Archives for July 2002

‘Eleven of the Bills’ 16 games are against running backs who finished among the top 12 in the league last season.’

UPDATE: Sunday's AM practice has reopened and is now open to the public. The afternoon session is still scheduled for 2:45-4:45 PM.

UPDATE: Due to the inclement weather conditions, Sunday's AM practice has been moved indoors and is closed to the public. The camp is tentatively scheduled to open to the public at 1 PM for the afternoon session (2:45-4:45 PM). Check back for an update later in the day or call the training camp hotline (800-441-5942).

‘4. Drew Bledsoe…..5. Wade Phillips.’

‘Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed the contract will run for six years, and Williams’ signing bonus is in the $11 million range.’

‘So when you ask Newman if he thinks media outlets are disrespecting the Bills by picking them to finish last in the AFC East this season despite all the positive changes, it’s hard for the fourth-year linebacker to put up an argument. "When you look at it, how can we disagree with what they’re saying," Newman said Saturday afternoon when he checked in at St. John Fisher College.’

‘"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.’