Archives for March 24, 2005

‘Haslett said they introduced a former Bill and USFL lineman to "the pill" and he went from 270 pounds to 305. Haslett called him probably one of the all time greatest players in Bills history. He did not name the player. Kent Hull told Leo Roth of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that the accusation is false and he may have to give Haslett a call. Hull says he’s never weighed 300 pounds in his life and he resents the implication by Haslett.’

‘"So did I get a raw deal? To a certain extent. There was a shift in philosophy that didn’t include helping out the quarterback. It does bother me that a lot of the blame for our lack of success was placed right on my shoulders. But I’m never going to be one of those guys who say that I’m being treated unfairly when I’m playing a game for a living. It didn’t work out and am I unhappy about that? Yeah. But I’ll never say they did me wrong."’

‘"Everybody wanted an advantage, so you tried it. I tried it. Everybody tried it," Haslett said.’

‘Haslett played in Buffalo from 1979 to 1985, and finished his career in 1987 with the New York Jets. He said he used steroids for one season early in his career. ”It started, really, in Pittsburgh. They got an advantage on a lot of football teams. They were so much stronger (in the) ’70s, late ’70s, early ’80s,” Haslett said. ”They’re the ones who kind of started it.”’

”’I know he’s frustrated,” Mularkey told reporters during the NFL owners meetings in Hawaii this week. ”We have done everything we can to really honor his request for a trade. … If it doesn’t happen, Travis has a contract with us and is required to be here when camps come around. But I think there’s still time.”’

‘”I didn’t think it (steroids) was very good for you,” Haslett told the Los Angeles Times. “I was hyper all the time. Got bloated, a fat face. But if you didn’t (take steroids), you weren’t as strong as everybody else, you weren’t as fast as everybody else.”‘

‘”I have never weighed 300 pounds in my freaking life, even now when I’m retired,” Hull said.’

‘The Cardinals are offering left tackle L.J. Shelton, but the Bills apparently don’t feel they are getting a fair exchange with the player-for-player deal. Green is intrigued by Henry’s skills. "I think he’s tough as hell," Green said. "He’s got exceptional balance, which allows a guy to get a lot of yardage. He’s smart but powerful, compact, very difficult to tackle. I think he’s a good player."’

‘"We were really pleased that they wanted to come play for us," Tice said. "Of course, Ted was instrumental in a lot of that because these guys want to come back and play for Ted again."’

‘Maybe the Bills can do better than Shelton, who fell out of favor with Arizona coach Dennis Green last season. But if they can’t, getting something for Henry would be better than nothing. Which is exactly what they got for Bledsoe.’

‘He described the introduction of steroids by the Bills to one of their new teammates in the 1980s. "I played with a guy who came into the league, he came out of the USFL," Haslett said. "He was 270, and he would never have made our team if he didn’t get up to 300. The linemen got him together, got him a little supplemental pill for the week and he got up to about 305 and made our team. And he’s probably one of the all-time great players in Bills history. He was a great player." While his description fits former Bills center Kent Hull, Haslett would not name him. Hull joined the Bills from the USFL New Jersey Generals in 1986 and played 11 seasons in Buffalo.’

‘According to an N.F.L. official, the Buffalo Bills were the only franchise that voted against New York.’

‘After being drafted in the second round of the 1979 NFL draft by Buffalo, Haslett was voted The Associated Press defensive rookie of the year. He played eight seasons with the Bills, earning All-Pro honors in 1981. While acknowledging the dangers of steroids, Haslett said he increased his bench press by 40 pounds during the weeks he was using steroids and didn’t need as much recovery time between lifting sessions.’

‘Crennel says with so many new players, he has too much to teach in a short time.’

‘Forget that late-season playoff run, the Bills have taken a step back.’