Archives for April 25, 2006

‘Tagliabue appointed Houston, Green Bay, Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis to the committee in a memo issued around the NFL on Monday, league spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday. Aiello said two more teams, representing the league’s lower-revenue franchises, will be added soon to complete the eight-member committee. Buffalo was the first team appointed last week after Bills owner Ralph Wilson complained the new collective bargaining agreement reached last month, which added a new revenue sharing model, threatens the financial viability of his and other small-market teams.’

‘Often times a scout has just two seasons of tape to make a judgment on the player because many don’t see much playing time as true freshmen or even redshirt freshmen.’

‘It’s undoubtedly the Buffalo Bills’ most crucial draft in recent memory; the organization has faced a lot of insult and scrutiny of late, and the best balm to silence the critics is success. When’s the last time success was a word to describe the Buffalo Bills? It’s been a while.’

‘”He’s a great guy,” Cieslak said of Levy. “He’s a player’s coach and guy who’s a good person and not afraid to sit down and talk.”‘

‘Keeping it simple and choosing Ngata or Bunkley isn’t a slam-dunk move, however. Since the first combined NFL draft in 1967, Buffalo has never selected a defensive tackle in the first round and has taken a defensive end only five times. Is this the year Buffalo breaks the mold?’

‘I’m glad to see public officials and notable leaders standing up for Mr. Wilson and the Bills, and I happily march with them in a nonpartisan manner. Anyone who wants to sign my petition in support of keeping our hometown team can visit www.senatormaziarz.com.’