Archives for June 2004

‘Q: Last year, who was the biggest proponent and orchestrator of the blitz package: Coach Gray, Coach LeBeau, or Coach Williams? Do you see our "D" being more or less aggressive with the blitz this year?

CW: Coach Gray is definitely the orchestrator. He loves the aggressive style of play and I believe we will be just as, if not more, aggressive this year because Jerry Gray is back. Also Mike Mularkey is a firm believer in aggression on the football field, so I think we’re are going to be even tougher this year than we were last year.’

‘"If Hunter’s disease had been detected at birth through a program like newborn screening, he would have had access to life-saving treatment," Kelly said during an appearance at the new Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus at Virginia and Ellicott streets. "Children who are born with Krabbe Disease who are identified pre-systematically have had their lives saved and are now growing up and are expected to live productive lives. Unfortunately, for my son, this was not available back then."’

‘Pierson Prioleau, who started at free safety in 2002 and in four games last season, practiced at strong safety in minicamps. At 5-11, 188, he doesn’t have great size for the position, but he’s tough and physical. At strong safety, Prioleau would back up Lawyer Milloy.’

‘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."’

‘None of the players currently rated at the top of the quarterback list entering the 2004 college season has the great mobility of Losman. The top three draft prospects at quarterback currently look like Leinart (presuming he leaves USC a year early), Arizona State’s Andrew Walter and Purdue’s Kyle Orton.’

‘While the Bills’ offensive line wasn’t very good last year — "some of the plays just took too long to develop and we were asking our offensive line to protect for a long time," said Bledsoe — he believes new line coach Jim McNally is going to make a difference with his protection schemes.’

‘The latest to rejoin the NFL ranks is all-time UB great Drew Haddad, who signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, rejoining the team that drafted him in 2000 and returning to the city that has been his second home since coming to UB from Cleveland’s St. Ignatius High School in 1996.’

‘"I don’t see myself competing for the fifth wide receiver spot," Aiken said this week. "I’m competing for third, second. Those are my goals coming to the season."’

‘While with the Bulls, Haddad became the most prolific receiver in team history.’

‘One of the live games being carried by The NFL Network this summer involves the Bills. However, the 7 p.m. Aug. 15 date with Denver in Ralph Wilson Stadium will be blacked out in Western New York unless there is a sellout.’