Archives for May 2004

All of the NFL’s 65 exhibition games this season will be available on television for the first time. The league’s four network partners — ABC, CBS, ESPN and Fox — will show 11 games, and NFL Network will broadcast the other 54. Some NFL Network games will be shown on tape delay during the four weeks of exhibition play.

None of the Bills games will be shown nationally on any of the network partners.

‘"I do feel Travis is a guy that kind of gets overlooked in this situation," Bledsoe said at the Bills’ rookie orientation camp this weekend. "Travis is a guy that is very smart. He has good ability. He throws the ball well."’

‘Levy was criticized for taking it easy on his players, but he always kept the game in perspective. Looking back, Marv was onto something.’

‘"You saw some flashes," he said. "You got to see some things you’d hope you would in this camp, especially the more they got reps and the more time they’re in there and their confidence in their ability in knowing what to do. It’s amazing how fast the speed picks up once they figure out what they are supposed to be doing. This is a very good class of free agents. Our scouts did an unbelievable job and coaches as well getting them here."’

‘Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly will appear from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 6 at Eastview Mall to benefit his Hunter’s Hope Foundation.’

‘Speed, not size, is what Buffalo coveted and Evans – who consistently clocked in the high 4.3s in pre-draft workouts – not only will help get the Bills’ passing game back get on track but he also will help stretch the field and open up the running game.’

‘Because of Anderson’s great strength and work habits – he’s been called a weight and film room "junkie – the Bills believe they’ve landed someone who could wind up having a long NFL career.’

‘As many as seven players will be vying for the punt and kick return duties, including Antonio Brown, who averaged 21.8 yards per kickoff but just 4.4 yards per punt. Bruising free agent rookie running back Shaud Williams (5-7, 193) is among the players Buffalo will look at.’

‘Mularkey said, “I think we’re going to leave it at that. We’re going to evaluate this talent that we have here before we go in any other direction.”‘

‘We basically started from scratch like we did at the veteran orientation camp. We started all over again. It was another chance for the vets to hear it and feel comfortable about it. We feel like we’re starting at a pretty slow pace with the rookies to get them started and comfortable too. It’s an emotional time for them to be able to get in and out of the huddle and know what they’re doing and be confident about what they’re doing. I think by the fifth practice you hope the speed picks up, and it did.’

‘"This is a person who is driven to succeed at all levels," said Angelo Gasca, his high school coach. "He’s consumed with this desire to be great in football. He’s thick-skinned, he’s determined and he’s overcome a lot of things in his life already."’

‘Peters also is far from a finished product. Some pro scouts thought he should have stayed at Arkansas, where he would have been a fifth-year senior. But his potential intrigues the Bills, who are giving him a close look in this minicamp.’

‘The players also spent several minutes after the practice signing autographs. Cornerback Troy Vincent, who was one of the last to leave the field, said open minicamp practices were rare in his previous stops in Philadelphia and Miami. "It shows you the enthusiasm that you have here in Buffalo and what this team means to the community," Vincent said. "It has to be important to us as players because they make up the game, and without them we don’t have a sport. This is what it’s all about when you can take your helmet off and meet the people."’

‘”The thing that I respect most about him is how the other guys respond to him when he talks. Everyone respects him.”‘

‘Bills number one pick Lee Evans had another decent day on Saturday as the club held mini camp in front of its fans.’