Archives for February 2005

‘"I backed up (Bledsoe) for two years and I couldn’t sniff the field," said Alex Van Pelt, a 1988 Churchill graduate. "He will stay in the pocket while trying to make a play and take hit after hit and get back up. He’s as tough as nails."’

‘Bills GM Tom Donahoe is at the Indianapolis combine this week. He’s told numerous media outlets that the Bills won’t be able to get Jonas Jennings or Pat Williams signed before free agency hits March 2nd. Donahoe has not ruled out resigning either one after free agency begins.’

‘Green and Cardinals vice president of football operations Rod Graves aren’t scheduled to meet with the media until Saturday. In the meantime, the idea of a swap of Henry for Arizona offensive tackle L.J. Shelton hasn’t gone away. Bills general manager Tom Donahoe said Thursday the Bills will give the Cardinals the same chance to visit with Henry as the Cards did with Shelton last week. Donahoe also said he has talked to five teams about trading for Henry. As for acquiring Shelton, "We don’t have a crystal ball," he said.’

‘"I don’t wish the kid ill will, and I didn’t wish him that last year with the comment that I made," Donahoe said. "But I think when you’re on display, this is a job interview and you should do everything that you can to put your best foot forward. I don’t think he did that last year, but I hope he will this year."’

‘Jones’ rationale goes beyond a simple judgment call on Bledsoe. It might, more than anything, be a sign of what he and the Bills think of the readiness of their young quarterbacks. The Bills were willing to take the leap of faith with J.P. Losman. The Cowboys were not willing to do the same with Drew Henson.’

Bledsoe has reins; can he hang on? (Dallas Morning News)

Is he super — or not? (Fort Worth Star Telegram)

Henson won’t concede job to Bledsoe (Fort Worth Star Telegram)

Bledsoe Couldn’t Pass Up Parcells Reunion (DallasCowboys.com)

‘The proposed trade is more complicated than just swapping Shelton for Henry, because Henry has just one year left on his contract. Before agreeing to the deal, the Cardinals probably would like to reach agreement on a long-term deal with Henry.’

‘The problem was Bledsoe’s mobility, or lack of it. “We just felt that our offense needed a little more mobility,” Bills coach Mike Mularkey said. “Some of the things we like to do with running the quarterback and his ability to escape. Every year the pass rush just seems to get more fierce and faster, and we just felt we needed a little more mobility. We knew what we had with Drew. We think this is a step forward.”‘

‘Shelton has already visited Buffalo, and Donahoe said the Bills have given Henry permission to visit Arizona altough that has not yet happened. "That’s as far as the talks have gone," Donahoe said.

”’We’d like to get both back if we can, but it may not be cost effective,” Bills president Tom Donahoe said at the NFL combine in Indianapolis Thursday.’

‘Teams also can begin making trades March 2, and the Cardinals are expected to deal tackle L.J. Shelton at some point. One possibility is to Buffalo for disgruntled running back Travis Henry, a deal that would likely have to include a contract extension for Henry to get completed. The Cardinals are playing coy on any of the Shelton talks, although they are known to be in discussions about dealing Shelton for Henry.’

‘The Bills are confident the more mobile Losman will add spark to their 25th-ranked offense. But will reliability be sacrificed for versatility?’

‘”The sense that I got from talking to (Bills head coach) Mike Mularkey and (Bills president/general manager) Tom Donahoe was that the move was more that they felt like they needed to get the other kid on the field,” said Bledsoe, who signed a three-year deal with Dallas on Wednesday. “I suppose I can understand that. It wasn’t something that I agreed with, but I’ve moved on and moved on to something that I believe is better.”‘

Quick fix (Dallas Morning News)

Reunions are overrated, Bill (Dallas Morning News)

What’s the problem? Bledsoe is a good option (Dallas Morning News)

Parcells’ past hampering Cowboys’ future (Dallas Morning News)

Cowboys’ receivers call Bledsoe good fit (Fort Worth Star Telegram)

Is 8 enough? (Fort Worth Star Telegram)

Blame Big Bill for another miss at Cowboys QB (Fort Worth Star Telegram)

Bledsoe reunites with Parcells (San Antonio Express News)

Tuna should have left Bledsoe out of cart (Corpus Christi Caller Times)

Bledsoe Arrives In Dallas Proclaiming Himself The Starter (DallasCowboys.com)

Bledsoe Buries Bitter Divorce With Buffalo (DallasCowboys.com)

Dysfunction in Dallas is overblown (ESPN)

Cowboys reunite Parcells with his first Drew (AP)

Cowboys sign QB Bledsoe (Sportsticker)

Bledsoe reunites with Parcells in Dallas (The Sports Network)

Quarterback Bledsoe Agrees to Deal with Cowboys (Reuters)

‘Bledsoe doesn’t fit as a player nearing career sunset. In fact, he should be at or near career peak. Even his near peak looks better to me than the offerings of predecessors Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson and Testaverde. Who among them was better?’