‘The Bills enter the draft with a glaring weakness at wide receiver. Josh Reed showed he was better suited to fill the No. 3 role. Statistically, Drew Bledsoe was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league and the team came up empty in a bid to sign Billy Volek as its signal-caller of the future.’
Archives for March 2004
Bills Alumni Spotlight: Mark Pike
‘”I realized early that that was my meal ticket,” Pike said. “I don’t want to say we didn’t focus on our positions, but we put the extra focus to our special teams, making that as important as playing offense or defense. We prepared that way, we studied film that way, we practiced that way. Steve and I became the two leaders of the special teams for years because of that. Later in my career, half the time I felt like I was a coach. We had so many young players, I was the guy that everybody came to. Your coaches can coach you so much, but then the younger players like to talk to players who have been through it.”‘
Retooling Drew
‘The Bills are counting heavily on their new offensive scheme to allow their 32-year-old quarterback to excel. It’s a system that worked in Pittsburgh with quarterbacks Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox. “I have a different philosophy (than last year’s staff) on how to attack,” Mularkey said. “I think Tom (Clements) has the same one, which is why I feel comfortable with Tom calling the plays. He has seen it be effective. I think it improved Kordell’s play, it improved Tommy’s play. I think it will help Drew.”‘
Healthy McGahee shaking off the rust
‘”He’s been impressive,” Bills coach Mike Mularkey said. “I saw no hesitation at all with his knee. He looked very fluid and I think he built a lot of confidence in this camp. “We’re going like he is full go. To me, sometimes you can make them too conscious of it. I personally don’t ask him how he’s feeling. I let the trainers tell me. We’re trying to get him confident and it looks like he is ready.”‘
Bills are interested in Stewart with a slash
‘However, if Stewart decides to join the Bills, Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey plans to use him on selected plays as a running back or receiver. “I’m intrigued by Kordell because of some of the abilities he has to do some of the things we talk about,” Mularkey said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. “I don’t want to call it the slash role, but it’s a little bit of that. To me, when he was the most popular player in the league, that’s what he was doing best.”‘
East rivals look in mirror
‘This is Mularkey’s first year as a head coach and he admits he hasn’t done a lot of in-depth study of the teams in the division. But he has seen tapes of both of the Bills’ games against the Patriots and has a pretty good grasp on what he’s facing.’
Teague speaks to benefit Boys and Girls Club
”’You can do anything you can put your mind to,” Teague said. ”Stay focused on your goals, start now and don’t be afraid of standing up for what you believe in.”’
After bummer season, new regime gives Bledsoe new start
Can Drew still do? Does the wing that was as hot as any in Buffalo in 2002 have anything left? Or is this the end for a quarterback that has never really received the due he has deserved in his career? Time will tell, and there are seven million reasons why the Bills want an answer by late October.
Troy Vincent elected president of players’ union
Bills cornerback Troy Vincent was elected president of the NFL Players Association on Tuesday.
Drew’s demise?
The personnel people I spoke to, almost to a man, echoed the same reasons for Bledsoe’s poor 2003 season – the loss of deep-threat weapon Price, the inconsistency of the offensive line, the stubbornness of the play-calling. These factors should all be rectified by the time the season begins in September.
Bills sign lineman
‘General manager Tom Donahoe drafted the Notre Dame product in the fourth round in 1995 and was with the Steelers when head coach Mike Mularkey was on staff there. In Cincinnati, Gibson played for Bills defensive-line coach Tim Krumrie.’
Titans Caravan finishes with ‘Wycheck Day’
‘The date and time of the Titans-Bills preseason game in Buffalo has been set: Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.’
Buffalo Signs Gibson
‘Gibson has appeared in 133 games with 57 starts.’
Bears likely to add FB Johnson
‘The Bears also offered a three-year contract to guard Ruben Brown, an eight-time Pro Bowl player who was released by the Bills in a cost-cutting move. The Bears plan to start Mike Gandy at right guard but can’t resist the chance to add a player with the resume of Brown, 32, a first-round pick in 1985 who became a perennial Pro Bowl selection over his 10-year career. He was waived because he carried a $5.8 million salary-cap number for 2004. The Bills replaced him with former Bears right guard Chris Villarrial. Brown is likely to take the Bears’ offer and compare it to any other deals he receives. Brown is still talking to the Lions and Patriots.’
McGahee As Ready As Ever
‘”I’m healthy and I’m going to go out there and give it all I’ve got,” said McGahee. “Everybody gets better as the season goes on. The more you work out the better it gets.”‘