Archives for May 20, 2003

‘"It’s a different level. Everybody is fast. Everybody is strong. You always think you’re the strongest one in college and you come here and you’re going to dominate everybody. When it comes to this level it’s truly amazing and that’s why I was just jumping offside. I was really excited and also I got really comfortable so it came out really good. So we’ll see where it goes from there."’

The Bills want to become a ground-control, defensive-oriented team. That’s a far cry from the wide-open, pass-happy system from a year ago. The Bills were in the playoff hunt late in the season with that style but didn’t accomplish enough to let the team keep playing that way. So they put much of their offseason focus on improving the defense, while letting the starting top speed WR, FB and TE leave.

If expanding the NFL playoff field from 12 to 14 teams comes up for a vote at league meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Philadelphia, the Bills will vote yes. GM Tom Donahoe said last season’s expansion to 32 teams makes expanding the playoff field logical and it wouldn’t water things down, considering 18 teams would still be left out.

The Bills will give new meaning to the term “burn rubber” this season at Ralph Wilson Stadium. After two years of study, the club has decided to replace its much criticized artificial turf with a synthetic grass system that utilizes pulverized old rubber tires and is catching on as the wave of the future.

If football was a game played from a desk with a suit coat as the uniform and cell phones and paperwork as the equipment, then the Buffalo Bills would be in the Super Bowl already. After a busy off-season of roster additions, the Bills stand easily among the top playoff contenders. Buffalobills.com writer Tim O'Shei reviews Buffalo's offensive personnel.

‘Jefferson is a 12-year veteran who caught 27 passes for Atlanta last season. Detroit reportedly is another club considering him. Jefferson, 34, will contend for a backup position wherever he signs. It’s believed he is being offered minimum-salary contracts.’