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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, November 23, 2009

NFL: New Bills coach shaken by Wood’s gruesome injury


By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A day later, Perry Fewell shuddered when recalling how difficult it was seeing Bills rookie guard Eric Wood writhing in pain on the field after breaking two bones in his left leg.

Forget the 18-15 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, Wood’s devastating injury was not how Fewell wanted to remember his debut as the Bills interim head coach.
“He was in severe pain, and it was not a pretty sight to see,” Fewell said Monday, referring to an injury that was so gruesome CBS elected against broadcasting more than one replay of the hit. “You never want to see that as a football coach. That’s part of the game, but as a human being, you never want to see something like that happen to another person.”
Wood had successful surgery immediately following the game, and remained in a Jacksonville hospital overnight. Fewell said he didn’t know when the player would be discharged and allowed to travel home to Buffalo.
A first-round draft pick out of Louisville, Wood’s injury is the latest blow to an injury-riddled offensive line that also lost reserve Seth McKinney, who sustained what Fewell called a season-ending knee injury against the Jaguars.
Buffalo (3-7) finished the game without any reserves on the offensive line, and will have to bolster its roster this week in preparing to host Miami (5-5) on Sunday.
Running back Marshawn Lynch’s status is also uncertain after he hurt his left shoulder, leaving the Bills with two running backs, Fred Jackson and fullback Corey McIntyre.
Wood, who had started all 10 games at right guard this season, was hurt while blocking on a pass play in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Jaguars defensive tackle Montavious Stanley broke in on the left side and made a diving attempt to tackle quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick near the line of scrimmage. Stanley got only a piece of the quarterback, and then landed directly on Wood’s lower leg, bending it sideways.
CBS showed a replay once before a commercial break. Upon returning from commercials, the broadcast crew announced no further replays would be shown because of what happened.
The injury put a pall on what was an otherwise gutty performance by a Bills team coming off a tumultuous week in which head coach Dick Jauron was fired and replaced by Fewell, the defensive coordinator.
With Fewell in charge, the Bills offense finally showed a spark, with Terrell Owens enjoying a season-best 197 yards receiving and a touchdown on a 98-yard reception that became the longest pass-play in franchise history. In the meantime, their banged-up and porous defense — which entered the game allowing an NFL-worst 173 rushing per game — limited Maurice Jones-Drew to 66 yards, 30 below his season-average.
The Bills still lost because they faded down the stretch as they’ve done numerous times this season. Jacksonville overcame a 15-10 deficit when Mike Sims-Walker caught a 3-yard touchdown pass with 56 seconds remaining.
Buffalo has been outscored 109-40 in the final quarter this season, including 54-0 in its past three games.
It also didn’t help that the Bills had two touchdowns nullified by penalties.
“It’s the same old story,” Jackson said. “We don’t feel like guys are stopping us, we’re stopping ourselves.”
At least Jackson was encouraged in seeing the offense show signs of life.
“Yeah, it was disappointing to lose, but we feel like it was a step in the right direction,” he said.
Owens’ breakout game came after he managed just 366 yards receiving in his first nine outings. He helped a sputtering offense generate 343 yards, the most since Buffalo managed 438 in a 33-20 win against Tampa Bay in Week 2.
Fitzpatrick finished with 297 yards passing, the most by a Bills quarterback since J.P. Losman had 340 yards in a 24-21 win at Houston on Nov. 19, 2006.
NOTES: Fewell declined to say whether Fitzpatrick would remain his starter a week after benching Trent Edwards. ... Reserve DT John McCargo was listed as day to day after hurting his calf. ... Starting DT Marcus Stroud said he’s ready to return after missing Sunday’s game with a sore right knee.