Archives for April 2003

Signing Gash, a fan favorite during his first tour with the Bills, is the latest sign of the team’s commitment to running the ball more and creating more balance for an offense that set numerous team passing marks last fall.

Buffalo – Sure, the Bills lost one key component off their explosive offense in WR Price, but GM Donahoe has radically improved the defense with the additions of DT Adams, LBs Posey and Spikes and highly respected assistant coach LeBeau. That, in turn, should take the pressure off the offense to have to put a ton of points on the board for the Bills to win. Bledsoe is a battle-tested QB who seems rejuvenated in Buffalo. RB Henry and WR Moulds are game-breaking talents and Buffalo believes second-year WR Reed can adequately fill Price’s big shoes. If the defense and special teams improve as they should, I look for the Bills to win a couple more games this season, leaving them in the running for a playoff spot.

“It’s extremely deep,” Bills GM Tom Donahoe said. “In the years we’ve been doing this, this is one of the deepest drafts — numbers-wise — for defensive linemen that we’ve seen. We talked about the defensive line (in team meetings before the Combine) for a long time. It’s usually a short list. But this year there are a lot of names.”

‘And Simonten, on loan from the Buffalo Bills, added: "The way the game started I just had a good feeeling for it. Everything felt right and a lot of things fell into place for me".

‘Hollis spent the last season with the Buffalo Bills and made 25 of 33 field goals including a carrer long 54 yard FG. Prior to the Bills, Hollis kicked for 7 years with the Jacksonville Jaguars.’

Buffalo Bills allocated running back Ken Simonton set a new team mark and tied a league record with four rushing touchdows for the Scottish Claymores on Sunday. He scored on runs on 11, five, three and five yards on the day.

‘Despite all the improvements made during this eventful offseason, I don’t see the Bills much better than 1-3 in the first quarter of the season.’

‘Dec. 27 — at New England. If the game means a playoff berth for one or both teams, this would be the perfect spot for Bledsoe to end the Belichick hex. Easier said than done. 10-6.’

‘The Bills bolstered their defense, which ranked 29th against the run last year, by signing Cincinnati’s best defensive player in linebacker Takeo Spikes; space-eating tackle Sam Adams (from Oakland), another productive linebacker in Jeff Posey (eight sacks with Houston), and safety Izell Reese (Denver).’

‘Jim Kelly is scoring again. The football great, who is the only NFL quarterback to lead his team to four consecutive Super Bowls, will be the grand marshal for Sunday’s race.’

‘…the Giants believe they have lured [Mike] Hollis with a five-year deal – the team last night would not confirm this – to further spice their special teams with a veteran flavor.’

Joe DeLamielleure will be appearing in St. Louis this Sunday April 6th, from 9:30-12:30.

‘The Giants also are close to reaching agreement with veteran placekicker Mike Hollis, who played with Buffalo last season after a long career in Jacksonville, the source added.’

The schedule features two nationally televised Sunday night games on ESPN – September 21 at Miami and October 26 at Kansas City. Those two contests kick off at 8:30 PM (ET).

Spikes, a dominant force from the Cincinnati Bengals, and Posey, a rising talent from the Houston Texans, should do plenty to enhance the Bills’ pass rush, which generated a mere 31 sacks last season. Their tremendous injection of speed and athleticism — along with the quickness of incumbent middle linebacker London Fletcher — will go a long way toward allowing the Bills to generate more heat on the passer.