Archives for July 2000

‘Come the end of next month, Fisher will be assigned to a transportation unit with the 59th Squadron in Fayetteville, N.C. In the meantime, the Bills seventh-round pick from the 1999 draft is hoping to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff. "They are more concerned with getting ready the players who can help them this season, and I understand that completely," Fisher says. "I just hope to do enough to convince them that I’m worth a serious look next summer when, hopefully, I’ll be free of my military obligations and able to do this full-time."’

‘The Bills originally had been scheduled for a morning walk-through and an afternoon practice, but Wade Phillips gave the team the morning off from work on the field. Rob Johnson missed the afternoon session. He wasn’t even on the field . . .’

‘This year, the Bills are preparing to give McDaniel more work — behind Moulds and Price — after dropping receivers Andre Reed, Kevin Williams and Kamil Loud in the off-season.’

‘Johnson has now missed three practices since catching the bug sometime last weekend. He’s lost some weight and is still on fluids, and the Bills aren’t exactly sure when he’ll be ready to return. "He’s awfully sick," coach Wade Phillips said. "Maybe we should’ve taken him out before he got as sick as he was. But hopefully, he’ll be back tomorrow."’

‘Syracuse University football coach Paul Pasqualoni was saddened when he heard news of David Byrd’s departure from Bills camp. "Obviously, David’s doing what he feels is best for David to do and for his family," said Pasqualoni while attending Bills camp Tuesday. The Bills signed the former Syracuse defensive back as a free agent last April. After participating in the team’s two minicamps and the first two practices at training camp, Byrd failed to show up on Sunday, informing team officials that he wasn’t coming back. The Bills plan to waive him.’

‘Columbia football coach Ray Tellier likes to compare Marcellus Wiley with Mark Messier, the NHL superstar. "He was probably the loudest and most entertaining player we’ve ever had here," Tellier says. "He was just an unbelievable leader. He just took care of everything. Messier, he was that kind of leader for us on a smaller scale."’

‘The Bills’ star left guard reported to training camp in the greatest shape of his life. He lost 40 pounds since last season, dropping from 325 to 285. "When I got here, he was wearing a Dr. J jersey," said Brown’s agent, Eric Metz, referring to basketball great Julius Erving. "And the thing is, he looked like Dr. J." Metz was joking, but there’s no exaggerating how good Brown looks. "I feel great, and I’m really enthusiastic about this season," Brown said.’

‘There isn’t much argument about where the team’s chief vulnerability lies. Two starting members of the secondary, cornerback Thomas Smith and free safety Kurt Schulz, were lured away by free agent dollars. Backup safety Manny Martin was not re-signed. Cornerback Reggie Durden of Florida State came to Pittsford unheralded, but everyone in this camp is talking about him. Safety Nick Ferguson, fresh from the champion Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, also turned heads. As of Tuesday afternoon’s practice, so did Quincy Coleman, who made a diving interception of a Doug Flutie pass and came right back with a nifty breakup of another pass on the next down. That’s convenience.’

‘Flowers will receive a $400,000 base salary this year, followed by base salaries of $500,000, $600,000, $700,000 and $800,000, according to figures obtained by The News. The Bills created about $200,000 of extra room under the salary cap that helped them sign Flowers by restructuring the contract of running back Antowain Smith. Smith has two years remaining on the original five-year contract he signed with the Bills. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2001 season. As with most restructured contracts, Smith will receive the same amount of money he was scheduled to earn. The Bills converted some of his base salary this season into bonus money, some of which they can count toward next year’s cap.’

‘The sponsoring businesses are taking advantage of the opportunities, rolling out new products and offering one-of-a-kind discounts to the crowd. "This is an excellent opportunity to build our brand in our home markets and give us exposure where we haven’t had it before," said Randall L. Scroger, regional manager for Heluva Good Cheese Inc. "The Bills are a legendary thing in western New York and we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary, so we think it’s a natural tie-in."’

‘”My sense is we’re doing well,” Mayor Frank A. Pagano said Friday. “We have a large tourist industry, and the Buffalo Bills were only a small part of that. The economic impact is negligible. But maybe it was more a sense of pride that’s gone. We saw that `Fredonia’ byline in the papers every night. That’s what it was, a sense of pride.”‘

‘"I was satisfied with the second half of last year, but I didn’t think I was given the opportunity to do more in the first half," he said. "As the season progressed the coaches started using me more and I was producing and I felt a lot more confident in what I could do." This season Reed is gone, Price is the full-time starter, and expectations are high that he and Moulds can become a dynamic duo with strong-armed quarterback Rob Johnson zinging them the ball. "I know Rob expects me to get deep and I expect him to throw it deep," said Price. "That’s the game I like, throw the ball deep, air it out."’

‘Larry Felser, longtime columnist for the Buffalo News, isn’t too impressed by the Bills’ new training facility at St. John Fisher College. In yesterday’s editions, Felser took some shots at the team’s new digs.’

‘There will be some new noon time entertainment starting today. All of the attractions will be near the main concession tent, adjacent to the grass practice fields. Jazzbo the Clown will entertain children of all ages from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and all next week. Scooter the Clown will appear from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow and Friday. Face painting will be available from noon to 4 p.m. daily. The music of Rich Cooley will serenade guests while they eat lunch on the Alumni Terrace at Growney Stadium.’

‘For the past two years, Sam Cowart and John Holecek have been a dynamic duo as inside linebackers in the Bills’ defensive scheme. With Holecek plugging holes, and Cowart going after the ball or holding back to play the pass, the two have provided a unique one-two punch. They are a key reason why the Bills are one of the few remaining teams to play a 3-4 set on most downs, and they played a major role in why the Bills finished with the top-ranked defense last year.’