Archives for April 27, 2003

‘Unless, of course, the Bills already felt the pieces to their Super Bowl puzzle were in place. Or have a plan we don’t know about.’

‘”He’s defied odds a lot of times in his life,” coach Gregg Williams said.’

‘”This was our opportunity to get one of the elite players in the draft,” Bills general manager Tom Donahoe said after emerging from his team’s draft-day war room. “We are prepared to wait. If he doesn’t play this year, that’s fine.”‘

‘The University of Miami once again dominated the first round of the NFL draft, with four players selected Saturday, including star running back Willis McGahee, taken 23rd by Buffalo.’

‘Can you imagine a little thing like snow stopping someone who has beaten the odds McGahee has? I can’t.’

‘Did any of this sway Buffalo into grabbing McGahee with the 23rd pick, a position not even mentioned weeks ago? Buffalo never checked McGahee’s knee beyond the two NFL-scheduled dates. Never had a personal workout. Never called his doctor, his physical therapist or Rosenhaus. Maybe it was playing a silent game of its own. Or maybe in a stage full of stooges, it just became the final one.’

‘Before long, McGahee is back to being the tough guy. He’s wearing a Buffalo Bills cap, but it’s twisted sideways. He has a smile for the ESPN cameras, but a warning, too. “You should ask the Dolphins if they’re worried about that,” McGahee says when asked about playing his hometown team twice a year. “They ain’t going to be too happy. It’s bad news, too, for everybody else that didn’t pick me.”‘

‘Buffalo head coach Gregg Williams said he was excited about getting Kelsay. “When he hits the ground here Thursday his motor will be running,” he said. “He’s a high-energy player. He’ll jump on grenades from sideline to sideline. He lays his body on the line and he fits into the style and kind of player that we want here with that relentless attidude.”‘

‘Crowell was picked by the Buffalo Bills with the 94th overall selection at about 8:45 p.m., with McMullen going to the Philadelphia Eagles moments later. Neither player was available to comment late Saturday, but it was surely a day of high anxiety for both of them. The draft began at noon and the third round ended shortly after 9 p.m. with 97 players picked. The final four rounds will be held today.’

‘”I’m not one to sit on the bench and watch others run the ball, but I’m willing to do whatever they want,” he said. “I expect to play, but it’s up to the coaches.”‘

"What were doing here is really the easy part. In free agency we've said repeatedly that we did a good job giving money away- that's not hard. Doing the draft isn't hard, it's fun, now the difficult part is that we have to put all of this together and it has to fit. There has to be the right chemistry. That's the big challenge. Things look good on paper but that doesn't really mean that much."

"I feel great. It's a great opportunity. I get a chance to play football. I've accomplished one my goal, my dream. Something I've worked for my entire life. I have become a Buffalo Bill. That's great."

‘Has a muscular frame with good quickness and agility…Shows strength at the point of attack, taking on the lineman or fullback with aggression, using his hands well to shed… Smart athlete who calls defensive signals…Stays on his feet and knows how to avoid blocks while maintaining balance on the move.’

\’Sunday, April 27 at 11:30 PM.\’

‘All-America candidate … one of the top linebackers in the country … also a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top defensive player … joins Billy McMullen as one of Virginia’s 2002 co-captains … a “does it all” type of player … one of only two returning first- or second-team All-ACC linebackers this season.’