Archives for May 2014

‘”We are so proud of him,” Watkins’ maternal grandmother, Mary McKinley, said through tears. “We knew he said he was going to do it. I knew he was going to do it because he’s humble. He’s a good boy.”‘

‘I wish the people of western New York could have heard Whaley’s voice from the draft room on Thursday night. It was almost beseeching. Whaley’s a Pittsburgher, born and raised and schooled there, but he sounded like a factory worker from Tonawanda discussing why he had to make this move.’

‘Watkins was considered by most to be the top receiver available this year and Buffalo must have agreed because the Bills gave up a lot to get him. The Browns will get Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2015 and the Bills 109th pick in the 2014 draft in exchange for the move. Cleveland will also get the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft that was previously held by Buffalo.’

‘In the deal with the Browns, Buffalo gave Cleveland its No. 9 pick this year, plus a first- and a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft.’

‘The patch will be featured on the jersey presented to the player Buffalo selects in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.’

‘The 6-foot-1 Watkins had 101 catches for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games for Clemson this past season and ended his career with a slew of school receiving records.’

‘It would have been very easy for the Bills to stay put and select North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron, who ended up going to the Lions at No. 10. Instead, they went after the most skilled offensive player in the draft, a dynamic playmaker who instantly upgrades a passing game that ranked 28th last season.’

‘Watkins comes to Buffalo after three years at Clemson, capped off by a junior season that saw him rack up 101 receptions for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Tigers, punctuated by an explosive performance in the 2014 Orange Bowl where he racked up 227 yards on 16 catches. As a freshman in 2011, Watkins burst onto the scene with 82 catches, 12 of those touchdowns, for 1,219 yards. That performance earned him a spot on the AP first-team All American squad.’

‘I am so tired of safe and boring, that’s Darcy Regier, Buddy Nix, Dick Jauron and Marv Levy. Hold Whaley accountable because you know what, he wouldn’t have it any other way.’

‘”Yes we gave up something, but we thought it was a calculated effort and that it was a win for us now and in the future,” Whaley said. “We’re building our roster now and granted you hate giving up number one picks, but we thought what he brings to us now is worth the low one that we’ll be giving up next year.”‘

‘”I didn’t really think they were going to come up and get me,” said Watkins by conference call from New York minutes after being named the Bills first round pick. “I had my interview with them and Doug Whaley just kept telling me that he was going to get me and I thought it was all fun and games because I was on an interview. Then the next thing you know here we are on May 8th and I’m a Buffalo Bill.”‘

‘We certainly are excited about what just happened. We went in to this draft saying we were going to be bold and we made a bold move. I just want to give a lot of credit obviously to our General Manager Doug Whaley and our scouts and the preparation that has gone on over the last eight months. Obviously Sammy Watkins was a player that was very, very, very high on our board and someone that we felt could contribute immediately and we’re sitting up here very pleased right now. We’ll open it up to questions and look forward to answering them.’

‘He grew up a Bills fan.’

‘”Just watching him play in person I know the kind of player he is and the work that he puts in,” Spiller told Buffalobills.com. “He’s very serious about his craft. He’s a very talented player on the field. So I’m excited about the pick. I know it’s like a dream come true for him and now you’ve got a bunch of Clemson players on one team.”‘

‘That is a lot, but for me, I think I am prepared. We have a great staff to get you prepared. I have a lot of great receivers that I can stand behind and get me to where I need to be. I need to be 100 percent when I get there. I need to be starting off on the right foot.’