Two Bills Drive

Congratulations to Tom Donahoe for having the foresight to franchise-tag Peerless Price a few weeks ago and then move him to Atlanta for a first-round pick. That was a shrewd maneuver; one I suspect other NFL general managers might copy when unrestricted free agency occurs in the coming seasons.

“I don’t think they will match now, but I don’t want to say anything until there’s an official announcement that they’re signed,” Spikes said shortly after arriving back home.

‘It is likely that Lewis has decided not to dump huge money on Spikes but rather use the money to sign a number of players at different positions.’

‘"I don’t think so," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis when asked if the organization will take the full week to make its decision on Spikes. "I think things will progress quickly."’

"We're in good shape. We were in good shape if Peerless came in and signed a tender and wanted to play at that figure. We still would have been active and had the chance to be out there doing things. We've done a better job of managing the cap, we still have to find better ways to improve that but at least we have some flexibility this year.

We have enough flexibility to look at other players. We do have to be smart shoppers and if we do deals they (have to be) the right deals for the player, our club and our salary cap."

THE BOTTOM LINE by SI.com’s Don Banks: Price was the consensus top-rated receiver available. He gives Vick a go-to guy and should lessen the amount of scrambling that the Falcons’ gifted young passer does, thereby keeping him healthier. But what the deal underlines is that in his short time in the league, owner Arthur Blank has gained a reputation for passing out inflated signing bonuses.

Is Price another Alvin Harper waiting to happen, a solid No. 2 WR who couldn’t make the jump to No. 1 once he moved away from Dallas in free agency? Probably not. But with that $10 million bonus, the Falcons are banking heavily that he’s among the game’s top 10 receivers, and he hasn’t proven that he merits that kind of billing just yet.

Buffalo will pick behind the Jets and before the Colts in the 1st round of the NFL Draft after acquiring Atlanta's 1st round pick on Friday.

6 Days and counting down for the Bengals to match Bills offer for Takeo Spikes. This java-based counter will give you the exact amount of time to the second.

He will be speaking at Orchard Park High School on March 11, 2003 at 7:30 PM. In his fifth year as a national speaker, he is considered a expert in the field of athletic scholarships.

He will be speaking on the issue of raising awareness on the collegiate recruiting process for students hoping to play sports at the collegiate level. the Camp Hill Pa. residents motto is "Live everyday like there will be no tomorrow, and stop to smell the roses along the way".

It’s free and open to the public. for further info, contact Orchard Park High School Athletic Dept 716-209-6208.

‘Atlanta paid dearly for Price, giving him a $10 million signing bonus on a deal that two league sources said averages $6 million a year over seven years. The yearly average would make Price tied for sixth highest in the league among receiver salaries. The bonus is believed to be the ninth biggest.’

‘It includes a $9 million signing bonus, a $1 million base salary the first year, plus another $1.5 million option bonus after the first season, according to a league source. The deal would pay Spikes $14.1 million over the first two years and $17.7 million over the first three. Those aspects of the deal slightly surpass the big contract Atlanta gave middle linebacker Keith Brooking last week. Brooking will get $34 million over the first six years.’

”’It was an opportunity for me to go to a place I feel wanted me, and gave me the opportunity to be a No. 1 receiver,” Price said after the Bills traded him to Atlanta Friday for a first-round draft pick.’

”’It’s amazing how everything happened at the same time,” Donahoe said with a smile. ”There’s been a lot of papers and faxes flying back and forth all day long.”’

‘Western New York fans can reasonably dream of a 2003 Bills team including linebackers Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey, top-shelf defensive tackle Sam Adams and possibly an instant-impact pass-rushing specialist with the No. 23 pick.’