Archives for February 2005

‘The source tells us Bledsoe has had several converstations with Bills Head Coach Mike Mularkey recently, and the decision is final. By NFL rule, the Bills can’t officially release Bledsoe until February 22nd.’

‘Figure on at least a quartet of big-name quarterbacks — Drew Bledsoe of Buffalo, Tampa Bay’s Brad Johnson, Rich Gannon of Oakland and Jay Fiedler of Miami — being released in the near future, as well. Kurt Warner will void his New York Giants contract. The Bucs will part ways with Brian Griese, rather than pay him a $6 million roster bonus, if the two sides can’t reach accord on a restructured contract. Chris Chandler is likely to be bounced by the St. Louis Rams. There will be at least a few serviceable veteran quarterbacks in the unrestricted free agent pool.’

FOXSports.com has learned the Bills have decided to release quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and they are expected to announce the decision Wednesday, likely at a press conference.

‘Sources close to the Bills have confirmed to WGR that Drew Blesoe has been told that he will be released.’

‘If your goal is to sneak into the playoffs? If it is, stick with Drew. If your goal is to some day WIN the Super Bowl, you have to make a change. We don’t know if Losman will ever get the Bills to that point. I think we know now that Drew will not.’

‘Campbell purchased 100 teddy bears from Build-A-Bear to distribute and decorate with the patients at the Hospital. In fact, the Michigan native went so far as having special Bills t-shirts created to dress the bears. The exclusive shirt had the charging Buffalo on the front and Campbell’s number 84 on the back.’

‘Matthews and his son Shane, a former Panther great and current Buffalo Bills quarterback, will both be inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. The ceremony will begin at 6:45 p.m. at the Biloxi Grand Casino.’

‘In fairness, Bledsoe owes the Bills nothing. He had his struggles on the field, mostly due to immobility, but provided some excitement, some wins – an average of almost eight a season – and a lot of leadership for a team in transition. He was also a gentleman and a class act in the face of some brutal media criticism, much of it unwarranted. If he’s not going to start here, Bledsoe deserves a chance somewhere else.’

‘"I never expected this many people," Kelly said later. "We must have had a couple thousand, which is always cool. We had such a great reception, I’m going to talk to the Bills and see if we can do it here every year."’

‘"It’s a big business," said Mac Bledsoe, the player’s father. "And the day you forget it’s a big business and start thinking it’s a feel-good situation or something is the day you sort of make a mistake."’

‘Kelly also made an exciting announcement during the celebration. He said the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute slated to be built on the University of Buffalo Medical campus, should be constructed and opened some time next year.’

‘The Bills want to give first-round draft choice J.P. Losman a full shot at winning the starting quarterback job, league sources told the newspaper. That appears certain to spell the end of Bledsoe’s tenure in Buffalo because there is no way he is going to be interested in being the Bills’ backup, according to two sources close to the veteran quarterback.’

‘Jonathan Palafox, a former star player at both Sweet-water High School and Angelo State University, is once again a member of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. The 26-year-old Palafox, a defensive back, was recently one of six free agents signed by the Bills and assigned to play this spring for NFL Europe. He is expected to learn the team he will play for this week.’

‘The Bills had better be making this switch because they’re convinced it’ll get them to the playoffs. This season. No excuses. No grace periods. No insinuations from the front office that Losman has to grow into the job. We’ve already gone through this in variation, the year Donahoe was hired, when he overhauled a team a year removed from the playoffs and entrusted it to Gregg Williams. It’s taken 31/2 seasons to rebound and this is no time to retreat. Who willingly backtracks from 9-7?’