Archives for February 22, 2005

‘Drew Bledsoe arrived in Buffalo in 2002 and in his first season as the Bills starting quarterback proceeded to set 10 franchise records including most yards (4,359), attempts (610), completions (375) and 300-yard games (seven). He also helped Buffalo increase its win total from three in 2001 to eight in 2002. Things appeared to heading in the right direction for the team and the quarterback. But after Bledsoe struggled in 2003 and the team finished with a disappointing 6-10 record, the franchise made a 2004 NFL Draft-day trade to acquire Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman with the 22nd overall selection.’

‘Today was the first day that the Bills could officially release him.’

‘Buffalo hopes the professional playing experience for these five individuals will prove to be as valuable as it was for current Bills punter Brian Moorman.’

‘But I wonder – where did this revelation about Bledsoe and the coin toss originate? Who, outside of someone in the organization, would have been privy to such knowledge? And why would it be worthy of mention unless someone was out to grind an ax?’

‘Colts president Bill Polian used defensive end Phil Hansen as an example of what sophisticated training techniques and hard work can achieve. Hansen weighed 267 pounds when Polian, then the Buffalo Bills’ general manager, drafted him out of North Dakota State in 1991. Hansen got bigger, stronger, faster. He played 11 seasons, most of them at about 305 pounds, alongside future Hall of Fame end Bruce Smith. "We couldn’t make him into Bruce Smith, but he got faster," Polian said. "You can improve a player’s quickness. You can improve his speed to a certain degree, but not drastically. If you can get an incremental 3 percent, that can be the difference between being a good player and a great player."’

‘Parcells will try to figure out how this athlete, who just turned 33 years old, would have Buffalo turning instead to an untested second-year player.’

‘And [Troy] Vincent has ownership interests in a construction company, a spa and Eltekon Financial LLC, a financial services provider based in Austin, Texas.’