Archives for March 2003

"Basically I really wanted to coach but once you make a commitment to an employer, it's always been my goal to think that he got a good deal in the agreement and I wanted to make sure that I could hold up my end. I want to go into a position with an earnest work ethic to try to accomplish and help anybody who was interested in my services. Coach (Williams) expressed that interest and I was certainly interested in his football team and his organization. It was mostly just getting into a situation where I felt positive and knew this is where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. That's why I'm here."

"It's been awful exciting here in a short free agency period. I think that we will continue to work all the way up to training camp, that's when the off-season ends. It's been exciting to see us hit the ground running. We had a plan; we worked hard to develop in January and February. It's nice to see that we've made an impact early."

The Cincinnati Bengals have officially declined to match the Buffalo Bills' offer sheet to Takeo Spikes. "We're very excited," said Gregg Williams. "He's a tremendous addition to our team in the respect of ability at that position." Spikes is expected to be in Buffalo later this to week to be introduced as the newest member of the Bills.

Drew Bledsoe for Peerless Price.

Would YOU make that swap?

I don't care if it's bubble-gum cards, fantasy football, or real live players. Anytime you can deal Peerless Price and get Drew Bledsoe, it's a darn good trade. And that's exactly what the Buffalo Bills did on Friday when they shipped Price's signing rights to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a first-round draft slot this April.

‘Spikes had been Cincinnati’s leading tackler four of the last five years but after five losing seasons he had asked the team not to stand in the way of move.’

‘Spikes joins a Buffalo defense that ranked 27th of 32 teams in points allowed last season. The Bills, who had an 8-8 record in 2002, were 28th against the run and forced a league-low 19 turnovers.’

‘LeBeau played cornerback with the Detroit Lions from 1959-72 and was voted to three Pro Bowls. He also was an assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.’

‘"Takeo has been a good player for the Bengals and in the community, and I wish him well with his career in Buffalo," Lewis said. "Today is the beginning of a new day in the Bengal organization and in the shaping of the football team under my direction."’

‘For the Bills, the acquisition of Spikes is a giant step toward upgrading their linebacker corps. He becomes the second linebacker added since the start of the free-agent period.’

‘Takeo Spikes will become a Buffalo Bill.’

Takeo Spikes is coming to Buffalo. The Bengals announced today that they will not match the Bills’ offer sheet so Buffalo will get the weakside linebacker …

‘”Takeo has been a good player for the Bengals and in the community, and I wish him good luck with his career in Buffalo,” Lewis said. “Today is the beginning of a new day in the Bengal organization, and in the shaping of the football team under my direction.”‘

March 11, 1987 – STEVE FREEMAN TRADED TO VIKINGS

Bills' DB Steve Freeman was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for what was called "past considerations."

Bills entertain two players on Monday.

A native of London, OH, LeBeau attended Ohio State where he was and all-Big Ten selection as a defensive back and helped the Buckeyes win the national championship in 1957. He then played 14 seasons as a cornerback in the NFL with the Detroit Lions (1959-72) and appeared in three Pro Bowls. In that time, he appeared in an NFL-record 171 consecutive games at cornerback and his 62 career interceptions are tied the seventh most in NFL history.