Archives for July 28, 2002

‘"Tony has probably had the best off-season of anybody on this team," Williams raved. "He has really had an impact on the coaching staff, and he’s been a visible example to the rest of his teammates because they’ve seen him live in that training room, the weight room and the film room."’

‘At Saturday night’s training camp kickoff dinner, County Executive Jack Doyle and Mayor William Johnson presented the former Buffalo Bills quarterback with a proclamation declaring July 27 Jim Kelly Day in Rochester and Monroe County.’

‘"I was a big Doug Flutie fan but I tried to support Rob Johnson as much as I could. The thing is, he was such a wimp."’

‘Today, a.m.: Larry Centers, Curtis Alexander, Jarrett Ferguson. Entire team at the fence.’

’20. Buffalo Bills. Will be more fun to watch and should top last season’s 3-13 record. They still need big improvement in rushing the passer and stopping the run to become a legitimate playoff threat.’

‘Polian says Oakland and Dallas both tried to acquire Kelly’s rights from the Bills. But Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson refused. “I went to Mr. Wilson very early,” said Polian, who became Buffalo’s general manager in 1986, “and I said I think we can trade the rights to Jim Kelly and probably get reasonably good compensation in return. This franchise was drawing 30,000 a game. Mr. Wilson, to his everlasting credit, said, no, we’re signing Jim Kelly. Period.”‘

‘”It’s a little hole you get when you are a baby,” Dinkins said. “A lot of times when you find out it hasn’t closed, it’s when something tragic happens. They find it in the autopsy. It was really scary, looking back. God pulled me through.” Joe Linta, Dinkins’ agent, called the discovery “a blessing in disguise.” “Once it is corrected, he will be fine,” Linta said.’

‘In 1983, the Bills drafted Jim Kelly in the first round. He showed up in ’86 after the USFL folded and turned around the franchise. Bledsoe will try and do the same. “I’ve talked with Jim a bunch,” Bledsoe said. “He was one of my heroes coming up and then when I first got in the league, he was one of the guys who kind of welcomed me and took me under his arm a little bit.”‘

‘The 6-foot-6, 370-pound Williams was the first offensive lineman taken in the draft after earning All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors last season. He allowed one sack in 2001 and just two sacks in 27 starts over his four seasons at Texas.’

‘Williams has the same size as Davis but could have a bigger upside. He started every game at the University of Texas last season and was a consensus All-America. He played right tackle, which was the blindside for southpaw quarterback Chris Simms.’

Sheldon Jackson: "I'm looking forward to camp and getting on the field to focus on football," Jackson said. "My off-the-field issues have been resolved and now I'm just anxious to get on the practice field and concentrate on football."

‘Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the contract is expected to make Williams the highest-paid rookie in Bills history and the team’s third-highest paid player behind quarterback Drew Bledsoe and receiver Eric Moulds.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has signed offensive tackle Mike Williams, the team’s first round selection in 2002 and the draft’s fourth pick overall.’

‘”Drew has never had to depend upon movement or athleticism, the stuff Rob Johnson could do, the stuff Mark Brunell could do, or what Kordell (Stewart) could do,” Gilbride said. “He’s won with his arm and he’s won with his brain. He’s seen things and got rid of the ball when he had to. None of that’s diminished. He’s still a bright, insightful young man who looks to have a pretty good feel for what (rival) teams are doing to him. I think he’s anxious to prove that, maybe, the Patriots made a mistake.”‘

‘Flowers’ weight — he’s listed at 274 pounds — has only been part of the problem, and it hasn’t helped that he has trouble maintaining bulk on his lanky 6-foot-4 frame. Flowers has also wound up the odd-man out in the coaching upheaval that hit the Bills.’