Archives for May 2003

‘Why not switch directly to a natural surface? Bills President Tom Donahoe said the experience in Green Bay shows fields really deteriorate late in the season after the grass becomes dormant. "It’s just not practical in a lot of Northeast and Midwest stadiums," Donahoe said when announcing the AstroPlay contract.’

‘We’ll see about second-round pick Chris Kelsay in training camp. Is there a quality third cornerback? Kevin Thomas and Dainon Sidney will battle. Will Reese (Broncos) give Pierson Prioleau a run for the free safety job? Will Reed be good? Is there hope for the long-suffering return game? Will the team decide it looks odd to have coach Gregg Williams in the last year of his contract and the coordinators with two years left on their deals?’

‘Over 600 season tickets were sold as the Bills staged their annual Select-A-Seat day. Fans got to meet players, tour the lockerroom, take the quarterback challenge and touch and test the stadium’s new AstroPlay surface. In addition, some 3,000 prime season ticket locations were marked with over 20 percent of them being sold.’

‘He said that when he quit playing, he gave up ice cream. He quipped that he worked out all the time and was 14 percent body fat, while Greg and Mike Pruitt never worked out, yet were 9 percent. At one point, he and his wife debated adopting a Korean child, but weren’t sure. So one day, he walked into a Dairy Queen and ordered an ice cream for the first time in two years. While he was there, a man walked in with a Korean child. “I went up to him and said, `Where did you get him? I want one of those,’ ” DeLamieulleure said to many laughs. In the end, DeLamieulleure wound up adopting two Korean children. “God has a plan for all of us,” he said.”

There might be a running back battle in Buffalo this season, but it has nothing to do with the drafting of Willis McGahee. Ken Simonton wasn't even on an NFL roster last season, but he has done just what the Bills' player personnel department hoped he would in Europe — get better. Now Simonton has exploded offensively as a member of the Scottish Claymores and will challenge any other running back in Bills camp.

On Friday's "The Best Damn Sports Show Period", Buffalo Bills first round draft pick Willis McGahee and SU hoops star Carmelo Anthony will appear on the show which can be seen on Empire Sports Network at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 17 Event Time

Steve Tasker & Buffalo Jills Meyer's RV Stadium Sale 3:00 – 4:00 PM

‘Prices in Rochester are $49 for the train only or $95 for train and game ticket.’

‘Amtrak service begins in Albany/Schenectady with pick-ups in Utica/Syracuse and Rochester. The train stops at the Depew station just outside Buffalo and fans are bused the remaining distance to Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

The Bills Express will be available for three regular season games in 2003, including the home opener with the New England Patriots on September 7. In addition to the Patriots contest, fans can take the Express to see former Syracuse star Donovan McNabb lead the Philadelphia Eagles into Ralph Wilson Stadium on September 28 and catch the return of Bruce Smith to Orchard Park when the Washington Redskins come to town on October 19.’

Last weekend's Bills' Coaches Clinic had dozens of the area's high school coaches trying to gain some insight from their pro counter parts. But there was one coach who traveled a bit further than the rest of the coaches for the clinic, as Denmark's Johan Laurizen came from half a world away to listen to Gregg Williams and his staff.

‘“I’m very excited. The longer it took, the sweeter the taste,” said DeLamielleure, who waited 13 years before he was elected. “You think it’s never going to happen.”’

‘But my most vivid memory of Talley was off the field and away from the stadium. Shortly after he left the Bills and had signed with the Falcons in the winter of 1995, Darryl took out a full page ad in the Buffalo News and used it to publish an open letter to the fans, thanking them for a dozen great seasons. It was one of the classiest gestures ever made by a pro athlete.’

‘Ralph Wilson lacks big-time money and the financial condition of the Bills hasn’t been great over the last several seasons, but Wilson is one of the few traditional owners remaining. What puts the Bills into the top 10 is having Tom Donahoe running the football operations. Donahoe is among the most respected football men in the league and has been known for stability and his solid philosophy on personnel over the years.’

The Bills are looking for their most loyal and avid fans to appear in a national television spot on CBS promoting the network's coverage of the NFL.