Archives for May 2005

‘”With everything that’s happened over the past 18 years, I got distracted and didn’t have the time,” Reed said. “I probably should’ve done it sooner. But it’s better to be late than never.”‘

‘A year from now, five seasons after his retirement, Thomas will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It says here he deserves to gain entrance on the first ballot, an honor bestowed on his college backup, Sanders.’

‘”I usually get about 20 letters a week sent to my house,” the legendary Bills’ running back said from his home in Orlando, Fla. “I don’t know how they get to my house. But I’m not kidding. I get fan mail all the time. I go onto the (Bills) Web site and see people talking about me. . . . I’ve had so much support ever since I retired from the Buffalo Bills.”‘

‘”Marv gets a lot of credit and deservedly so, and the players get a lot of credit, and I get credit,” said Polian, the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. “But make no mistake, Ralph Wilson is the guy who drove the train.”‘

‘Losman, who felt awkward being handed the Bills’ starting job instead of winning it through a training camp competition with Bledsoe, said his top priority this off-season is winning his teammates’ respect. He’s off to a very good start.’

‘Unrestricted Free Agents: LS Bradford Banta; WR Drew Haddad; OT Marcus Price; OL Mike Pucillo (not tendered as RFA); FS Izell Reese.’

‘Players have three weeks off but Mularkey has four blocks of voluntary (read mandatory) organized team activities scheduled for the last week of May and the first three weeks of June.’

‘”Obviously it’s a special time for me,” Thomas said earlier this week from his home in Orlando, Fla. “It’s one last hurrah with the Buffalo Bills fans where I can walk on the field and give my speech. It will be exciting.”‘

‘”They gave me a couple of choices,” Thomas said from his home in Atlanta, where he has a printing business and still operates his foundation. “One was Atlanta (Sept. 25) and the other was Miami (Oct. 9). “Right now I’m leaning toward Miami.”‘

‘Mularkey’s weekend of golf won’t be all play. His briefcase is never far from his side. He’s in the process of scripting every single practice and meeting. He’s up to Aug. 28. The Bills open Sept. 11 against Houston. Mularkey is scripting a win.’

‘Ferguson said today that it was stage four lymphoma and he is currently out of the hospital.’

‘Stephanie Dedeaux, spokeswoman for MD Anderson Cancer Center, said Friday that Ferguson was receiving treatment but declined further comment at Ferguson’s request.’

‘Frank Reich, best known as the backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills who led the team to the greatest comeback victory in league history, was the guest speaker at the fifth annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast held in a sprawling ballroom at the Embassy Suites.’

‘Jim McNally, the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach, will be the featured speaker at the May 19 University at Buffalo Alumni Association’s UB at Sunrise Downtown breakfast series at the Hyatt Regency.’

‘”Everybody – all of our old teammates – were worried and concerned and saying prayers for him,” said former Bills guard Joe DeLamielleure from his home in North Carolina.’