Archives for May 8, 2005

‘The team is hoping Mike Gandy can solidify the left tackle spot. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Gandy has decent size, and the team thinks he is big and strong enough to handle physical defensive linemen at the point of attack. He’s a smart guy as well with the athletic ability to play in space. If Gandy plays well, the team will probably leave Trey Teague at center to maintain continuity on the rest of the offensive line.’

‘Thomas joins Jim Kelly, Kent Hull, Darryl Talley & Jim Ritcher from the super bowl era that are enshrined on the Bills Wall of Fame.’

‘Reed and his wife, Cyndi, have two children, Auburn, 10, and Andre, 8. ”I wanted them to see how important education is,” Reed said. ”This was 80 percent for them and 20 percent for me.”’

‘Thomas had eight straight years of running for over one thousand yards. The only other backs in NFL history to accomplish that are Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith.’

‘Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles said Ferguson was diagnosed with colon cancer about a month ago and is undergoing chemotherapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center. "Joe is at one of the best cancer hospitals in America," said Broyles, who coached Ferguson when he played for the Razorbacks from 1970-1972. "He’s receiving excellent treatment and is in good spirits." Broyles said he spoke with Ferguson a few days ago. "He feels good that the treatment is working," Broyles said. "But tell everyone to include Joe in their thoughts and prayers."’

”’People come to me now and say ‘you played in four Super Bowls and you didn’t win’ and that’s true, but I ask them what they were doing on those Super Bowl Sundays. … They were watching me,” said Reed, one of 1,036 Kutztown graduates on Saturday. ”All of my success as an NFL player was made possible through my pursuit of a college degree.”’

‘Indeed, Reed’s induction into the Kutztown University Class of 2005 might only be surpassed by his induction into the Canton Class of 2006. “I’m definitely hopeful,” Reed said. “I don’t even know what would happen. When that day comes, it would just be. . . . I don’t know. I’d have to change my whole thinking.”‘

‘”With everything that’s happened over the past 18 years, I got distracted and didn’t have the time,” Reed said. “I probably should’ve done it sooner. But it’s better to be late than never.”‘

‘A year from now, five seasons after his retirement, Thomas will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It says here he deserves to gain entrance on the first ballot, an honor bestowed on his college backup, Sanders.’

‘”I usually get about 20 letters a week sent to my house,” the legendary Bills’ running back said from his home in Orlando, Fla. “I don’t know how they get to my house. But I’m not kidding. I get fan mail all the time. I go onto the (Bills) Web site and see people talking about me. . . . I’ve had so much support ever since I retired from the Buffalo Bills.”‘

‘”Marv gets a lot of credit and deservedly so, and the players get a lot of credit, and I get credit,” said Polian, the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. “But make no mistake, Ralph Wilson is the guy who drove the train.”‘

‘Losman, who felt awkward being handed the Bills’ starting job instead of winning it through a training camp competition with Bledsoe, said his top priority this off-season is winning his teammates’ respect. He’s off to a very good start.’

‘Unrestricted Free Agents: LS Bradford Banta; WR Drew Haddad; OT Marcus Price; OL Mike Pucillo (not tendered as RFA); FS Izell Reese.’

‘Players have three weeks off but Mularkey has four blocks of voluntary (read mandatory) organized team activities scheduled for the last week of May and the first three weeks of June.’

‘”Obviously it’s a special time for me,” Thomas said earlier this week from his home in Orlando, Fla. “It’s one last hurrah with the Buffalo Bills fans where I can walk on the field and give my speech. It will be exciting.”‘