Archives for March 2003

‘"I got a chance to visit with coach (Gregg Williams) and I believe I’m going to have a lot to do with rushing the passer and also being a strong outside linebacker. I believe I can come in and help this team because I know with the offensive move they had last year (they have the offensive tools). I’m just looking forward to coming here and becoming an asset to this team and help lead this team to a Super Bowl."’

Free Agent News: Linebacker Mike Peterson (Colts) is visiting with the Bills today.

Johnson agreed to a deal worth approximately $1 million per season, apparently for two or three years, and is slated to back up Patrick Ramsey next season. The former Buffalo Bills starter backed up Brad Johnson for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.

‘The stadium lease, as a result, has become a year-to-year deal. It could remain in force for the next 10 years, or it could be canceled as soon as next February. It will be up to the Bills – and only the Bills – to decide.’

‘How jittery should we be? Nervous enough to renegotiate the lease and toss in a provision that keeps the team here. Buffalo already has one vacant old arena. It’s on the verge of having an empty new one.’

Former Bill Rob Johnson agreed to a two- or three-year deal worth about $1 million per season and is slated to back up Patrick Ramsey next season. Redskins have been spending money on offensive linemen (G Randy Thomas, G Dave Fiore, re-signing G Tre Johnson and signing G/C Lennie Friedman) earlier in the free agency period.

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According to report on Empire, PK Mike Hollis rejected an offer from Bills. More details will be posted when available. He joined the Bills as an unrestricted free agent on 4/12/02 after spending the previous seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

There were so many impressive defensive linemen at the annual Indianapolis Meat Market that the Bills are just about convinced that they should trust the supply of rookie prime beef to upgrade their defensive line, dealing with their need of a A-1 linebacker through free agency.

Kelly, the former NFL quarterback with the Buffalo Bills, is the minority owner of Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly, which will field cars for at least 10 races in 2003.

“I hope everybody has the same attitude going in that I’ve always had when I played football,” Kelly said. “You just keep going, keep pushing. As long as you’re focused and never say die, that’s all I’m looking for.

“I want excitement. I’m not the type that just sits back. That’s the way my life was with the no-huddle offense. I’ve always been fast-paced, and I want everybody to have the same enthusiasm I have.”

‘"He had a breakout year last year," Bills coach Gregg Williams said. "He’s done a very good job of playing the run very stout. He was targeted by us because he has some very good pass-rush ability. That will help our overall defense in getting off the field on third down and limiting the big strikes down the field in the passing game. You have to upgrade the pass rush as much as possible."’

‘Anyway, this could turn out to be a steal for the Bills. Donahoe and Tom Modrak, the assistant GM, have a reputation for identifying linebackers on the rise. Posey had eight sacks last season in a breakthrough year for the expansion Texans. The Bills’ top four linebackers (London Fletcher, Keith Newman, Eddie Robinson and DaShon Polk) had six sacks combined last season. Plus, Posey will count only $1.01 million against this season’s salary cap.’

‘The premature color of his hair gives him the look of a gray fox, and on the job he is just as wily. Tom Donahoe has moved like Reynard to get the re-making of the Bills’ defense off to a sprinting start.’

‘Executive vice president Ray Anderson said the Falcons would prefer to agree upon trade terms with the Bills before advancing into contract talks with Price. The Falcons and Bills have had only one preliminary conversation about a trade.’

”’The first thing I thought about was the cold weather,” Posey said at a news conference Saturday. ”It took me some time to think about it. This could be a great move to improve the defense, and it could lead to a championship.”’

"We will probably be when it's all said and done, around the average in the league of dead money," said Donahoe. "We're not out of the woods totally. We have to be careful what we do with our players, with potential free agents, with the cap. We're not in a total situation where we can go out and lead the pack in terms of being mega spenders."