Archives for May 2003

‘Among those expected to speak at the service are ex-Bills coach Marv Levy, the Chargers’ Marcellus Wiley and ESPN’s Chris Berman. Chargers team pastor Shawn Mitchell will preside.’

‘The Chargers will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. today at New Venture Christian Fellowship, 4000 Mystra Drive in Oceanside, for Butler, who died last month of complications from lung cancer.’

‘"Putting on the Bills helmet was exciting."

Bills RB Ken Simonton, who had another huge day in NFLE competition last week, will be back in action this Saturday as he leads the Scottish Claymores against the Frankfurt Galaxy. Kickoff from Frankfurt will be at 1:00 PM (ET).

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‘" I set my alarm on Sunday mornings to watch the games,sometimes I’m up at 4:30 a.m. to catch the game at 6 a.m.," stated the dedicated sailor. "It’s time well spent and well worth getting up that early. I’m excited for this year with a couple of night games on the Bills schedule I won’t have to get up that early."’

‘"I loved Buffalo. I will never forget, at 27 years old, I cried when I was traded."’

‘But sooner or later, perhaps even now, Travis is going to embrace it. He’s got to embrace it. If he doesn’t, he’s not the back he thinks he is.’

Fans will also have the opportunity to check out the new playing surface that is being installed at Ralph Wilson Stadium. A special AstroPlay display will be set up so fans can see and feel the new surface for themselves.

‘"Peerless was extraordinarily fast, but I think Josh can do some things well enough that we’ll be fine," Bills offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. "He’s going to give us some toughness. He’ll give us a guy that runs with the ball very well after the catch. Not that Peerless didn’t do a great job with those things because he was extraordinary. He was one of those guys that could take the ball and go the distance."’

‘In a survey done by the NFL Players Association last season, The Ralph’s surface was rated seventh worst in the league.’

‘”There’s nothing but positives about it,” he said. “It’s nonabrasive. Kids can wear any kind of shoe they want on it. The drainage is unbelievable. We’ve been on it when it poured and there are no puddles. It also doesn’t get hard as a rock when it’s cold. It stays soft. It’s amazing stuff.”‘

"I think it's going to do well for us. Guys are very comfortable with it. We're excited. It's one of the few things we have to look forward to again this year. It's a new change and I think it's going to be good for us because players tend to play with more confidence when they're on a surface such as grass or something as forgiving as this new surface."

”’We figure if it’s good enough for the Army, it’s good enough for the Buffalo Bills,” Donahoe added.’

‘SRI’s AstroPlay surface absorbs more shock from players and is more resilient to the harsh winters in Buffalo, N.Y., according to SRI.’