Archives for April 23, 2002

‘Buffalo’s trade for Bledsoe is another reason why the NFL’s prime-time TV decisions should be made after draft weekend. The Bills suddenly have the potential to be a far more competitive and entertaining team this season.’

”’I think you’re always motivated to play at the highest possible level, and that won’t change,” said Bledsoe. ”This is a great opportunity for me to be a starting player again and resume my career. I get to do it in a terrific setting. It’s a great opportunity to show I’m at the top of my game. And I want that more than anything.”’

”’Let me say this. If New England let us talk to him before the deal, we would have given them more than we did. He is going to make a terrific impact on our team and this city. We’ve been selling tickets ever since the trade was announced.”’

‘Though Patriots director of player personnel Scott Pioli spent several weeks trying to negotiate a Drew Bledsoe deal with more than one team, including the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills were the only ones who made an actual offer.’

‘“I am eager to get to Buffalo over the next few days to meet my new teammates and to look for a place to live. And, on the field, I could not be more enthusiastic about jumping into the next phase of my career and contributing to the success of the Buffalo Bills."’

‘This reporter was a guest on a Buffalo sports talk radio station yesterday morning. Opinion there was unanimous. Acquiring Bledsoe was the first stroke of good luck for the Bills franchise since Scott Norwood’s kick went wide right in Super Bowl XXV. Not “Hey, maybe with Bledsoe, we won’t stink” luck, mind you, but the “Lombardi Trophy, here we come” variety.’

‘One thing’s for sure. By December 8, we’ll have a much better idea whether Bledsoe has anything left, and if Tom Brady still has it.’

‘In a frank talk from his Montana home yesterday, Bledsoe’s father declined to talk about Bill Belichick, but he spoke of how much his son was looking forward to playing for the Bills, and, more than anything, stressed that Drew Bledsoe appreciated New England and knows that it appreciated him.’

‘In a conversation with The Boston Globe yesterday, Bledsoe said, "I’ve taken the high road, and that’s the way it’s going to end. I’m not going to say anything bad about anyone."’

‘"I’m really excited about it," said Eric Moulds, the Bills’ best receiver. "I feel like we’re a legit contender. Not just a contender to win a division. But we’re looking for bigger things right now."’

‘Here is what one pro personnel director, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about Bledsoe: "He’s just one of those guys that looked like he went as far as he could go with New England. There was something about Brady that sparked that team, and Bledsoe didn’t have it. He is the classic drop-back quarterback and he has good vision. There is no question he has some years left, but his best years are behind him."’

‘"Early last season he was struggling, but so was their entire offense," Donahoe, a former Steelers director of operations, said yesterday. "They went back to running more conventional things that they had done in the past. I thought he really stepped up and made a lot of plays. He’s smart. We like his arm, and we like his ability to run an offense."’

‘Mattingly, a former All-State linebacker from St. Xavier High School, signed as a long snapper with Buffalo. He said the Bills told him there was a chance they might draft him in the seventh round, but they took linebacker Dominique Stevenson. ”I just wanted to go to a team that wanted me and not have my agent calling around and begging,” Mattingly said.’

‘Linebacker Trev Faulk, offensive lineman Dwayne Pierce, wide receiver Ed Dangerfield and safety Ryan Clark have signed free-agent contracts, according to an LSU news release. Faulk signed with the Denver Broncos, while Pierce and Clark are headed to the New York Giants and Dangerfield will join former LSU teammate Josh Reed with the Buffalo Bills.’

Is it fair to count Drew Bledsoe? I mean, the deal was done on a draft day. But my gosh, look at the help they’re giving him — Mike Williams, 375 pounds of tackle, and Josh Reed, the Fred Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver who could have been a first rounder. They got him in Round 2. Their second pick in the same round, Ryan Denney, is a 6-foot-7 DE with great potential. Coy Wire in the third round is a good, sturdy, Adam Archuleta-type safetyman. Hell of a draft to go with the big trade. Grade … A