Bills News

"Ticket prices … as expected … are through the proverbial roof of the domed Rogers Centre for the Buffalo Bills' series of games in Toronto. Sideline seats from the end zones to the 20-yard lines will cost $295 a game. Anyone who wants to sit in the lower bowl of the Rogers Centre between the 20-yard lines will pay more than $300. Just how much more? Those seats are considered the VIP location and come with "hospitality" amenities. The prices for the VIP seats will be revealed May 12."

"Linebacker Joe Brockington was released by the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, less than a week after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Notre Dame. Brockington was cut after taking part in the Bills’ three-day rookie mini-camp this past weekend. "

"University of Arkansas guard Robert Felton waited for a telephone call that never came during the NFL draft. He had the resume: first-team All-Southeastern Conference and second-team All-America. What he didn’t have was an NFL team that believed he was worth spending a draft pick on. So Felton comes to the Buffalo Bills humbled, but not discouraged. “Obviously the draft didn’t go the way I wanted it, but in a way it did because I’m where I wanted to be — in the NFL,” Felton said during the Bills’ weekend rookie minicamp. “This is my chance. I’m here and I’m trying to make the best of it.” "

"Derek Fine’s receiving numbers at the University of Kansas weren’t jaw-dropping last season. But his 46 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns weren’t that bad for a tight end playing in a spread offense that used multiple wide receivers and moved him all over the field. Even though Kansas won a school-record 12 games, Fine was overshadowed in the Big XII Conference, where Martellus Bennett of Texas A&M, Martin Rucker of Missouri and Jermichael Finley of Texas got more attention and were drafted earlier. "

"After five practices over three days, the Buffalo Bills completed their rookie minicamp, satisfied the first-year players soaked up a lot of knowledge that they will apply toward challenging for a roster spot this summer. "We were happy with the way it all went," coach Dick Jauron said after the final session Sunday. "We weren't disappointed with the way anybody looked, any of the invited free agents and certainly any of our draft picks. Now we have to get them back as quickly as we can when they can officially come back, get them into our OTAs [offseason team activities] and into our classroom and into our offseason program. The sooner we can do that, the better for us and for them.""

"When Mike Viti arrived at the United States Military Academy four years ago, the idea of him or any of his classmates playing in the National Football League immediately after graduation seemed about as preposterous as male Cadets being allowed to stroll across campus in tie-dye shirts and shoulder-length hair. Just wasn't going to happen. But even stalwart places like West Point occasionally call audibles, and while military uniforms and buzz cuts remain mandatory, restrictions on Army athletes pursuing professional careers before fulfilling active-duty requirements have changed. So, thanks to the Academy's Alternative Service Option program and the Buffalo Bills' interest in him as a run-blocking, pass-catching fullback, Viti will be allowed to experience life as both a professional soldier and professional football player."

"Leodis McKelvin likely was the safest pick the Bills could have made with the 11th selection in the NFL Draft last weekend. Elite college cornerbacks have a great success rate in the NFL. In the 20-year period from 1986 to 2005, 28 cornerbacks were taken among the top 15 picks of the draft. Only seven, or 25 percent, could be considered busts. The other 21 were at least decent players for the teams that drafted them. "

"Who was it that first said “it all starts with defense?” George Allen Sr.? Buddy Ryan? Donald Rumsfeld? Whomever it was, the Buffalo Bills finally agree with him. If they were hesitant, they received constant reminders on ESPN during college draft weekend: “The Bills are 19-33 against the AFC East, their own division, during this decade”; “Randy Moss scored more touchdowns than the entire Bills’ offense last season”; “The New England Patriots defeated the Bills in 14 of their last 15 meetings.” Buffalo draft selectors then picked a cornerback and a pass rusher on two of their first three picks. "

"Ralph Wilson knows what you’re thinking: Last week, financial statements revealed that Rogers Communications will pay the Bills $78 million for the right to host eight games in Canada over the next five years. That averages out to a tidy $9.75 million a game, or roughly twice what the Bills collect in gross revenues for a typical home game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Naturally, this means the Bills will have more money to invest in players, right? “Uh, no it won’t,’ ” Wilson said Friday afternoon from his home in Detroit. “That $78 million doesn’t go into our pocket. You’ve got to pay the players out of that. We’ve got the cap. We always spend up to the cap. So I don’t know where people get the idea we have more money to spend."

"Thurman Thomas is in a lot of athletic halls of fame. Now he’ll join the only one that has escaped him. The Buffalo Bills great was named to the Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced Thursday. "

"The Buffalo Bills announced today that they have claimed quarterback Matt Baker off waivers. Coming on the heels of the addition of free agent Luke Drone of Illinois State, the team has five quarterbacks in its stable."

