Archives for April 2004

‘"I was looking for a sixth or seventh round pick," the 305-pound, 6-5 two-year All Southland Conference tackle said. "Figured I’d go to either the Bears, Texans or 49ers. "When it didn’t happen, I still felt somehow, some way I was going to get my chance." The chance came at about 5 p.m. Sunday when his agent, Ian Greengross, called. "Professionally, hearing from my agent has to be the greatest thing that’s ever happened," Phillips continued.’

‘”One of the true signs of his character and toughness was his workout,” said Bills defensive line coach Tim Krumrie, who looks like he enjoys chewing on glass himself. “He said he’d do all of the running but the 40, he’d save that for the end. Well, we worked him really hard, and I didn’t think he’d run the 40 because he was gassed. But to his credit, he ran and ran a 4.9. He wanted to prove to everybody he could hold up.”‘

‘Jill Kelly said she wants more children, but admitted the threat of Krabbe Disease scares her. That’s where faith comes in, she said. “God uses all things for the good,” Kelly said. “I know the things that hurt us can also bless us.”‘

‘Graham took over a starting role midway through his freshman season and had 38 straight starts until he was injured as a senior. He is the school’s career leader in passes defended (interceptions, plus breakups) with 37 and finished with 12 career interceptions.’

Losman is the third Tulane quarterback drafted in the past six years, following in the footsteps of Shaun King and Patrick Ramsey. King was selected 50th overall in the second round of the 1999 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ramsey went 32nd overall to the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2002 draft.’

‘”Maybe I don’t have everything naturally like a lot of other guys do,” Anderson said. “Everything I’ve had to develop through hard work, determination, work ethic, and all those types of things.”‘

‘The Bills will take on the Titans in preseason, Saturday August 21. Aaron is excited to welcome Bo to Buffalo. “That’s good that we play Tennessee, now I have something to look forward to in preseason,” Aaron said.’

Losman will also benefit from the trio of head coach Mike Mularkey, coordinator Tommy Clements and quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche, three excellent minds and three guys whose knowledge of the position is terrific.

‘DFT Security will provide security to the Bills, the team Field House and Ralph Wilson Stadium through its electronic safety system.’

‘”I can’t let Ralph and Drew Bledsoe and Travis Henry and the rest of the guys down,” Wilson said the other night via phone from her home in Grosse Pointe, Mich. “There’s a lot riding on this.”‘

‘McFarland’s draft position may have been affected by an injured hamstring that prevented him from running the 40-yard dash for scouts, but his strength tests at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis impressed a number of people. He said he’s talked to the Bills’ strength coach and his position coach, and he departs Thursday for the team’s first minicamp.’

‘Losman had been advised to look out for Buffalo, but when the Bills took Evans, he didn’t know what to think next. “Everyone’s been telling me this Green Bay and St. Louis type thing, so I was kind of shaky, and I didn’t know. But when Buffalo traded up with Dallas, my eyes kind of opened up and my heart started pounding. Then they called my name, and it was just a sigh of relief.”‘

‘Case started every game at right guard the last two seasons for Adams State. Case was also the long snapper for his Division II college in Alamosa, CO.’

‘Losman, who says he has worn No. 7 since he was 5 years old, will be the fourth quarterback and the ninth player in Bills history to wear that number.’

New Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey had a busy first draft, selecting a wide receiver and quarterback in the first round. Here are his answers to questions on the 2004 NFL Draft.