Archives for February 1, 2009

‘All that was missing was a hall of fame triple-play, after former Bills receiver Andre Reed, one of 17 finalists, failed to make the cut when selectors pared the list to 10 earlier in the day.’

‘From a sloppy-fat, 300-plus pounder as the first overall draft pick in 1985, known to eat 50 chicken wings in a sitting, Bruce became a well-sculpted sack machine who played ferociously in the 260s.’

‘"I have really great memories," Brammer said. "Before I knew it (in 1980), our team was 5-0. We were coming back from a game in San Diego after we had beat them and we pulled into the airport early in the morning from the West Coast trip. It was two in the morning and there were five thousand people at the airport waiting to cheer us on. I didn’t totally understand it, but the Bills had been on a long dry spell in the ’70s and it was just an incredible, excited fan base around here, and they wanted to show their appreciation. That was unheard of."’

‘”I came into the game because I liked the game and I wanted to be an owner of the team,” Wilson said. “We picked Buffalo, and the fans have been great. We haven’t given them much of a product lately. Since this fellow [Smith] left us, we haven’t done so good. But the people have supported us.”‘

‘”These were all jobs where they were making $2.30 an hour,” Bruce Smith said of his parents. “It just left an impression on me. They did not enjoy what they did for a living, and I had an opportunity to do something that I enjoyed, that I had a passion for. My father always told me, ‘Whatever you decide to do in life, you make sure you’re the best at it.’ “‘

‘”A friend of mine, Judge [Paul] Borman, said, ‘You ought to see your face when you heard your name on television,’ ” Wilson said after the announcement. “I was shocked. I’ve been lucky along the way. You’ve got to have a little luck – a lot of luck – in your life and I have. It was really special.”‘

‘"A friend of mine said to me on the way over, he said ‘Wilson, if you live long enough and are lucky and fortunate, all good things happen,’" said Wilson. "To get this great honor, I don’t know what to say."’

‘Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew gets the nod from three of the most savvy draft experts: Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN), Don Banks (SI.com) and Nolan Nawrocki (Pro Football Weekly).’

‘With a Web site and merchandise already available, Fitzgerald is unveiling his plan to hold onto to the Bills by pushing for a change in the team’s name and a move to a new, state-of-the-art domed stadium in Niagara County. Fitzgerald sees a Western New York future for the “Niagara Bills.” “Say it about a thousand times,” Fitzgerald said, “and it doesn’t sound so wacky.”‘

‘In the universe of football teams, the 7-9 Bills have come to define what Scott Arniel used to be in the NHL – absolutely average. The median. Half the league is better and half is worse.’

‘But Reed’s candidacy has undoubtedly been hurt by the presence of so many of his teammates and other Buffalo representatives who have been up for election in recent seasons, including Smith and another of this year’s inductees, Bills owner Ralph Wilson.’

‘Sunshine broke through a dreary Buffalo winter Saturday as Bills owner Ralph Wilson and record-setting defensive end Bruce Smith topped the list of six new entrants into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.’

‘”This is an individual honor, but I would be remiss if I did not talk about those who have made this possible,” said Smith, who finished his career with 200 sacks. “Coach Marv Levy was an incredible inspiration to me. What a coach, what a mentor, what a leader.”‘

‘”Since this fella left us, we haven’t done so good,” Wilson said, patting Smith on the shoulder. “He won so many games for us.”‘

‘Davidson had spied Smith in summertime basketball games in Booker T.’s gym, glimpses that jumped to mind the day he saw Smith and his mother shopping at a department store before Smith’s sophomore year. “I told his mother, ‘We’ve got to get him out to play football,’ ” Davidson said. “She said, ‘I can’t let my baby go out there!’ I said, ‘He’s no baby. He’ll be the biggest kid on the field.’ ” Strongest and fastest, too.’