Archives for August 9, 2002

Billy Shaw, the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to play his entire career in the AFL (1960’s incarnation), was one of nearly sixty enshrinees on hand for the 2002 Enshrinement Celebration. He arrived in town and as he sat in the museum’s front office, it was the contents of his duffel bag that made his visit extra special. Many people have been in pursuit of those items ever since the former Buffalo Bills’ all-league guard was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999. Included in the bag were the only pieces from his playing days that he still owned. They included three Buffalo Bills jerseys, an AFL All-Star jersey, his helmet, and shoes.

‘Asked if Bledsoe’s presence gives the Bengals incentive to beat the Bills, Brown didn’t hesitate. "It would be in my mind," he said. "I don’t know if the players will think much one way or the other, but I don’t know if I’ll have forgotten."’

‘Anderson said the Bledsoe controversy is "something I think for management to kind of get hot about, for reporters to write about and for fans to say, ‘We all hate Drew Bledsoe.’ Last year’s game against Baltimore was not about Elvis Grbac and this game is not going to be about Drew Bledsoe."’

‘Permitted in are fanny packs, purses and clear plastic bags (12 inches- by-12 inches or smaller), seat cushions, rain ponchos, small hand-held radios and TVs and blankets. In any case, if you’re bringing those items in, expect delays. There will be an express line, but ticket holders can’t be bringing anything into the stadium, including purses, to use that option. Fans with banned items must take them back to their vehicles or throw them away as Bills’ security will not store them.’

‘The Bengals have one of the better young defenses in the NFL and should be a big challenge for the Bills in the game in Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘"They told me that if you’re a linebacker, just go up there and work hard, do your job and the fans will love you," Robinson said after a recent Bills practice in Pittsford. "It’s a blue-collar town. You pay full price for a ticket, you want a full day’s work out of a player."’

‘Parking lots open on game days four hours before kickoff. No paneled or windowless vans or trucks will be permitted in any Bills lots.’

This is Drew Bledsoe ‘s team. That’s obvious from the moment his 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound frame comes swaggering into the huddle and takes instant command of the Buffalo Bills offense. This — like everywhere else in Western New York — is Bledsoe’s town.

‘A year ago, Gregg Williams entered his first training camp as an NFL head coach determined to put a tough, demanding, take-charge signature on the Buffalo Bills. He might have done a little bit too well in achieving his goal.’

‘"I kind of saw it coming from a couple of comments that coach Williams had made," Foreman said. "For a person who led the team in tackles and only played 60 percent of the time; for me being replaced or even talked about being replaced, I thought it was kind of weird. I wouldn’t have minded competing, but when the writing is on the wall, the writing is on the wall. I kind of knew something was going to happen. Luckily, it happened in Houston. I feel like I’m in a better place and a better organization."’

‘So while Bledsoe and just about every other starter on both sides of the ball will be relaxing on the sideline by the start of the second quarter, the big boys up front will still be banging heads with the Cincinnati Bengals, probably right up until halftime.’

‘He hears the scuttlebutt that Donahoe, who has already replaced 75 percent of Butler’s team in just two seasons, won’t be happy until it’s more like 85 or 90. Will being one of Butler’s boys hurt his chances of making the team this year?’

‘"I’ve always had very high regard for Drew Bledsoe when we had to play against him," said Levy, who visited Bills camp Wednesday afternoon. "I believe he’s 30 years old which is really a prime time in a quarterback’s career. He’s experienced, he has great work ethic, he has confidence, and I think the Bills made a magnificent off-season move being able to sign Drew."’

‘"I’m very optimistic. I think an 8-8 or maybe even 9-7 season is possible if the offensive line comes around. We’ve got to put some points on the board so the defense isn’t out there so much."’

‘Last weekend, Jim Kelly was sporting a gold jacket in pro football’s holy land. This weekend, he’ll be waving a green flag at one of American auto racing’s most storied tracks.’