Two Bills Drive

Q: Coy, how much different is this defense compared to last year’s?

Coy Wire: Schematically, it’s a lot different. The philosophy that we have on defense has changed a little too. I think we’re combining Dick LeBeau and Jerry Gray’s schemes and philosophies and now we have this defense that, to me, is going to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

Former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas has been selected for induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame for 2003. He will be inducted along with ten other members of the Class of 2003 at an awards dinner on Wednesday, October 29 at the HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo.

Only the second true punter ever drafted by the Bills and the first one to make the team, Greg Cater came to Buffalo after being selected in the tenth round of the 1980 draft out of the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga.

Date: Sunday, June 8, 2003

Check-in: 9:00 to 10:00 AM

Walk Start: 10:00 AM

Walk Distance: 5K (3.1 Miles)

Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium (One Bills Drive off Abbott Road)

‘"I’m real excited to come out here and compete and try to make this team better," said Jett, who watched the Bills’ minicamp practice. "We had a couple guys who had been around forever and a young guy coming in last year, so I kind of got lost in the shuffle."’

‘The arrival of Jerry Rice in 2001 and the emergence of third-year man Jerry Porter in 2002, combined with the fact that Jett does not play special teams, made him a non-entity during the Raiders AFC championship season.’

‘The 32-year-old Jett posted career highs in catches (46) and touchdowns (12) in 1997. He then followed that season up with a career-best 882 yards in 1998.’

”’Nah, nah, I don’t need to set a franchise record again,” Fletcher said. ”When you have a defense where you have a great deal of talent on it, one person doesn’t have to make all the plays.” Also noting the addition of defensive tackle Sam Adams, Fletcher grinned and said: ”We’ve got a pretty stout group.”’

‘Jett says Sam Adams convinced him to come to Buffalo.’

‘The Bills already have depth at receiver with Eric Moulds, Josh Reed and recent free-agent acquisition Bobby Shaw.’

Why Buffalo? What made it attractive?

“I talked to a couple of guys and they said it was a great place to be, a great place to play, good people here in the organization and they need some speed.”

1998

Starter at wide receiver in all 16 league games for Raiders, finishing second on the team in receptions with 45, yardage with 882 and in receiving touchdowns with six…Average per reception of 19.6 ranked first on the Raiders and second in the NFL among receivers with at least 35 catches

Jett, known for his world class speed, has spent the past 11 seasons with the Raiders where he has caught 256 passes for 4,417 yards (17.3 average). In 1997, Jett posted career highs in catches (46) and touchdowns (12). He followed that season up with a career-best 882 yards in 1998.

Marcus Spriggs, a six-year veteran who has started at both left and right tackle in the NFL, was signed by the Green Bay Packers. The 6-4, 310-pound Spriggs was chosen by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 1997 draft, and has been with the Miami Dolphins the last two years