Archives for March 30, 2004

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.

‘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.’

‘The date and time of the Titans-Bills preseason game in Buffalo has been set: Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.’

‘Gibson has appeared in 133 games with 57 starts.’

‘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.’

‘”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.”‘

‘He’ll sign a reported two year deal.’

"We’d never say because somebody is a safety that makes him less valuable," Bills general manager Tom Donahoe says. "It’s not inconceivable that a safety or tight end could be the first guy in the draft, because for us, it’s strictly a matter of evaluating the guy’s skill."