‘That turned out to be a lucrative investment for Hunt, Adams and Ralph Wilson. Their teams (today Hunt has the Kansas City Chiefs, Adams the Tennessee Titans, and Wilson the Buffalo Bills) are now worth more than $500 million apiece. But Hunt, Adams and Hilton (who owned the Chargers) and the other owners were called "The Foolish Club" when the AFL began operations.’
BillsBeat - March 29, 2001
CNNSI.com's 2001 NFL Mock Draft
‘[In caae you missed it] Here is our third Mock Draft of the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, compiled by a panel of seven CNNSI.com "draftniks."… Buffalo Bills: Damione Lewis DT Miami (Fla.). Bills need a replacement for departed NT Washington.’
Making plans for NFL realignment
‘Seven plans under consideration for realignment when Houston rejoins the NFL for the 2002 season. There are other plans also under consideration.’
League extends replay through '03 season
‘The league voted Wednesday to extend the current replay system through the end of the 2003 season. One reason given: the league could make adjustments to replay without having to worry about the system being approved.’
Good call by league to step up QB protection
‘Next season, the referee will be the QB’s guardian angel. The league will instruct referees to consider disqualifying a defender for a flagrant foul against a quarterback. “If in doubt about a roughness call or a potentially dangerous tactic on the quarterback, the referee should always call roughing the passer,” according to the rulebook.’
Christie, Flutie reunite?
‘The San Diego Chargers are one of a handful of teams that have shown interest in Christie, a placekicker who became an unrestricted free agent last month when the Bills did not re-sign him.’
Erik Flowers answers fan e-mails
"I know that I will have a larger impact this season because I didn’t play that much last year. The 4-3 is what I have played in my whole life and that is what I am used to playing. I feel that I can do so much more in that style of defense…"
2001 PRESEASON NATIONAL TV SCHEDULE
‘An 11-game preseason national television schedule featuring rematches of two recent Super Bowls and an American Bowl in Mexico City was announced by the National Football League. [No Buffalo games are scheduled]’
QB showdown
‘Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie had a not-so-friendly rivalry while competing for the quarterback position in Buffalo until Flutie was released and signed with San Diego. The teams will meet next season. "Yeah, I’m looking forward to it," said Johnson, the former USC quarterback. "This will definitely be a [big] game for many reasons. It’s a game everyone will star or circle on their calendars. "They’ll probably put it on Monday night even though neither of us made the playoffs."
Donahoe leaves bitterness behind
‘Donahoe’s path eventually led to Miami and a temporary consultant’s job with the Dolphins, to ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Conn., and in January, to Buffalo where the Bills doubled his salary to $1 million and tripled his responsibilities by making him president and general manager.’
BillsBeat - March 28, 2001
Bills express interest in signing former Titan
‘Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams said Tuesday he would be interested in pursuing former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Josh Evans if and when Evans is reinstated from a year-long substance abuse suspension this spring or summer.’
Bills seeing few thorns in prickly realignment
‘The league will change from its current six-division setup to eight, four-team divisions in 2002. It remains likely that Buffalo, Miami, the New York Jets and New England will stay in the AFC East. Indianapolis almost surely will move out.’
Seahawks or Chargers could be headed to NFC
"The NFC East and Central and the AFC East and West seem pretty well set," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said as he unveiled seven of the dozen or so plans under consideration. "The more difficult decisions are in the others."
Less Bulk in Defense Ends
"We don’t worry about if an end holds up against the run because you can always put more bodies in the box to coverup for a smaller guy,” says Bills coach Gregg Williams, who had great success with Kearse when he was the Titans’ defensive coordinator. "But if he has true defensive end speed, that’s something you can’t coach.”
Sam Rogers - forgotten free agent
‘[NOTE: Sam Rogers was an OLB not an ILB] ILB — Sam Rogers, Bills. He was good enough to start for a good team for five years.’