Archives for April 2004

‘”It is a unique situation to coach and play in Buffalo,” Levy said. “I had one coaching friend tell me, ‘Marv, no one ever wants to go to Buffalo and nobody wants to leave it.'”‘

‘The Bills have assigned cornerback Kahlil Carter, offensive lineman Jasen Esposito, linebacker Asa Francis, kicker and punter Mike Shafer, and quarterback Greg Zolman to develop in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL) this spring.’

‘Eight time Pro Bowl guard Ruben Brown is the newest member of the Chicago Bears. He agreed to three year free agent deal with the team Thursday.’

‘It seemed the perfect marriage. The Buffalo Bills have been shopping for an experienced tight end. Rochester native Roland Williams was shopping for a team.’

‘The former Buffalo Bills standout could sign as early as Friday.’

‘The 32-year-old Brown has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his last eight campaigns.’

‘Bledsoe tends to sit in the pocket and get creamed. To adapt, Mularkey wants Bledsoe to release the ball on his fifth step. “Some of that is in the design of the play,” Mularkey said. “On his fifth step, he’s got to let it go. Some of the scheme will almost force him to get the ball out of his hands quicker. I’m not going to say anything about the system or last year. I have a different philosophy on how to attack, and I think (offensive coordinator) Tom Clements has the same one, which is why I feel comfortable with Tom calling the plays. He has seen it be effective. I think it improved Kordell Stewart’s play. It improved Tommy Maddox’s play. I think it will help Drew.”‘

‘The hope is to raise $100,000 from the gala. To buy tickets for the July 23 event, call 1-877-984-HOPE.’

‘The 6-3, 304-pound Brown started 136 games with the Bills. He missed the regular season finale in 2003 due to what the club termed “personal problems.”‘

Free agent guard Ruben Brown, the eight-time Pro Bowl performer released by the Buffalo Bills last month, has agreed to join the Chicago Bears on a three-year contract.

Hunter Kelly is doing far better than anyone could have hoped. “I just never met anybody with the will he has,” Jim Kelly said today as he announced plans for the second-ever Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball in Rochester.

‘Sources said Wednesday night that the last issue involved whether the contract would be for one or three years, but it was not considered a sticking point. It’s expected that Brown will earn a salary approaching $1 million, slightly over the veteran’s minimum of $760,000.’

The Group gathers at the Native New Yorker Restaurant on Alma School road and Guadalupe road in Mesa Arizona.

‘”I know when I was a player I called my own plays and if I could hand it off to the running back, that takes a lot of pressure off the quarterback and it opens up a lot of things downfield,” Clements said. “I played most of my career in Canada and you only have three downs to get a first down, but I think every year I played I had a running back who ran for over 1,000 yards, so even in a passing league you still had to run the ball.”

‘There have been no negotiations between the Bears and Brown’s agent, Eric Metz, because it’s basically a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.’