Archives for February 2007

‘"It was really only a week that I really thought about giving it up," said Free. "My mom asked if I really wanted to do that. She told me it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to play football and I had the rest of my life to make money. So I thought about it and realized she was right. So I stuck with football and it’s taken me somewhere that I never really thought of before."’

‘With the real possibility that the Bills might lose Clements, Fletcher and Kelsay, Jauron suggested that defense might be their primary focus again. "I think it could be," Jauron said. "The draft is a ways away. There’s a lot of time between now and that point [that] will be put in aligning our board while keeping an eye on our team. You are constantly evaluating. I would never say that it couldn’t be heavily one side or the other. We’ll certainly know a lot as we get closer and obviously on draft day we’ll have a definite feel for where we’re going."’

‘"It is beyond belief that an NFL coach would not know the rules," Sampson said. "We believe that Jerry Gray had a duty and an obligation as Terrence’s coach to say, ‘He may be my friend and my financial advisor, but he can’t represent you.’ Jerry Gray didn’t do that. He validated the decision."’

‘”We’re trying to find the right permanent location, but everybody’s been so supportive of us down here,” Kelly said during a luncheon at The Embassy Suites announcing the field. “I saw Peter Jacobsen last night at dinner, and unfortunately he can’t make it this year, but he said people are starting to realize about the tournament down here and the name is finally getting out there.”‘

‘He’ll be missed by the team’s oft-flailing defense — that’s for sure.’

‘A who’s who of current and former NFL stars will join Hall-of-Fame quarterback Jim Kelly in Naples on April 13-14 for the fourth annual Drive for Hope Celebrity Golf Challenge with Jim Kelly and Friends.’

‘McGee’s Buffalo-based lawyer, J. David Sampson, told The Washington Times this afternoon that Gray is named in the lawsuit because he used his influence as a coach in an unethical way. "As a coach, he is in a position of confidence and trust with the player and he should have been looking out for Terence," Sampson said in a phone interview. "But he was looking out for Craig Curry and Terry Bolar." Gray and Curry played college football together and were each other’s best man at their weddings.’

‘"I think it could be," said Jauron. "The draft is a ways away. There’s a lot of time between now and that point where we’ll be aligning our board while keeping an eye on our team. We’re constantly evaluating and then as we get to know the draft better and better and how we think it will go. We’ll certainly know that a lot better as we get close to (the draft). Obviously on draft day we’ll have a definite feel for where we’re going. But it could be that way."’

‘In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has the Bills taking Louisville senior defensive tackle Amobi Okoye with the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft in April.’

‘This means the Bills’ most prominent free agents – cornerback Nate Clements, middle linebacker London Fletcher and defensive end Chris Kelsay – will be allowed to hit the open market when free agency begins one week from Friday.’

‘London Fletcher-Baker, Chris Kelsay and Clements are all poised to hit the free agent market when it opens March 2. Bills general manager Marv Levy weighed in on the franchise tag process. "It’s a matter of somebody saying, ‘There’s not better guy than him that we can possibly get,’" Levy said. "It has to be premier guy. That’s why we use it on Nate. I don’t know if there is anyone we feel we have to have that bad, considering what else we have to give up." No tag means the contracts of Anthony Thomas, Mike Gandy, Kiwaukee Thomas, Andre Davis and Daimon Shelton expire March 1. Rian Lindell and Coy Wire would’ve been unrestricted, but have been re-signed.’

‘”He’s like a dictator,” DeLamielleure says of Upshaw. “The players get 59 percent of the league’s gross revenues. I think they could get by with a percentage point or two less.”‘

‘No matter what, McGahee remains the Bills’ starting running back. Unless the Miami native has a big 2007 season, though, he’ll likely be let go by Buffalo. After a promising rookie year in 2004, the 6-foot, 228-pounder’s last two campaigns have left too much to be desired. Put simply, he hasn’t been anything close to a top-tier back.’

‘There are military guidelines that the cheerleaders have to follow. Anything they wear when they’re not on stage has to be extremely conservative and without logos. The girls mostly packed polo shirts, jeans, scarves, and close toed shoes. "We’re definitely not going as divas… everything is low key. We’re there to have a good time and we’re there to entertain", said Jills cheerleader Emily.’