Archives for January 2006

‘Ask Kelly what he enjoys most, though, and the answer comes quickly. “Hunting, fishing and spending time with my kids,” said Kelly, who has two daughters. “I have that on my schedule, too. My wife made me listen to a CD a few months back and it talked about businessmen who have their agenda and schedules and when someone calls they say, ‘Can’t because he has this.’ I’ve put my family on my schedule so when people call, I say, ‘Sorry I got kids this weekend, I’m going on vacation, going here, going there.’ “‘

‘”The one thing I would interject into the personnel department that I would push very hard is picking players with high character,” Levy added. “Don’t confuse personality with character. Ability without character will lose. The Buffalo Bills are going to be a team of high character, that’s something I will push for very hard.”‘

‘Williams is prepared to renegotiate his contract, realizing that guards earn on average less than tackles. His original deal could’ve been worth as much as $44 million over six years had he hit his escalators and incentives. His cap number for 2006 was scheduled at around $10.8 million.’

‘Buffalo’s offense showed statistical drops in 10 categories. Starts were split between first-year quarterback J.P. Losman and veteran Kelly Holcomb, but Losman’s taking the brunt of the blame. “I think, certainly, J.P., he matured this year from the time the season started. That’s something to build on,” WR Lee Evans said. “You can’t have a good offense without a good quarterback and I think he certainly matured and took some steps, and with a good off-season, it’ll help him even more.”‘

‘Thomas was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and was named the NFL’s most valuable player in 1991 after rushing for 1,407 yards and catching 62 passes, but perhaps his most well known legacy is that of a “Dolphin Killer”.’

‘You better believe after 46 years as an NFL owner, Wilson gets it! He knows that the NFL is nowhere without the fans. He has always had a strong connection with the Bills faithful. Donahoe never understood the importance of that connection with the fans. Perhaps if he had taken more time to seek advice from the owner, he would have figured it out.’

‘He credited offseason work with New Orleans-based trainer Mackie Shilstone for improving his consistency on distance kicks. Lindell plans to spend part of the offseason working with Shilstone. Shilstone is a well-known trainer who works with many professional athletes. Lindell said that, in addition to strength, Shilstone’s program helps kickers with balance, which is the key to consistency.’

‘A 39-member panel will vote on the finalists. A candidate must get 80 percent of the vote to be elected with a minimum of three and a maximum of six getting in. If fewer than three get 80 percent, the candidate with the next highest percentage will be elected.’

‘Bills’ owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. and former WR Andre Reed did not make the final list.’

‘”I’ve been approached by a lot of people. Gov. Pataki called me, boy, this is probably 8-to-10 months ago,” Kelly said. “And I’ve said, `Nah, my life, with the way it is right now … there’s no room for any of that in my future that I could see.'”‘

‘Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Thurman Thomas, and Reggie White, four first-year eligible candidates, are among the 15 finalists who will be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the Hall’s Board of Selectors meets in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, February 4, 2006.’

‘Out of this highly experienced and esteemed group of current NFL assistants, the best choice for the Bills is probably Capers.’

‘This wouldn’t be some desperate reach into the past, either. At this point, the Bills would be fortunate to get a coordinator of Cottrell’s caliber. The league’s top assistants won’t be rushing to work here under Mike Mularkey, who just fired half of his staff and will be on thin ice next season.’

‘Yes, each January, as regular as a goose, ESPN begins to advance the Super Bowl by digging deep into the catacombs of NFL Films’ library. There it dusts off some of the best of the best of its stellar productions — mostly ones with postseason themes. Or in the case of the Buffalo Bills, postmortem themes: "Wide-Right" and "The Music City Miracle."’

For the sixth year in a row we do our position by position final exam grades as well as individual player grades for key players at each position. We also will take a look ahead at one might happen with next season’s roster.