Archives for July 2004

‘This select day of training camp is scheduled for Wednesday, August 25 on the St. John Fisher College campus. Youth Day will consist of a variety of exciting football-related activities tailored for youngsters with special needs.’

‘"I recently had the pleasure to meet with Coach Mularkey who expressed his excitement about returning to Pittsford. Our annual Rally is a great kickoff for a successful training camp and gives the players, the coaches, and the fans an opportunity to share the buzz about the start of a new season," said Town Supervisor Bill Carpenter.’

‘The Buffalo Bills Pep Rally is set for Saturday, July 31 at 5:30PM.’

‘Evans is expected to challenge for a starting spot with Josh Reed. He adds the speed dimension this team didn’t have last season after Eric Moulds got hurt.’

‘The Bills are looking to groom Losman as the possible replacement to starter Drew Bledsoe. Buffalo was so enthroned with Losman that the club gave up three draft picks, including a first-rounder next year, in a deal with Dallas to trade up in the first round.’

‘Evans set a career school record at Wisconsin with 175 catches for 3,468 yards and 26 touchdowns, while averaging 19.92 yards a reception — second only to Tony Simmons.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, wide receiver Lee Evans. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has signed the 22nd overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, quarterback JP Losman. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.’

‘Bonuses will give Losman 5.586-million of guaranteed money. Incentives could max the deal out at 24.58-million dollars.’

‘Losman and Evans each received five-year contracts.’

The host Buffalo Bills are a 3-point favorite over Jacksonville on Sunday, Sept. 12. It probably is a good break for the Bills to catch the young and improving Jaguars so early in the season.

Losman, a quarterback out of Tulane selected 22nd overall, signed the contract at the Bills headquarters in Orchard Park and was to report to training camp in suburban Rochester later in the day, Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said. The Bills’ first practice is Sunday. The deal includes a $5.6 million signing bonus and could be worth as much as $24.5 million if Losman meets all his incentives.’

Quarterback J.P. Losman, the heir apparent to Drew Bledsoe’s starting job in Buffalo, reached contract agreement with the Bills on Saturday, fulfilling the charge of the former Tulane star to his agent to complete a deal that would get him into camp on time. Losman was the second of the Bills’ two choices in the first round of the 2004 draft, and Buffalo had to trade up into Dallas’ spot at No. 22, sacrificing their first-round pick in ’05, to get him. Buffalo chose wide receiver Lee Evans, who is still unsigned, with their own pick in the first round, the 13th overall selection. General manager Tom Donahoe, who remains unafraid to make bold moves even in the face of occasional criticism, obviously feels Losman represents the team’s future. The contract is for five years and has a base value of $7.7 million, with $5.586 million of that in guarantees, largely an initial signing bonus and two option bonuses. The contract can top out, with escalators, at $24.58 million

‘”We like our team,” said Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe. “We think we have a team that has a lot of ability. We’re enthused about the new coaches that we’ve added and also about the ability to retain some very good coaches from the previous staff, so there’s no reason not to be optimistic.”‘

‘"I was fortunate enough to win a championship in New England," he said. "I also know what it’s like to lose one. I’m not into predicting records or anything like that. We just need to believe in ourselves and focus on the tasks at hand. The rest will fall into place."’