Archives for March 14, 2014

‘”I wanted to be a Bill,” he said. “As a player you don’t always have as much control as you’d like. I mean, you do have control, but you hire people to advise you, so you listen. It’s so hard, because you have to look at it from a business perspective, a player perspective and a family perspective. And I wanted to be a Bill.”‘

‘”They did their thing,” Graham said of the contract talks between the Bills and his Indianapolis-based representative, Buddy Baker. “Then my agent called me, and I was in my hotel room, and I was getting ready to go to dinner with Washington.”‘

‘Robert A. Hopkins, 29, of Buffalo, had been due in court Thursday before Town Justice Edward A. Pace, but the case was adjourned to April 10. Hopkins has added another attorney, Patrick J. Brown, who will work with Jeffrey Bochiechio, according to court officials.’

‘”My wife and I love the city of Buffalo, we love everything about Buffalo,” Chandler said then. “It means a lot to me to have the bull on my helmet and play for the city of Buffalo. I appreciate everything here. It’s hard to imagine anything else.”‘

‘Corey Graham’s desire to play for his hometown Buffalo Bills was so strong, the free agent cornerback never let the Washington Redskins finish making their pitch.’

‘Chandler’s return solidifies a spot that lacked experienced depth.’

‘Chandler is coming off a 2013 season in which he set career bests with 53 catches and 655 receiving yards while scoring a pair of touchdowns. The 6- foot-7 Iowa product has recorded 134 receptions totaling 1,615 yards with 14 touchdowns over the past three campaigns.’

‘He has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games, most in franchise history among tight ends.’

‘According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s a two-year deal to keep him in the fold. The Bills initially acquired Chandler by claiming him on waivers from Dallas during the 2010 season. He started for the Bills in 2011, signed a two-year contract following the season and has been a mainstay in the Bills’ offense ever since.’

‘Chandler led Buffalo’s offense and set career-highs of 53 catches for 655 yards with two touchdowns in 2013. He holds a team record for the most consecutive games with a catch as a tight end (32), ranks fourth in team history at his position in receptions (135) and touchdowns (14) and is the only tight end in Buffalo’s history to record back-to-back 500 yard receiving campaigns (2012-2013).’

‘”It’s kind of a surreal feeling,” Graham said after signing with the Bills. “I grew up as a kid being a Buffalo Bills fan, watching Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, guys like Steve Tasker and Bruce Smith play, and I always had a dream of playing and being a Buffalo Bill. To come back there and have an opportunity to play there is like a dream come true to be honest with you. It’s unbelievable and feels like a dream.”‘