Archives for March 2003

"Spreading the field like we did, with 4 WRs and throwing all the time in the ‘run-and-shoot,’ that was kind of radical back then," allowed HOF QB Jim Kelly, trigger man for the Houston Gamblers’ audacious offense before signing with the Buffalo Bills. "Now you see it all the time in the NFL and not just on third down. People can say whatever they want to (about the USFL), but we tried to be exciting. The coaches had kind of an ‘anything goes’ attitude, you know?"

Best (Bills) Players: Jim Kelly, Doug Flutie & Scott Norwood

Worth remembering: The Run-and-Shoot was born here. Houston rolled up 1,162 points in two seasons, and QB Jim Kelly was the main ingredient. He threw for a remarkable 5,219 yards and 44 touchdowns in his rookie season, and followed that up with 4,623 yards and 39 TDs in 1985 despite missing several games with an injury.

"That was impressive by all the fans. I thought I was coming down to Cincinnati and Paul Brown Stadium in the last game of the year. They made me feel welcome. I remember one guy… 'play well Takeo, just don't hurt anybody so you can get ready for us next year.' I saw posters out there. I even saw some guys (say)… 'Spikes I love Buffalo but I'm going to take my jersey today and put a Cincinnati jersey on today.' He put it on, it was impressive."

Takeo Spikes, currently a LB for the Cincinnati Bengals, speaks to the media during a press conference after meeting with the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Thursday, March 6, 2003. Additional Page

Would signing tackle Sam Adams be the return of the powerful interior line play the Bills have been lacking since Ted Washington left two years ago?

Weakside LB Takeo Spikes visited with the Bills today. Here’s what he said: “I like everything. I like the way Coach Williams orchestrates his whole schedule as far as taking care of the players, leaving it up to the veteran players to demand more of the younger players on the team. I like that.”

It was in the NFL that Chicago Blitz’s braintrust left a lasting legacy. Bill Polian was the Blitz’s first personnel director. Marv Levy followed Allen as head coach. John Butler was the director of college scouting. Reunited with the Buffalo Bills, they would reach four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990-93. Former USFL players Jim Kelly, Kent Hull and Scott Norwood helped them get there. "Our experiences in the USFL helped us enormously," said Polian.

Linebacker Takeo Spikes and defensive tackle Sam Adams will have formal visits with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported. Buffalo will likely make an offer to Spikes very soon.

WKBW-TV will broadcast Bills preseason games, which for the first time in recent memory will include tape-delayed broadcasts of home preseason contests. Channel 7 will also air "The Gregg Williams Show" (Sundays at 11:30 AM) and "Bills All-Access" with Steve Tasker and Jennifer Mucha (Saturdays at 7:30 PM).

Has not missed a Bengals game (or start) due to injury (79 games). It took the death of his father, Jimmie Spikes, on October 12 to keep him out of their lineup for the first and only time.

"I've seen him play for a long time and he is one of those guys who from sideline to sideline, loves to play the game. He has a passion to play the game. It's fun to watch those kinds of players play."

— Bills coach Gregg Williams on free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes

Linebacker Takeo Spikes is in Buffalo today visiting with President and General Manager Tom Donahoe and coach Gregg Williams. Spikes, the 13th overall pick in the 1998 draft out of Auburn, has averaged 113 tackles a season for the Bengals. Cincinnati has the right to match any offer made to Spikes, having placed their transition tag on the fifth-year pro back on February 11.

‘To try to discourage Cincinnati from matching an offer, the Bills probably would have to give him a large base salary for 2003, in addition to a big signing bonus.’

‘The Bills are approximately $7 million under the cap, leaving plenty of room to structure deals for Spikes and Adams for 2003. Things would be tight to make other moves, however, and trading wide receiver Peerless Price — Buffalo’s franchise player — remains the easiest way to clear $5.01 million in room.’

‘Buffalo president and general manager Tom Donahoe was traveling Wednesday and unavailable for comment, a Bills spokesman said. Reports out of Buffalo have said the Bills were preparing an offer sheet for Spikes.’