Archives for April 17, 2002

Buffalo Bills fans might remember Charlie Rogers most for his 81-yard kickoff return during a nationally televised game against the Bills on December 23, 2000. What they may not know is that the speedy Rogers has grown into one of the top return specialists in the league over the past three years.

‘Williams was less than enthralled by his recent visit to Buffalo (fourth pick overall) because of the weather.’

The Bills today announced that the team has acquired return specialist/wide receiver CHARLIE ROGERS in exchange for linebacker JAY FOREMAN in a trade with the Houston Texans.

‘”He has so much faith in Gregg Williams and confidence in Jerry and they really sold him on the fact that he could be an every-down player with them,” Robinson’s agent, Kennard McGuire said. “He’s excited. I have not heard this type of excitement from Eddie in a long time.”‘

With the Bills having the 4th overall pick in the draft you would think it would be easy to figure out what they will do. The fact is the Bills have many different options available and we may not know until after 1 pm on Saturday as to what they will do.

The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Eddie Robinson. Robinson started 15 of 16 games at right outside linebacker for the Titans last year. He was second on the team with 101 tackles and added two interceptions, a sack, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

The veteran LB postponed a decision last week because of the birth of his child. The Titans released Robinson March 1 because he wanted to seek a situation with more playing time. The Titans wanted Robinson back but as a situational and special teams player.

@ Jay Foreman doesn’t have to worry about Eddie Robinson wanting his number – it is no longer his – he has been traded to the expansion Houston Texans for former Seahawk kick-return specialist Charlie Rogers.

The funny part of the story is that a year ago, Williams wanted to move Sam Cowart to the weakside OLB job. It was Robinson who convinced Cowart that he may not like playing that position because it did not offer as many tackles and big plays as the ILB job.

‘He brings both field leadership and an intimate knowledge of Bills coach Gregg Williams’ defensive system.’

‘Smith is caught in the middle of a controversy that forced him to end a charity golf tournament that bore his name for more than a decade.’

‘For a decade, the Bruce Smith Charity Golf Classic raised money on behalf of some 20 big-name worthy causes, like the Children’s Hospital of The Kings Daughters, Operation Smile and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. It claims to have raised $150,000 for those charities, but its own records put the figure at $50,000. And the charities show $65,000. So, where did the rest of the money go?’

‘Agent Kennard McGuire said Robinson chose Buffalo because of his close ties with coach Gregg Williams and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, his former coaches in Tennessee. Also, the Titans could not guarantee the playing time on third down that Buffalo could.’

‘"To be honest, when you get involved in a draft, it’s never been a question here with Mr. Wilson of ‘Hey, we can’t afford this player,’ " general manager Tom Donahoe said Tuesday. "Mr. Wilson wants to win as much any of us and he knows that in order to win, you need good players and good players are going to be paid. So that’s not an issue."’

‘Robinson, 32, was the Titans’ second-leading tackler with 101 stops last season, giving him more than 100 tackles in a season for the fifth time in his career. He also had two interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.’

‘My story, and I’m sticking with it, is the Bills take one of four outstanding defensive tackles, depending on which one they liked most from their personal interviews in Orchard Park, along with what they’ve seen on film and from other sources on the players. Without knowing those intimate details, the front runner would appear to be Ryan Sims of North Carolina.’