Archives for January 25, 2003

Let’s look a little closer, though. Blackmon was defensive coordinator for the 2001 Falcons, who couldn’t stop a sloth. Steckel was offensive coordinator for the 2000 Bucs, who couldn’t move the ball against the ’01 Falcons, and that helped keep Tampa Bay out of the Super Bowl until now. There’s a reason neither coach was employed in the NFL last season.

The annual tournament, held during Super Bowl week, features the NFL’s top Madden video game players. Unfortunately, Winfield and Springs were nor part of the main tournament. Winfield tried to get into the regular eight-player, single elimination tournament, but EA Sports determined he wasn’t a big enough name among player.

‘Various newspaper reports would have LeBeau assisting the defensive coordinator of either the Steelers or Bills and working with defensive backs.’

‘But LeBeau told Cowher he was not interested in returning to the team where he served as an assistant coach for five seasons (1992-96) — three as secondary coach and the final two as defensive coordinator. LeBeau is considering taking a similar position with the Buffalo Bills, where former Steelers director of football operations Tom Donahoe is team president.’

‘A day before his estranged former team plays in the Super Bowl, Marcus Allen was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Joining him in the Class of 2003 will be Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton and Hank Stram, who went in as a seniors candidate.’

‘DeLamielleure, is the most honored member of the Buffalo Bills famed "Electric Company" offensive line of the 1970s. Best known as the lead blocker for O.J. Simpson, the NFL’s first 2,000-yard rusher, Joe was a six-time Pro Bowl selection during his years with the Bills and Cleveland Browns.’

‘Three Buffalo Bills will contend today for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr., former guard Joe DeLamielleure and former receiver James Lofton are among the final 15 candidates for election.’

‘On ESPN’s sports issues program "Outside the Lines" (9:30 a.m. Sunday), Thomas tells reporter Tom Rinaldi that he lost purpose and became an alcoholic after retirement. In his first interview since rehab, Thurman tells ESPN: "I was completely out of control. I didn’t have anything to do. We were going to restaurants having dinner, and I kept excusing myself to go to the bathroom, when in reality I wasn’t going to the bathroom. I was going to the bar."’

‘The Buffalo Bills signed six free agents Friday and assigned them to NFL Europe.’

Of the 13 offensive linemen who have been elected to the Hall of Fame since 1970, DeLamielleure’s numbers are comparable or better than everybody’s but those of Anthony Munoz and John Hannah.

‘”I can’t say enough about Ralph Wilson as a leader,” he said.’

‘The Class of 2003 will be announced today and if the voters do their homework, they will tell the folks in Canton, Ohio to start casting bronze busts of “Joe D” and the man who drafted him, Ralph Wilson.’

‘Stop and appreciate just getting there. Realize this, every Bills fan that died before January 1991 never saw the Bills advance to a Super Bowl in their lifetime. The same applies in Tampa for those no longer with us as of two weeks ago. Putting it bluntly, think of Cubs fans.’

‘I can still see that ball, etched against the Florida night. Four years of Super Bowl frustration had begun for the Bills.’

‘Joe Gibbs had this problem: The Washington coach was uncertain if he could make defensive situation substitutions while Buffalo was instrumenting its no-huddle offense. Gibbs’ solution: to create in practice a replica of the Bills’ scheme with his own players, have them run the no-huddle at Buffalo’s pace, and test if he could substitute.’