Archives for March 2002

Talk 2002 Draft with Vic Carucci, NFL Insider senior editor, on Wednesday, March 27 from 1:00-1:30 p.m. In the meantime, share your thoughts on what the Bills should do with the fourth overall pick.

Bills quarterback Alex Van Pelt showed off his film study talents this past week, picking three of the five major Oscar winners.

@ The Bills never said they were disappointed with the play of right OLB Jay Foreman last season, but they seem to be telling the three-year veteran something different by entertaining other free agents to fill his spot the past few weeks. Foreman can’t be happy about the Bills trying to find his replacement, but the job is still his for now. It might be just the motivation he needs to take his game to a higher level.

@ Even if the Bills were serious about bringing in Drew Bledsoe, which I don’t believe they are, I wouldn’t get too excited about having him lead the Buffalo offense. Who can be confident that the line will protect a largely immobile quarterback such as Bledsoe?

@ The Bills [and most of their fans] are over the Doug Flutie-Rob Johnson debates, having jettisoned both of them, leaving them with Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt isn’t bad, but he’s not going to sell tickets. Would the Patriots trade Bledsoe within their own division? If you buy into the fact that Bill Belichick has been able to get into Bledsoe’s head in the past when he opposed him, wouldn’t having Bledsoe in the same division be an advantage to the Patriots?

‘If the Buffalo Bills could figure out a way to pay quarterback Drew Bledsoe, they’d probably give New England a third-round draft pick for him. But the Patriots believe Bledsoe is worth at least a first-round pick and the Bills won’t give up that much.’

@ David Dinkins shone during the scrimmage, completing 3 of 5 passes for 100 yards, including a 37-yard TD pass to WR Marcus Knight (Oakland Raiders). Knight also had a 50-yard catch from Dinkins. Curtis Alexander carried 10 times for 33 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown dive.

‘The Bills’ first pick in the April draft might come down to the Big Two, the 374-pound Williams and the 337-pound McKinnie, if Buffalo does not trade down.’

‘Can anyone accurately predict who will be the starting quarterback for Buffalo?’

‘"Other than one Japanese Film study class at the University of Pittsburgh, though, I really have no formal training in this area," Van Pelt adds, "But I feel I’m up to the challenge."’

‘If Wilson is down on less than perfect weather, I wonder why he didn’t insist that there is no place like dome and ask Erie County and New York state to build him a covered stadium. And I’m sure Wilson didn’t mind the weather when his Bills were beating the San Diego Chargers 20-7 in the AFL Championship Game at War Memorial Stadium the day after Christmas 1964.’

‘If the Bills make him the best offer, and he decides that keeping Bledsoe isn’t an option, The Franchise better be prepared to pack his long johns for the long western New York winters. Not to mention some frustrating Sunday afternoons against Belichick’s defenses. One of the reasons the Pats wouldn’t hesitate to send Bledsoe to Buffalo is the success Belichick has had in defending Bledsoe in the past.’

‘A player can be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame only once. Area hotel and restaurant owners probably wish the Canton shrine would make an exception for Jim Kelly.’

@ Levy will be among eight individuals with NFL ties to be honored by Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in Commack, N.Y.

‘"Well, we signed a 15-year lease. I have no intentions of moving the team – as long as circumstances permit me to stay. That says it, doesn’t it? That’s about the best I can say."’