Archives for June 21, 2004

‘Kelly said he will lobby lawmakers in Albany next month to improve New York’s performance. The state currently screens newborns for 12 diseases, compared to Hawaii, which screens for 48. ”New York state needs to immediately put in place a plan to provide all children with the newborn screening tests that are currently available,” he said.’

‘"I came in for a tryout with 127 other guys," said Koons of the en masse player call out. Of those 127 players Koons was the only one who got a call back from the team.’

‘The restaurant will have a sports-related theme, playing off Smith’s two-decade career as a defensive end with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.’

‘"I told them this morning and after practice they do need to get away, to be around family and friends," Mularkey said. "And I know they’re all going to work out, lift and be in condition. But the thing they need to focus on and is hard to do is stay up with the football part of it. As coaches, we’re going to stay in contact with them. Whatever it is (we do), they won’t get away from football because that level, as much as conditioning, is important and we don’t want to (lose) what we’ve accomplished to this point."’

‘The Bills’ interest in former Pittsburgh Steelers’ All-Pro LB Jason Gildon isn’t surprising – he was drafted by Buffalo GM Tom Donahoe when Donahoe was the Steelers’ director of football operations and played all during coach Mike Mularkey’s eight seasons on Pittsburgh’s offensive staff. What is odd, however, is that Gildon came in for a visit just four days after Donahoe said, "He’s not really a good fit in our defense."’

‘LB Takeo Spikes has no use for people patting him on the back for Buffalo finishing with the NFL’s No. 2 ranked defense last year. "Winning, that was the whole objective," he said. "Nobody’s going to say, ‘Man, Buffalo had the No. 2 defense in the league.’ Shoot, the first thing they mention is, ‘You were 6-10.’ That’s the only thing people remember."’