Archives for April 2014

‘The Bills welcomed in a prospect that is considered to be among the elite prospects in the entire draft class Tuesday. Texas A&M WR Mike Evans toured One Bills Drive and met with Buffalo’s offensive staff. He was joined by USC center Marcus Martin and Georgia Southern RB Jerick McKinnon.’

‘These nine-week programs are conducted in three phases, per the collective bargaining agreement…’.

‘According to multiple reports, the National Football League is expected to announce the 2014 schedule Wednesday or Thursday.’

‘”The Buffalo Bills have reached a settlement in this matter which we believe is in the best interest of our organization and our fans. The purpose of the Bills’ voluntary, opt-in text messaging program was to provide our fans with information they requested about the team. The organization maintains that our text messaging program was in compliance with the law,” Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said in a statement Monday.’

‘”I’m going to use that platform any way I can to gain more speed for this alliance to keep the team here,” said Reed, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. “For a guy like Ralph Wilson, who made my life so good, it’s kind of an obligation for me to give back to what Ralph started there in Buffalo.”‘

‘If the Bills stay at ninth overall, the overwhelming speculation is that they’ll use their first-round pick to find themselves a starting right tackle. If Jake Matthews is still available when the Bills logo pops up and they’re on the clock, the team would have a hard time passing up on someone with his type of pedigree and experience at a high level. If the top two tackles are gone, the Bills could select Michigan’s Taylor Lewan at ninth overall, or they may elect to wait for one of their Day Two selections to find their new starting right tackle. Regardless of when they address the position, the Bills could still elect to draft another offensive tackle late on Day Three to develop in addition to the earlier selection. At the very least, they’ll sign an undrafted free agent to compete for a roster spot.’

‘Fuller entered the draft after a successful and highly productive career with the Hokies. During his senior season he paired with teammate Antone Exum as one of the country’s top cornerback duos, challenging opponents by taking away a good portion of their passing game. In his senior year, Fuller had 24 tackles, two interceptions and two tackles for loss.’

‘He’s just 190 pounds, but the six-foot Fuller plays a lot bigger and more aggressive than his stature might indicate. The Virginia Tech product was a three time All-ACC performer for the Hokies thanks to his anticipation and nose for the football.’

‘”I believe the success of his trip in January had a lot to do with his interest,” Caputo said. “The way we rolled out Buffalo for him made him feel welcome and as a place he’d like to do business. He’s as much as said that.”‘

‘”My love of baseball started back when I was little,” Jones said. “I played Little League, and I played all the way through high school. But I just loved the football atmosphere, so I really stuck with football. Plus, it was a faster route to the NFL than baseball would have been getting to the big leagues. I liked scoring touchdowns and I liked dancing in the end zone, so I stuck with it. But I always loved baseball.”‘

‘Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly reached out to fans and well-wishers over the weekend by posting a video on Instagram promising he “will be back” from his fight against cancer.’

‘”Jim’s coming back, and he wants to fight cancer here in Buffalo,” Dan Kelly said. “He will be continuing all his treatments here in Buffalo.”‘

‘A whopping 42 receiver prospects have draftable grades, according to CBS Sports. If all of them were to hear their names called next month, it would set a record. Since the NFL went to a seven-round draft in 1994, a high of 35 receivers were drafted in both 2007 and 2008.’

‘”Certainly, a lot of owners aren’t around anymore. Maybe some of the new guys wouldn’t bear the same type of resentment that some of the older guys would. Do you think he would be a good partner for us or be somewhat of a maverick and be in it for himself? All questions that have to be answered. It’s not just the USFL stuff. Who knows how serious he is. He likes to have his name out there. Let’s put it this way: I don’t think his confirmation would be a slam dunk.”‘

‘Without providing names, Erie County deputy executive Richard Tobe said he has been approached by as many as 10 prospective ownership groups, which he has told to contact the team.’