Archives for September 2003

‘The Buffalo Bills have made a contract offer to safety Lawyer Milloy, who was cut Tuesday in a salary cap move by the New England Patriots, but Bills President Tom Donahoe says he needs a decision by today so the team can focus on Sunday’s opener against the Patriots.’

‘If signed, Milloy undoubtedly would play against his former team on Sunday. His greatest value to the Bills this week might be as provider of inside information on the elaborate defensive schemes devised by New England coach Bill Belichick.’

‘”Marcus was as classy as anybody I ever cut, the way he handled things,” said Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe. “He did the best he could do. In the end, he realized and we realized it just wasn’t back enough to where he could trust it to put his leg in there and play the way he wanted. As a matter of fact, he told me (Sunday) he would have been disappointed if we would have kept him because he would have felt like he was stealing money.”‘

A burning question, however, is how well and how soon — if at all — the new players will fall into place as a cohesive unit. That said, there is plenty of talent on the roster. (registration required)

‘” Yes, we are interested,” Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said.’

‘” Every kick is the same to me. We can be up by 40 in the fourth quarter, but to me it’s a huge kick. It’s not like I go out there and say ‘ We really, really need this one’ because I think we need every one.”‘

‘”One of the things last year is Drew probably felt that every time he went out there he had to score because we would give up a lot of points,” Donahoe said. “You’re not going to do that and win in this league. Our offence is still going to have the potential to be explosive, but at least now we have some balance. The next step and the biggest step is to see if we can put it all together.”‘

‘As any visit to Buffalo talk radio will confirm, Buffalo fans are wildly passionate about their Bills. And no more so than in the Stadium on game day. “No question, it is a great football area both in Western New York and Canada,” Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe said. “We have great fans.”‘

‘In December, three of Buffalo’s four games are against AFC East foes, including a season-ending trip to New England. “We need to do a better job in our division,” said Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who had his worst performances last year against his former team, the Patriots. “Our division is awfully tough.”‘

‘”When I heard the news this morning, I told anyone around here who would listen that we had to go get Lawyer,” said Bledsoe from his Buffalo-area home last night. “I was as surprised as anyone because, as a former teammate and a friend, I understand as well as anyone what Lawyer brings to a team. I don’t know the circumstances of what happened, but being his teammate and playing against him last year, this is a guy who is the heart and soul of your team.”‘

‘More significant, though, may be that they face the possibility of Milloy being in Buffalo Sunday but in the employ of the Bills — and with the Patriots getting no compensation. The Jets, Bengals, Seahawks, Lions, Chargers, and Redskins also were talking to the Postons about Milloy yesterday, with Milloy hinting that he might give a hometown discount to Seattle.’

‘The Bills, in fact, made a contract offer to the four-time Pro Bowler as early as Tuesday afternoon, and if he accepts, he could be on the field Sunday when they host the Patriots in the season opener at Ralph Wilson Stadium. That wouldn’t surprise anyone in the Patriots’ locker room.’

‘Picked by the Buffalo Bills in the eighth round of the 1969 draft, the Grambling star who later went on to play for the Los Angeles Rams, was named the 36th most influential minority in sports by Sports Illustrated this year. But Harris wouldn’t mind if he moved down that list because that might mean more blacks are getting more higher-profile jobs, especially in the NFL.’

‘New Orleans and Washington are the other two teams seriously pursuing Milloy, but the Bills are believed to have the inside track. A league source said Milloy and his agent, Carl Poston, planned to lay out the options Tuesday night, before reaching a decision Wednesday morning.’

‘The Bills are considered to have the salary-cap room to sign Milloy, and could use an established safety in their continuing attempt to upgrade an already revamped defense. Buffalo’s current starters are Coy Wire, who’s coming off an encouraging rookie season, and Pierson Prioleau, a four-year veteran who was a first-time starter last season.’