Archives for January 6, 2003

Class of 2003 to be announced Saturday, January 25

Orchard Park, NY – Bills owner Ralph Wilson, offensive guard Joe DeLamielleure, and wide receiver James Lofton were named today as three of the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2003.

‘Modrak has worked for the last 18 months as the director of football operations and assistant general manager of the Bills under team president and general manager Tom Donahoe. The Jaguars were given permission by the Bills last week to interview Modrak for the personnel job, according to the source.’

‘Former New York Giants general manager George Young and Buffalo Bills founder and owner Ralph Wilson are also finalists.’

The Jets, Steelers, Falcons & 49ers advanced. Watch video highlights from the game.

LB Clay Matthews intercepted a QB Jim Kelly 11-yard pass on the 1-yard line with 9 seconds left in the game to preserve the victory for the Browns. In dramatic style, Buffalo began a comeback bid after K Matt Bahr kicked a 47-yard FG to give Cleveland a 34-24 lead with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter. Kelly began a string of 23 consecutive pass plays and closed the gap to 4 when he hit RB Thurman Thomas for a 3-yard TD.

The Bills’ Super Bowl dream came to a close on the frozen surface of Three Rivers Stadium with a 40-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the AFC playoffs. The Bills, playing without DE Bruce Smith who remained in Buffalo with the flu, quickly found themselves trailing 20-0 with under five minutes to play in the first half.