Archives for April 2004

‘Hold off the judging of Mularkey until mid-October, at the earliest.’

‘A 1974 graduate of DeSales, Murphy originally had planned on a legal career. Then NHL Hall of Fame broadcaster, the late Ted Darling of Lockport, helped change his mind. “Ted Darling was very helpful. One day, I worked up enough courage and knocked on his door on Locust Street just to see if he’d talk to me about broadcasting, and he did,” Murphy said. “He took me inside his home and sat down with me for about an hour-and-a-half and talked to me about everything — sports and sports broadcasting. That meant a lot.”‘

‘”He just said the right things to me,” said Brown, a salary cap casualty in Buffalo. “He was an honest guy. He didn’t beat around the bush. He was straightforward. He’s going to tell you like it is. There are no two ways about him. There’s only one way and that’s the right way.”‘

‘Brown came at a bargain rate. He gets a $1 million signing bonus, and the total value of the deal is $4.5 million. He can add another $800,000 with escalators tied to playing time and playoff victories.’

‘Brown said it was a mutual parting with him and the Bills, who drafted him in the first round in 1995 (14th overall). While it took Brown awhile to find a home, he said he already feels comfortable with his new team, mostly because of the feeling he got from talking to new head coach Lovie Smith, who did a masterful recruiting job.’

‘Brown, who is 32 years old, said he probably lasted this long in free agency because of his age and long tenure in Buffalo. Detroit was the only other team giving serious chase. “I knew that because at this stage of my career – 32 years old, nine years with one team – that’s not common that teams come rushing out of the closet unless you’re Bruce Smith, you know, one of those types of impact players,” Brown said. “So I knew there was going to be more of a slow process for me.”‘

"He’s doing really well," said rookie HC Mike Mularkey, who reiterated his plans to pair McGahee and starting RB Travis Henry in some formations. "He’s making cuts, running with decisiveness, and isn’t hold back on anything. You can tell he’s excited being back out there."

Mularkey noted at the league meetings that, while the Bills would like to get Kordell Stewart, the QB is not yet ready to concede to a backup role. And make no mistake, if he signed with the Bills, the journeyman Stewart would almost certainly be asked to reprise the "Slash" role he once played with the Steelers. The Bills really don’t have on their current roster the kind of versatile athlete around whom Mularkey can scheme up some trick plays. They might be forced to add such a flexible player through the draft.

‘”The important thing for me is that I get some game experience and the Bills see what I can do in game-type situations. Other than a few snaps in preseason, I really don’t have a lot of game film except for college stuff. I think it will be beneficial to get out there, get on film, and do well. I am going to do the best I can with this opportunity.”‘

His defensive prowess almost landed him a spot in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena League — the eventual AFL champions — but it was all for naught. There just wasn’t enough room on the roster. The Twisters didn’t mind as he came back to Arkansas and became the go-to guy on defense. His achievements good enough to be noticed by Buffalo. The Bills signed Carter and sent him to NFL Europe training camp in Florida as a cornerback.

‘Since parents Jim and Jill Kelly created the foundation seven years ago, it has given out close to $4 million in research grants, Kelly said.’

‘”Believe me, if some team still wanted me to play, I’d be out there in a heartbeat,” says Ingoglia, who spent two seasons on the Buffalo Bills practice squad and a season as Super Bowl quarterback Jake Delhomme’s teammate with the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe. “But I knew when the Bills didn’t re-sign me after the 1998 season that my season in Europe would probably be my last hurrah in pro football. It was time to move on with my life.”‘

‘”Everybody has an opinion, and their opinions don’t matter a bit,” said Brown, now the oldest Bear. “I’m still healthy, still hungry and still can do the job on Sunday. I’ve gotten through nine years relatively unscathed and I have a lot left.”‘

‘Ruben Brown on Thursday agreed to a $4.5 million, three-year contract with a $1 million signing bonus and a $500,000 roster bonus due in March. With playing-time incentives, he can earn another $1 million over the final two years of the contract.’

‘Brown will receive $1.5 million in guaranteed bonus money this season with a base salary of $1 million. The deal includes escalators based on playing time and the team’s playoff performance that can increase its value over the next two seasons.’

‘The signing is a tradeoff of sorts, as former Bears right guard Chris Villarrial went to Brown’s former team in free agency.’