Archives for April 5, 2014

‘Now he is engaged in a battle for his own life. The Hall of Famer has fans and friends from his football career who are pulling for him. He also has fans who see him as a good man who has embraced this community and been one of its finest ambassadors. He has walked among us, greeting all and cheerfully signing autographs. He has become one of us, one of the finest among us. Our prayers are with Jim and Jill Kelly, their daughters and other family members.’

‘That’s one of many insights regarding the future of the Bills franchise shared by this expert adviser on team acquisitions and stadium development, who is based on the Atlantic seaboard.’

‘However, as the Star has reported, the Jon Bon Jovi-led effort to purchase an NFL franchise – preferably the Bills – continues to go forward. The likeliest majority investors are still MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum and/or Rogers’ heir Edward Rogers.’

‘The draft pick is an incredibly light price for a wide receiver that has caught at least 60 passes and collected at least 771 yards in all three of his healthy NFL seasons. He played only six games this past year and underwent surgery for a hamstring injury, catching 22 passes for 216 yards. Williams has a four-year total of 2,947 yards on 215 receptions.’

Bucs trade WR Williams to Bills for draft pick (Tampa Tribune)

Right move, Bucs. Now get a receiver (Tampa Tribune)

Bucs trade Mike Williams to Buffalo (Tampa Bay Times)

Bucs Trade Williams to Bills for Draft Pick (Lakeland Ledger)

Bucs Trade WR Williams to Bills (Buccaneers.com)

‘”I am definitely not well enough to be here,” Kelly told the Daily News during a break in the second quarter. “But I brought my daughter and that’s the main thing. I’ll do anything for her, and my wife’s here also.”‘

‘The Bills will send a sixth-round pick in next month’s draft to Tampa Bay in exchange for the four-year veteran, pending a physical.’

‘Doctors will wait two to three months following Kelly’s chemotherapy and radiation treatments to determine if he needs surgery.’

‘It’s a homecoming for Williams, who grew up in Buffalo and played at Syracuse under current Bills coach Doug Marrone.’

‘”With regard to our time at Syracuse, I feel that is in the past for both of us,” said Marrone on the Bills’ website. “Mike has an opportunity to get a fresh start to his career here in his hometown and regain his form as a productive player in the National Football League.”‘

‘Marrone kicked Williams off the team in 2010 after getting into a car accident after the team’s curfew. He was also suspended for academic reasons in 2008.’

‘Prior to last season, the Bucs gave Williams a six-year contract extension worth $40.25 million. According to WGR’s Joe Buscaglia, the Bills will owe Williams his $1.2 million base salary and $600,000 roster bonus, totaling a cap hit of $1.8 million in 2014. If Buffalo wanted to walk away, they could do so without any financial obligations if they release him ahead of the third day of the new league year in 2015.’

‘”Mike Williams is a competitive, tough wide receiver who has the size and athleticism to add competition to our receiver position group,” said head coach Doug Marrone. “We feel Mike is a player who has the ability to help our team improve.”‘

‘An elite tight end prospect along with a pass rusher and power back were the most recent pre-draft visitors of the Bills Friday.’