Archives for March 2008

‘He said he is paid by 97 Rock’s owner as the voice of the Bills. He acknowledged the team paid him to do Levy’s former show, which isn’t expected to return, as part of Channel 7’s role as the official station of the Bills. He confirmed the Bills also paid him to work the Combine. “I wasn’t working for anyone then,” said Murphy.’

‘Having worked Buffalo Bills radio broadcasts since 1994, including the past four seasons as the play-by-play announcer, Murphy said he was committed to staying in Western New York. “I had a chance to step back and take a look at things,” Murphy said. “Nothing appealed to me as much as being a sportscaster.”‘

‘Five weeks after some of the most powerful figures in Canadian sports appeared together to promote the National Football League’s eight-game foray into Toronto, fewer than 20,000 people have registered to join the queue for tickets.’

‘Butler got the opportunity to intern with former Bills quarterback and former New York Congressman Jack Kemp this winter at his Washington D.C. office where he’s head of Kemp Partners, a strategic consulting firm.’

‘"The Voice of the Buffalo Bills", John Murphy joins Western New York’s #1 News leader. He will begin broadcasting tonight and will help Paul Peck, Robin Adam and the rest of News4 the sports team.’

‘Although the 6-foot-3, 216-pound Johnson possesses the size Buffalo needs in a complementary receiver to play opposite the small, speedy Lee Evans, there’s no reason to confuse the former with an in-his-prime Eric Moulds.’

‘Wire, a six-year, safety/linebacker and onetime Cedar Cliff High School standout, was released last month from the Buffalo Bills. He said he’s optimistic about the future but stopped short of making career predictions. “In life, there will always be obstacles but … life is what you make of it,” said Wire, 29.’

‘Put yourself in Evans’ shoes. He’s in a pass offense that has ranked in the bottom six in the NFL five years in a row. Would you really want to hitch your wagon to the Bills for another five or six years without seeing some concrete evidence – on the field in some regular-season games – that the Buffalo attack is going to escape from this black hole?’

‘But New England likely will win the AFC East and there probably will be at least five other AFC teams that are better than Buffalo.’

‘The Bills were hoping to find a veteran receiver to start opposite Lee Evans. They were among the teams interested in Johnson, who was the best available receiver on the free agent market. He visited Buffalo almost two weeks ago, and expressed a desire to play here. But the fact he left town without a deal would seem to indicate the Bills either had reservations about Johnson or his asking price was too high.’

‘There are some other fullbacks worth pursuing in the draft — Jehuu Caulcrick from Michigan State, for instance — but if the Bills are committed to truly improving the position, they’ll take an early look at Hillis and Schmitt, both of whom will likely be taken between the third and fourth rounds.’

‘Defensive end James Hall visited One Bills Drive. He’s a 31-year-old, eight-year veteran who would be a situational pass rusher if he signed with the Bills.’

‘The Bills won the Courtney Anderson sweepstakes. Too bad it was a sweepstakes of one. Buffalo signed the fifth-year free agent tight end to a two-year contract to boost their 31st-ranked passing game. At 6-feet-7, Anderson is a tall target who could be a useful weapon in the red zone if he can realize his potential and new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert devises ways to use him. Otherwise, he’s just another body that may or may not even make the final 53-man roster.’

‘Arizona’s Bryant Johnson is still on the Bills’ radar but it’s almost certain they will spend the No. 11 pick in the draft on a wideout.’

‘The Bills will be in attendance at the Pro Day of Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who didn’t run at the Scouting Combine or the Sooners’ Pro Day due to a thigh injury. Kelly will work out for scouts on April 9. According to buffalobills.com, the Bills are scheduled for 120 college Pro Days this spring leading up to April’s draft. New COO Russ Brandon, who has no experience in scouting for a living, will be on the road some with lead scout Tom Modrak learning the ropes. "He knows what we’re doing, but to get a good look at some of these guys will be beneficial to him on draft weekend," Modrak said.’