Archives for March 2007

‘Moulds, Fletcher and Spikes were believed to be three of the players upset with the decision by former GM Tom Donahoe and coach Mike Mularkey to hand the starting quarterback job to Losman prior to the 2005 season. The veterans bought into the misguided notion that going with a veteran, in this case Kelly Holcomb, would give them a better chance to reach the playoffs. The results were disastrous. Losman’s development was stunted a year and a never-ending rebuilding process was set back yet again – for those scoring at home, it’s seven years and counting since the last playoff appearance.’

‘Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with a burdensome underachiever any more. The Bills took a chance, and it paid off until Travis Henry left. Since then, it’s a total nightmare.’

‘Losman’s maligners, once louder than jerks on cell phones in restaurants, have been oddly silent, and his delivery should only improve with reputable protection. The best way to improve stat lines is to add good players who, until the league truly recognizes sacks allowed or pancake blocks, have no stats at all. Two promising new starters and one backup should make their teammates look good.’

‘After Buffalo and Philadelphia pulled off the trade Monday that brought him to the Bills, Walker couldn’t be happier. “I’m very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to getting up there,” said Walker. “I think we have a young team that has a lot of potential and I’m just looking forward to being part of something special.”‘

‘”I think I’m looking forward to my new situation now, and I don’t want to cry over spilled beans,” he said.’

‘”Losing players of the caliber of Takeo and Kelly is tough, though we think this deal works for everyone,” Bills General Manager Marv Levy said the NFL owners meetings.’

‘Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. said the agreement is a critical step toward helping the franchise remain competitive against the NFL’s big-money teams, and it helps ensure the club’s future in Buffalo. “Without this agreement, I’m not sure we could survive,” said Wilson, who was one of eight NFL owners on the committee that came up with the revenue-sharing formula. “This is not the total solution. It’s sort of a Band- Aid situation, but it will help the clubs for a few years. It was something the medium- and smallmarket teams needed right now.”‘

‘That’s one reason your inability to find a good restaurant in Buffalo remains inexplicable. It rather reminds me of your inability to find a hole on thirdand- two.’

‘”I think they do need to crack down hard,” said Losman. “I really do feel we need to be strict. We can’t let it go on. We see what it does to other leagues and I definitely don’t want to be part of a league like that that allows things to take place over and over again. I think there are a lot of grown men in this league and they need to be treated that way.”‘

‘The move makes financial sense for the Bills, as Holcomb is also signed through 2008, at $1.485 million and $1.535 million.’

‘Spikes, whose nickname is “TKO,” was not happy with the direction the Bills were going with their defense and asked to be traded earlier in the offseason. He was upset when the Bills let two of its best defensive players – cornerback Nate Clements and linebacker London Fletcher-Baker – leave via free agency.’

Spikes heading to Eagles (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lacing up Spikes (Philadelphia Daily News)

Birds can go to war with this ‘warrior’ (Philadelphia Daily News)

Eagles acquire Spikes for Walker (Bucks County Courier Times)

Linebacking Spikes upward with trade (Delaware County Times)

Eagles get Spikes and QB from Bills (Allentown Morning Call)

Spikes comes to Eagles in deal with Bills (Cherry Hill Courier Post)

Eagles acquire Bills’ LB Spikes (Trenton Times)

Eagles acquire linebacker Spikes from Bills (Press of Atlantic City)

Big deal: Birds get Spikes from Bills (Reading Eagle)

Eagles Get Spikes, Holcomb From Bills (ComcastSportsNet.com)

Eagles Make Big Deal To Fortify Defense, LB Position (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

‘As for Walker, upon entering his official Web site, it claims the Waterboro, S.C., native is “Engineered To Sack.” The Bills and their general manager, Marv Levy, had better hope so; otherwise, trading away Spikes — no doubt a major fan favorite — could become a colossal error.’

‘In his career, Spikes has played in 126 games, including 125 starts, and recorded 1,038 tackles, 21.5 sacks, and 12 interceptions.’

‘The NFL’s owners approved a revenue sharing plan that outlines how the pool of shared monies will be disbursed to small market teams in need through 2009. While details of the plan were not revealed it was ratified as owners voted 30-2 in favor of the proposal. The agreement, supported by the Bills, recognizes the pressures of the new CBA on small market franchises. The pool is designed to ensure, at least through 2009, that all teams can continue to compete.’