Archives for July 2003

‘Despite his limited success, Williams’ approval rating is high in the organization. Donahoe has praised Williams for the improvement he’s made over the past two seasons.’

The seven-year contract agreed to by Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman earlier this week was kicked back by the Management Council because the two sides violated the 30 percent raise rule on base salaries. Not to worry. The parties raised the 2008 base salary to come into compliance, and took the difference off the ’09 salary, but the total numbers still add up the same.

‘The former facility manager at Frontier Field and two-time International League Groundskeeper of the Year for the Ottawa Lynx, Dungey and his six-person staff lord over 4 1/2 acres of impeccable turf at Fisher.’

‘Peggy Crawford, a Bills fan for 20 years, said she stopped at the Henrietta Tops to get tickets. When the window opened, the first three people in line were served, then the computers went down. After the computers came back up, store workers served three more people and then announced that the tickets were sold out.’

Contributed by Ann Burke, Former WGR Host

1. Has his weight down to 305 — with Sam Adams on the line–he can afford to be smaller and quicker

2. Expects to be in the backfield a lot — since teams can’t double him with Sam there to require their attention.

3. Stated emphatically: “No one will run on the Buffalo Bills this year’

‘The practices (July 28 & Aug. 4) run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature an autograph session involving the entire team afterward.’

‘The locker rooms at East Aurora High School were used by the team for dressing and training room facilities. The players were shuttled between hotel, locker room and practice fields by school bus, sometimes driven by players or team personnel.’

‘"I think we have everything it takes to be a great defense," Wire said. "The offense will do its part. We just have to do ours, and I think we will. We have a defense that, to me, is going to wreak havoc on opposing offenses."’

‘The Hall of Fame will indeed be a family affair for DeLamielleure, who expects nearly 200 immediate family members. That includes a new granddaughter, who he will see for the first time in Canton.’

‘Each day about 6,000 people will be in the area for the Bills camp and 30,000 are expected to attend the PGA.’

“It’s training the mind and the body,” Wire says. “It’s an entire mindset, just a relentless desire to be the best.”

‘The prevailing sentiment is that coach Gregg Williams is the guy on the hot seat — and entering the final year of a contract, he is most definitely on the spot.’

‘Camp battle to watch: The free-safety spot will be a battle between Pierson Prioleau and Izell Reese, who was signed as a free agent. Neither is a great player, but both are decent. Tony Driver could also factor.’

‘”I’m very optimistic the offensive line is going to prove to be one of the strengths of our team,” said coordinator Kevin Gilbride.’

The recent announcement of having only single game tickets left for three of the first four home games shows poor public relations. When Bills fans who aren’t season ticket holders got their first crack at tickets, most of their choices were already reduced. Thousands were sold to the visiting teams fans prior to Bills fans having any shot.

The writer, Mark Burr, is a frequent participant on the Stadium Wall.