Archives for February 2006

‘The Bills picked 13th that year, the Steelers 11th. The Bills were determined to get their quarterback of the future. They tried to move up to get Roethlisberger, to no avail. Later, Donahoe said he couldn’t find a willing "dance partner." He took Lee Evans with the 13th pick, then traded with Dallas to get J.P. Losman later in the first round.’

‘Former Bears offensive coordinator John Shoop, who has discussed the Oakland Raiders’ head-coaching vacancy with owner Al Davis, is under consideration to return to the coordinator’s role under Dick Jauron in Buffalo. "I love John and think he is an excellent coach," Jauron said. "I talked to John on the phone about a number of things, but he’s pretty set out there, very happy."’

‘”He’ll get in,” said Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Make sure everybody in Buffalo doesn’t worry. There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll get in.”‘

‘When I heard that Thomas hadn’t made the final cut to six, I felt like running all the way to Canton and booing the place. This vote is an injustice. Thomas should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer. If six men can be voted into the Hall and Thomas not be among them, there’s something wrong with the process.’

‘Many members of Erie’s Bills Backers, a chapter of just over 100, will cheer for the Steelers at the Colony Pub and Grille on West Eighth Street. "We’re going to transform the room into a Steelers fan club, for one night only," Bills Backers president and local realtor Jeff Johnson said. "Part of it though is because my wife Wendy is a Steelers fan, and my son goes to Duquesne. And the Colony’s owner, Kevin Camp, is a big Steelers fan that is gracious to put up with us when we gather there on Sundays. Besides, if I don’t root for the Steelers, I won’t get fed."’

‘He led the Bills to 7-6-1 records in 1962 and 1963 before winning back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. One week after the 1965 championship, he quit to become head coach at the University of Maryland. “I came to a crossroads,” he said. “I began to wonder where I was going with it. I often wondered if I could go ahead with four kids with this lifestyle. I decided to leave for the Maryland job.”‘

‘”That may sound strange, but it’s human nature, particularly when your career is over and you realize you’ll never get another shot at achieving your goal of winning it all,” Tasker says. “I have far more fond memories than negative memories of my NFL career, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to have at least one of those opportunities to do over again.”‘

‘Because of their long relationship, Jauron let Holland leave the Bills for the Texans.’

‘Also on Friday, the Bears granted defensive quality control assistant Lloyd Lee permission to interview for the linebackers job with the Bills. Lee is expected to travel to Buffalo soon and meet with Jauron about the job.’

‘Thomas was among the 15 finalists and one of four first-year eligible canidates considered for the 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame class when the Hall’s Board of Selectors met in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, February 4.’

‘Thomas made it to the finalists stage of 15 in his first year of eligibility which should bode well for his future chances of entering the Hall of Fame.’

‘Holland, 40, is from Houston, and his parents, brothers and sisters still live there.’

‘The goat? Probably Jim Kelly for not using the time better to get them closer. The hero? The man with the plan. Parcells’s best coaching job.’

‘"Thurman Thomas is one of the greatest players, not just one of the greatest running backs, to ever play the game," said Smith at a news conference for former Super Bowl most valuable players. "His numbers support that, and his talent supports that. He is a Hall of Famer, and anyone who feels otherwise should have their heads examined."’

Add LBs coach to the spots Dick Jauron must fill on his new Buffalo Bills staff of assistants. The Bills have allowed Johnnie Holland, hired last week to coach linebackers, to leave the team and take the same position with the Houston Texans.