensive end who signed with the jets As a free agent in 1993, was released by the jets in june after the team said it could t determine when a broken Bone in Marshall s left forearm would fully heal. He was scheduled to earn $1.4 million with the jets this year a they used that As an excuse to get rid of me a Marshall said. Quot my Arm was heal my just Fine. I m of now and i m playing they signed me to help that defense i took on a Challenge and was starting to help them and then i got injured. Instead of St org with me and bringing me Back to help them this year they waived me Quot Marshall signed with the Washington redskins who have him playing at defensive Etui shilling him to tackle on think Down pass situations acc East preview final �?T93 finish 1. Buffalo 12-4 2. Miami 9-7 3. New York jets 8-8 4. New England 5-9 5. Indianapolis 6-10 predicted �?T94 finish 1. Miami 10-6 2. Buffalo 9-7 3. New England 7-9 4. New York jets 7-9 5. Indianapolis 6-10 a Miami dolphins Miami started 9-2 last year then lost its last five games to miss the playoffs As injury piled on injury. The first and worst was Dan Marinous torn Achilles Tendon an absence that was partially filled by Scott Mitchell. But Mitchell did so Well that the dolphins afford to keep him. He went to Detroit Tor $11 million Over three years and Bernie Kosar was brought in to Back up Marino who is less Mobile but still looks Good. The offence in fact should be solid. Second year running Back Terry Kirby plus Mark Higgs and Keith Byars give Don Shula who became the a Fly Sall time winning est coach last year the Best running game they be had in years. Richmond Webb anchors a solid offensive line and Irving Fryar Mark Ingram of. Mcduffie and Keith Jackson arc excellent targets. A. A a. A. A. A a a a a a a a As usual the questions Are on defense where the most critical injuries occurred late last season cornerback Troy Vincent who Tore up a knee is recuperating faster than ejected but the most help May come from no. 1 draft pick Tim Bowens who May give the dolphins the inside pass Rush they be lacked. That could help linebacker Bryan Cox one of the games Best when he a focused. A new England patriots new England started 1-11 under Parcells last year although the pats were competitive in most of their games. Then they won their last four As Drew Bledsoe the no. 1 Overall pick in the draft began maturing into a first rate quarterback raising Hopes for this year. Parcells was Active in the of season raiding his old team the new York giants for guard Bob Kratch and safety Myron Guyton. He also added cornerback Ricky Reynolds from Tampa Bay and drafted linebacker Willie Mcginest who could Combine with Sec and year Man Chris Slade to provide him with the pass Rushing duo he loves. Still How Strong the pats will be is open to question. Injuries have Hurt at running Back where Marion Butts obtained in a Trade and free agent Blair Thomas went Down in training Camp. A new York jets the jets always seem to Promise More than they provide. Last season they started 7-4, looked like they a make the playoffs then lost four of five to finish 8-8. That and the reluctance to hire an offensive coordinator got coach Bruce Coslet fired and defensive coordinator Pete Carroll promoted. Carroll has loosened up the jets who still depend on a nucleus of veterans led by quarterback Boomer Esia son and safety Ronnie Lott. He has a potentially solid running game led by Johnny Johnson out there a Little depth at receiver where another Golden Oldie Art Monk has been brought in to play opposite Rob Moore although Moore May be out a while with a broken wrist. O c a Quot of but the jets have a relatively solid defense particularly if cornerback James Hasty recovers quickly from a knee injury and linebacker Marvin Jones last years first Rounder can come Back from a serious dip injury. A Indianapolis Colts there was addition by a obstruction in Indianapolis when quarterback Jeff George was shipped off to Atlanta. Georges still unexplained holdout was in part responsible for the slide from 9-7 to 4.-12 last year. But the Trade also created a void. Tobin the new player personnel. Director brought in Jim Harbaugh whom he drafted in Chicago to play quarterback. He also has sex Jet Browning Nagle and Don Majkowski. None inspires Confidence. Faulk however does. The second Overall pick in the draft has Given the Colts their first running threat since Eric Dickerson was in his prime. It would help if left tackle. Will Wolford signed As a. Free agent last year comes Back from his rotator cuff a a a / a the defense is Strong at linebacker where free agent Tony Bennett joins Jeff Herrod and Quentin Coryatt. But Steve Emtman is still out with his second serious knee injury leaving a Hole up front. The secondary is in its traditional questionable state. Tomorrow acc Central still struggling 11 a months after injury Dun Munnus Mot lit i f a Miami apr Dan Marino still struggling with sluggish footwork took another step backward in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles Tendon. The Miami dolphins quarterback completed just four of 12 passes for 37 Yards and threw two interceptions in a 31-16 exhibition loss at Minnesota on Friday night. Marino who missed the final 11 games of the 1993 season because of the injury played Well in his first two preseason appearances. But in the final two games both losses a he completed just 13 of 31 passes of 164 Yards a Quot Dan the last couple of weeks has struggled Quot coach Don Shula said. Quot he a soil not 100 percent there s no question about that Quot with the season opener against new t Ngi Atul just six away Thal s bad news for the pol phys 1 Hev finished the exhibition so a win i 2 at Minnesota Marino looked Rusty from the outset. His first pass was intended for Keith. Byars but sailed wide after Marino tried to step up in the pocket. His second pass bounced in front of receiver Mark Ingram. His third pass intended for Byars was intercepted by linebacker Jack Del Rio and returned 22 Yards Lor a touchdown that s just not being patient with the read Marino said. Quot and the Ball was a Little inside marinos second interception grabbed y linebacker i d Mcdaniel appeared to be intended Tor no one in particular Marino reacted with a Stow three Quarter turn he appeared to be looking around the metro Dune Tor answers Quot acknowledged that his footwork Tell a in awkward a its he said following the , but not comp in Cly there Quot a v
