Archives for March 2004

‘Meanwhile, free-agent tight end Mark Bruener of Pittsburgh, who was a top candidate to rejoin coach Mike Mularkey in Buffalo, signed with Houston. That may open the door for Rochester’s Roland Williams, who visited with Bills coaches last week. But as of Monday, the former East High and Syracuse star who earned a Super Bowl ring with St. Louis still had not heard from the Bills regarding a contract offer.’

‘It looked as if the Titans would lose Volek, who also received an offer from the Falcons and said he was ”pretty close” to signing there after making a second trip earlier this month. But Volek said at the beginning of the process he wanted to return to the Titans. His four-year deal is worth roughly $7 million, though that number will increase significantly if the option is exercised to include the 2008 season.’

‘Volek and the Titans agreed in principle to a four-year deal Monday night that will keep the backup quarterback in Tennessee after he had serious overtures from both the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills, as well as visits to the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. The deal, worth a reported $6.8 million, contains an option bonus in the third year that could trigger a fifth contract year. That would push the contract value to around $12 million.’

Offered more money by the Atlanta Falcons and the chance for more playing time by the Buffalo Bills, much coveted unrestricted free agent quarterback Billy Volek has opted to return to the Tennessee Titans instead, ESPN.com has learned. Late Monday night, Steve McNair’s backup signed a four-year, $6.8 million contract with an option for a fifth season.

‘Free-agent Ruben Brown, a veteran of nine NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills and eight Pro Bowls, will visit Halas Hall because, a source said, he is “intrigued” with the idea of playing for coach Lovie Smith and likes the direction of the Bears. Brown has the same team of agents as newly signed right tackle John Tait, and the Bears will offer Brown the chance to line up next to Tait at right guard.’

‘Although the 6-foot-3, 304-pound Brown was voted to the Pro Bowl for the eighth straight time this past season, the 32-year-old former first-round draft pick is considered to be on the down side of a brilliant career.’

‘The Bears will continue looking at improving their offensive line through free agency today when former Buffalo Bills left guard Ruben Brown visits Halas Hall to talk with team officials.’

‘Brown’s status with the Bills had been in question since last December when he did not travel to New England for the season finale. The team announced that he missed the game for personal reasons but did not reveal any details. Eric Metz, Brown’s agent, told The Associated Press that his client was prohibited from playing because he had been late for a practice in the week leading up to the game. “I don’t want people thinking this is something that it’s not,” Metz said at the time. “One isolated, very small mistake shouldn’t damage what has been and will continue to be a very great career.”‘

* Multiple sources confirmed that Giants owner Wellington Mara called Bills owner Ralph Wilson before Jim Fassel interviewed with Buffalo. Mara and Wilson have been friends for years, and Mara wanted to warn Wilson of Fassel’s ‘occasional questionable’ off-field behavior that had embarrassed New York management at times during Fassel’s tenure.

‘This season the Bills will have their home preseason games first instead of the final two weeks.’

‘Week 1 – August 12-16: Denver at Buffalo

Week 2 – August 19-23: Tennessee at Buffalo

Week 3 – August 26-30: Buffalo at Indianapolis

Week 4 – September 2-5: Buffalo at Detroit.’

‘With the team’s first veteran camp coming up Wednesday, Director of Physical Development Rusty Jones along with new strength and conditioning coach Brad Roll have Monday and Tuesday to limber up the players. “The main focus on Monday and Tuesday is to get them used to the new procedures under the new coaching staff,” said Jones. “We’ll try to get them ready for the camp with stretching, and avoid situations in the minicamp by getting them hydrated, getting their carbohydrates and glycogen levels up, so they’re ready.”‘

‘After almost three months on the job, new Bills coach Mike Mularkey will get the first on-field look at his team when he conducts a three-day veteran’s mini-camp starting Wednesday, March 24.’

‘The hard-working Teague figures to excel under the tutelage of McNally. He was the only Buffalo lineman to start all 16 games last season. His agent, Kyle Rote, said the team has not informed him of plans to shift Teague from center, but he’s prepared for any type of change McNally may scheme up.’

‘Bills TE Ryan Neufeld, who played in NFL Europe for the Rhein Fire, is serving as tight ends coach for the team during that league’s training camp. “I wanted to see if coaching was something I eventually wanted to go into and so far I’ve really enjoying it,” Neufeld said. “I don’t think there’s a better situation to learn than to be thrown into a training camp at this level.”‘