Archives for May 2014

‘”Stevie was a great contributor during his career with our organization,” said Bills GM Doug Whaley. “Today’s decision was not an easy one to make, especially involving a player like Stevie who leaves everything he has on the field and is an emotional leader in our locker room.’

‘The potential site is just north of the Thruway on Route 98, Post said.’

‘Regardless, there’s some questions about what drafting Watkins means for Johnson. ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested last night that this could mean the Bills are looking to move Johnson. That’s a possibility. Plenty of teams would be interested. If the Bills can get good value for him, fans shouldn’t oppose that option.’

‘For those who had wearied of the Bills’ lack of draft day aggressiveness, over the years, Thursday night provided a shock.’

‘”I could not be happier for Sammy and his family,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “This is just unbelievable. Two of the greatest players in Clemson history are now teammates. C.J. has been blowing up my phone since the announcement was made. This could not be a better situation for Sammy…The first thing I said to Sammy’s mother is that he could not have a better mentor than C.J. Spiller. He’ll show Sammy the ropes.”‘

‘”His biggest asset is his mental game,” Hampton said from the backstage area of Radio City Music Hall. “He learns, he picks stuff up that a lot of other kids don’t. When he got to Clemson, that’s what put him over the top. I think he’ll do that in the pros.”‘

‘But I’d rather the Bills ‘get busy livin’ with the guy every draft expert says could be the best playmaker in the entire 2014 NFL Draft then get busy dying with the same old philosophy they have stuck to that has led to the longest playoff drought in the NFL.’

‘”Very high cost, but we thought it was a calculated risk and a risk we were willing to take,” Bills General Manager Doug Whaley said. “The high cost of not making the playoffs is something we weighed, and we thought this guy’s going to get us to the playoffs.”‘

‘That’s an awfully steep price to pay, as Whaley conceded moments after making the first blockbuster deal of the three-day “selection meeting.” The Bills gave up a first and a fourth for the privilege of moving up just five spots in the draft.’

‘And even though it cost them their first-round selection in 2015, the Bills indeed made a deal and swapped places with the Cleveland Browns so that they could select Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the fourth overall pick of the NFL Draft.’

‘”Anything that’s worth having … you’re going to have to give up something. We gave up something, but it was a calculated effort that it was a win for us, now and in the future.”‘

‘For the Bills to create the biggest buzz in the early stages of the draft by trading up five spots to grab dynamic wideout Sammy Watkins gave their loyal fan base something to cheer about. Yes, they gave up a first- and fourth-round pick next year. But they love this kid and have given young quarterback EJ Manuel a dynamic weapon.’

‘If Watkins is as good as advertised, then the Bills will have made EJ Manuel a much better quarterback in his second season and given the offense the chance to be as dynamic as second-year coach Doug Marrone believes it can be. If not, they will have taken a major step back, and Whaley might very well have put his job on the line.’

‘”I didn’t really think that they were going to come up to get me,” Watkins said. “I was just thinking it was all fun and games – I was on an interview. Next thing you know, here we come May 8 and I’m chosen to be a Buffalo Bill.”‘

‘”I thought they were messing with me when they said they were going to pick me, but they trust me and believe in me,” Watkins said. “Now it’s time to start playing.”‘