Archives for March 2004

‘The Bengals have targeted the defensive secondary as an area of need this offseason, and Vincent, who turns 33 in June, was highest on their wish list. Taylor, 30, despite missing 10 weeks last season with a strained foot suffered in the season opener, wasn’t far behind. He has a trip set to visit Washington on Thursday and is still contemplating taking a look at Dallas.’

‘Vincent also might have simply accepted the best financial offer. Financial terms of the Bills’ contract and the Chiefs’ offer were unavailable, but Vermeil said last week Vincent would have competed with Eric Warfield and Dexter McCleon for a starting job, indicating the Chiefs may not have offered starter’s money.’

‘The Bills, who also wrapped up a deal with free agent cornerback Troy Vincent yesterday, were a late entry in the negotiations for Volek, but they were serious enough to have contacted Staninger at least three times yesterday.’

‘As for Volek, who has a three-year offer on the table from the Falcons, agent Ken Staninger told The City Paper that only Tennessee and Atlanta had made proposals to his client.’

‘Vincent’s agent Linda Bodley told The Associated Press her free-agent client agreed to a six-year deal, choosing Buffalo ahead of two other teams — Cincinnati and Kansas City — that had courted him. “He’s relieved that he’s finally made a decision,” Bodley said. “And with any of the three teams he couldn’t go wrong. He’s very pleased.”’

‘Barring an offseason move, Teague will continue centering a line that is bookended by emerging tackles Mike Williams and Jonas Jennings. The Bills bolstered their right guard position by signing Chris Villarrial earlier this month.’

‘Vincent, a five-time Pro Bowl player and until Monday arguably the premier defender still available in free agency, chose the Bills over proposals made by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs. He considered the offers during the weekend and after visiting with the Chiefs coaches and officials last week, and had promised all a decision by Monday.’

The Bills picked up the two-year option on center Trey Teague, giving him a $2 million option bonus. Teague is now signed through the 2005 season. By picking up the option, the Bills are retaining the final two years and $5.75 million of his contract.

‘He stopped into town as part of his free agency tour, but left early Monday.’

‘The deal, expected to be for six years and $20 million, including a $3.6 million bonus, should be announced shortly.’

‘Once a starter over a younger David Carr at Fresno State, Volek has indicated that he would like to land a starting job or be in position to take over as a starter at some point in the future. He has reportedly visited the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers in addition to talking with the Titans about staying in Tennessee.’

‘Volek did not make himself available to the media following his visit, and the Bills did not comment other than to say that he arrived in Buffalo on Sunday and met with the team’s coaches and management.’

The Titans signed Volek as an undrafted free agent on April 18, 2000

‘”Since the day I watched Bryant McKinnie make mincemeat out of Dwight Freeney in a Miami-Syracuse game last fall, I thought McKinnie was the type of franchise tackle any team would love. I don’t think Mike Williams is as good, though he’s certainly a good player. But to get Bledsoe for next year’s No. 1 — that makes the weekend worthwhile. It’s true that Bledsoe over the past four seasons has morphed into an everyday quarterback, but that’s better than the Bills had. Now, with Bledsoe and Alex Van Pelt under center, the Bills should be at least a 9-7 team this fall.”‘

“The acquisition of Lawyer was a shock at first,” Wire said. “I was really looking forward to the season because I felt I really improved from my first season playing defensive back.”