Archives for April 17, 2004

‘And Donahoe doesn’t buy the argument that young players could be stashed on a roster as they learn and mature. “I don’t totally agree with it, if that’s what somebody’s thinking,” he said. “When you have a 53-man roster, you’d like to think all those guys can play. You may need them at some time during the year. To have two to four guys who are redshirts … you’d be scared to death to put them in a game. I don’t think too many coaches want to be in that situation.”‘

Mike Williams, with his very average speed and a good, but far-from-great workout, might linger on the board even longer. Most personnel men now have him going somewhere in the teens, with No. 13 Buffalo said to be zeroing in him.

New England at Buffalo, Week 4 — Both teams will be coming off the dreaded Week 3 bye as they play their first AFC East division game of the season.

“There’s nothing wrong with Lee Evans,” Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Tom Modrak said. “I like Lee Evans a lot. The kid can catch and run.” Modrak, a scout since 1973, was asked to consider the first wide receiver selected in the last 10 drafts and compare them to Evans. In chronological order, the list included Charles Johnson (17th overall pick), Michael Westbrook (4), Keyshawn Johnson (1), Ike Hilliard (7), Kevin Dyson (16), Torry Holt (6), Peter Warrick (4), David Terrell (8), Donte’ Stallworth (13) and Charles Rogers (2). According to Modrak, he’d take Evans over five, he’d take four of the top picks over Evans and one was too close for him to call.

"Based on what occurred last year, the consensus was that (the restricted market) would be pretty active, but that hasn’t been the case," said Buffalo Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe. "It’s moved back to how it was before (2003)."