Archives for February 2003

February 18, 1997 – BILLS MAKE A TRADE FOR A QB

The Buffalo Bills made a trade to upgrade the depth at QB by trading their third-round pick in the 1997 draft to the Oakland Raiders for Billy Joe Hobert.

So that's why this week I'm dusting off the bookshelf and sharing with you some of my favorite Buffalo Bills-related books. Maybe they'll help fill in the news gaps during the coming months.

This list is not comprehensive, but it is close. Most of these books can be found at a library or through online booksellers. Some of them are still available at bookstores, too.

‘It has leaked out that both coordinators have had their contracts extended through the 2004 season, while Williams is still a lame duck as of this writing. This is no accident, as I see it. I think Donahoe is sincere when he says he likes the job Williams has done in his first two seasons here, especially considering the lack of tools he had for the job in year one. But does Donahoe give a flip that Williams might be burning a bit by the recent pub surrounding his own underlings? Hardly. Williams will probably get his extension soon, if he doesn’t have it already, but it will be on Tom’s time, not Gregg’s.’

Braving blustery, wintry conditions, Bledsoe finished 15-for-27 for 306 yards, breaking the game open by scoring touchdowns on three consecutive drives in the second half. The game began with a temperature of 25 degrees and ended in near whiteout conditions as a heavy snow fell through most of the fourth quarter. Watch Video Highlights.

‘As a result they figure to enter this free agency season with about $10 million of room to spend on free agents.’

FW: Is Price better off somewhere else?

Holbrook: I don’t think so. It’s curious to me that Price had his best season in a contract year. He made positive strides his first 3 seasons but was still an underachiever until this past season when he found himself working with skilled players like Bledsoe, Moulds and RB Travis Henry. I think Price is an outstanding No. 2 WR, but not a #1. He needs someone like Moulds to draw the main focus of a defense and allow Price to work against a No. 2 or No. 3 corner and exploit that matchup.

”’I’ve talk[ed] to Mr. Wilson (Bills owner Ralph Wilson) on occasions, last year, not this year,” Riemersma said. ”And I think he’s involved more than any other owner in the NFL and he does a great job and that’s why he garners so much respect among the players. Mr. Wilson has always treated me so fairly and the Buffalo community and the fan base has always been great to my family and this is where I want to be.”’

This is a much stronger draft at QB than it is in free agency. This year, Carson Palmer, Byron Leftwich, Rex Grossman, Chris Simms, Kyle Bollar, Dave Ragone and Ken Dorsey lead a group that is being compared to the classes of ’83 and ’99. But things have changed in the NFL since the class of ’83 and club executives realize they’re dealing with a different set of circumstances these days.

The class of ’83 included Dan Marino, John Elway, Jim Kelly and Ken O’Brien. All four played for one NFL team their whole career. That will not be the case with this draft class or any other in the near future.

Biggest Decisions: Donahoe has to decide whether or not to keep Price or let him go through free agency. It isn’t an easy decision. If the Bills franchise Price, it throws the balance of their cap onto the offense, which will limit the ability to rebuild the defense. On the other side, can the Bills afford to lose a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver when they aren’t certain that Josh Reed is ready to take over for him. Odds favor the Bills letting Price go.

‘Miami reportedly is contemplating making a contract offer to Spikes despite Cincinnati’s plan to tag him as the team’s transition player.’

‘Riemersma, a Zeeland High School graduate, played football with the University of Michigan before joining the National Football League.’

I say use the money which might retain Price and use it on Spikes to help bring the Bills’ nearer to parity with its own attack. Defense wins. Donahoe saw Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl like everyone else did. He really doesn’t need to be convinced.

The Bills’ window of opportunity will last for two years, three at the most, then another salary-cap exodus will begin. What their defense needs most is a playmaker. Spikes answers that description. He’s also a team leader and a young one.

‘Tickets for the banquet are on sale and available through Tedeschi at 1-800-736-1890, with proceeds benefiting the Interval Brotherhood Home in Akron.’

‘Voting on this category will run from Friday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Feb. 16.’

‘This year, $40,000 will be presented to area charities from funds that were raised at the Bills Alumni golf tournament held last September.’