Archives for April 2008

”’I’m not over it,” Mrs. Kelly said of the death of her son. ”I won’t be over it until I see my son again.”’

‘”It gives me a lot of confidence that they believe in me,” Bell said. “A lot of players out there didn’t get drafted. That the Buffalo Bills stepped up and drafted me over players who played their whole high school and college careers says a lot.”‘

‘”To me, he was the most complete tight end,” said Brad Forsyth, the Buffalo scout who evaluated Fine. “He’s not a flashy guy, but he does everything well there at Kansas.”‘

‘Viti, who is 5-foot-9, 240 pounds, has been in contact with Buffalo for several weeks. Officials from the team began talking to him about a free-agent deal during the seventh and final round of yesterday’s NFL draft.’

‘”I’m definitely thankful I’m with the Buffalo Bills. It’s a great organization. I met the coaches there and feel like I learned a lot from those guys.”‘

‘Omon, who had been told he would be everything from a fourth-round to a sixth-round selection, had been expecting a phone call. He just didn’t expect it to come from the Bills. “Not at all. I didn’t even talk to them before, I don’t think,” said Omon, who expressed relief that the phone call finally came.’

‘”The whole draft was kind of long. Right after it, I was hoping to get a call and it happened. I’m excited,” Drone said. “My agent said Buffalo wanted to sign me. A couple of other teams were interested, but Buffalo was a definite yes. I talked with their quarterbacks coach about five minutes and it sounds like a good situation.”‘

‘When the Buffalo Bills drafted Ellis, a defensive end, yesterday with the third round’s ninth pick, he couldn’t wrap his head around the reality of the moment. “I don’t think it’s gonna hit me until I get there,” he said. “As long as I’m prepared for the cold weather, I’ll be fine.”‘

‘”It’s very complicated, you don’t know where you’re going to end up, what’s going to happen,” Omon said. “I’m in Nebraska right now, and then I find out I’m going to be living in Buffalo, N.Y.”‘

‘”It’s hard to go to the championship game three times and not come out with a win,” Omon said. “Everybody says we’re like the Buffalo Bills of Division II.”‘

‘Omon led the Bearcats to three consecutive national championship games. He capped his career with what was arguably his best season. He led Division II with 2,337 rushing yards and became just the second player in D-II history to rush for 7,000 career yards.’

‘Grade: B-.’

‘"We have been targeting this fellow for a long time," said Wilson, before presenting McKelvin with a Bills’ No. 28 jersey. "I know it’s an old cliche, but we did not think that Leodis McKelvin would be on the board when our choice came up. … We’re very happy to have him, happy to be able to get him."’

‘"I wouldn’t say it’s disappointing. All of that’s behind me now," Bell said when asked if it mattered that he couldn’t share the achievement with Malone. "I feel good I made it this far. Nothing against him."’

‘The Bills played the percentages by avoiding receivers in the first round. No other position has produced disappointment as consistently in the first round recently. Taking McKelvin worked out well for the Bills because the run on receivers didn’t begin until the second round. Buffalo got its corner and still came away with Indiana’s James Hardy at No. 41.’