"Keeping Losman around is a bad idea on a number of levels. It’s unfair to Edwards, who doesn’t need Losman hanging over his shoulder for a second year. It’s unfair to the team, which was divided by the quarterback issue last season and should be allowed to move on. It’s not fair to Losman, either, who doesn’t need the humiliation of having to crawl back to the Bills after asking to be traded. Losman was a good soldier for the most part, aside from his sniveling insinuations that Ralph Wilson was calling the shots from up above. "

"Special teams coach Bobby April could not have been happier about the Buffalo Bills’ draft. Most of the 10 draft picks will likely have little impact on offense and defense. However, they will have a chance to contribute right away in the return game and coverage units. Few teams put as much emphasis on special teams as the Bills, so some of those rookies will be counted on to perform. "

"The New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins didn’t put up much of a fight last season in terms of battling the Patriots for the AFC East crown. With the 2008 NFL draft concluded, a few experts weighed in on the challengers and assessed how well they did, on paper at least, in terms of closing the gap in the division. But before getting to the opponents, the experts provided a quick word on how well the Pats did in the selection process."

"Army’s Mike Viti could have been headed for combat in Iraq or Afghanistan after graduation in May. Instead, he’ll be in Orchard Park competing for a job with the Buffalo Bills."

"The No. 4 defensive end is an afterthought on many NFL teams. The Buffalo Bills showed Sunday how important they think that roster spot is when they invested their third-round pick on Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis. "

"Leodis McKelvin was all smiles as he stood at the podium for his first public appearance as the Buffalo Bills’ newest bonus baby. At Troy (Ala.) University, he was a shy kid who was slow to open up. But he was not the same person on the football field. That is a guy full of confidence, knowing he could make a play on every snap. When that play is made, he’ll fold his arms to make a cross, his way of giving a shout out to his home town of Waycross, Ga. "

"Based on their needs, the Buffalo Bills could not have asked for a better scenario on the first day of the draft. Troy’s Leodis McKelvin fell in their laps after teams picking ahead of them in the first round bypassed the top-rated cornerback. Despite a run on wide receivers in the second round, the Bills still were able to get the biggest one available, James Hardy of Indiana. Those two very strong picks, some intriguing prospects and a few long shots round out the Bills’ 10-player haul. "

"The numbers are surreal, as if compiled on a video game. In four seasons at Division II Northwest Missouri State, Xavier Omon scored 92 rushing touchdowns, five more than the Buffalo Bills have amassed this decade. In all four college seasons Omon rushed for at least 1,500 yards, an unprecedented feat. Statistics lend insight into why the Bills nabbed Omon with their sixth-round selection in Sunday’s NFL draft despite no apparent need at the position. But the numbers fail to capture the essence of a running back shadowed by tragedy throughout his life. Figures can’t begin to tell the tale of what Omon’s endured en route to realizing his goal of joining an NFL team. "

"The Bills filled a big need by drafting Troy University cornerback Leodis McKelvin with the 11th overall pick. He gives them another weapon in the defensive backfield to contend with the Patriots’ passing offense, which is the best in the NFL."

"Cornerback and wide receiver were the two positions the Bills absolutely had to upgrade, and they managed to procure cornerback Leodis McKelvin of Troy University in the first round with the 11th overall pick and wide receiver James Hardy of Indiana University in the second round with the 41st pick."

"I can’t promise you that Leodis McKelvin will be a Pro Bowl defensive back one day, a true lock-down corner. I can’t guarantee that James Hardy is the second coming of Michael Irvin, a big, dynamic wide receiver who will turn a perennially weak offense into one of the NFL’s best."

"Osi Umenyiora did it. So did DeMarcus Ware. Now Leodis McKelvin has a chance to follow in the footsteps of other former defensive stars from Troy (Ala.) University to make it big in the NFL. "

"Early in his football career at Indiana University, James Hardy told his quarterback, "Just throw it up there. I'll go get it." Blake Powers was a tad skeptical, but decided to give it a shot."

"The Buffalo Bills have made character an important quality when evaluating players. At first glance, their second-round draft pick, Indiana wide receiver James Hardy, would seem to have character issues."

"The early returns on their selections are still being digested, but a week before the draft it appears that the Bills made their wisest decision for 2008. They didn’t trade J. P. Losman and evidently will not change their minds."

"Michigan State receiver Devin Thomas and Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey are two names for Buffalo Bills fans to watch in what could be a wild NFL draft day at One Bills Drive. "

"Wide receiver or a cornerback? Cornerback or a wide receiver? When the Buffalo Bills select 11th and 41st overall in the first two rounds of the NFL draft taking place today, they'll have the opportunity to add quality players gifted at either catching passes or preventing passes from being completed."

"As of Friday night, the Packers weren't expecting to sign free-agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper this weekend. According to a league source, Culpepper has drawn interest from Buffalo and his previous team, Oakland, and is weighing his future. "

"The depth of talent at the tight end position in the NFL draft might just break down nicely for the Buffalo Bills this weekend. It’s not a great year for tight ends overall. However, there is a decent pool of pass-catching tight ends who will be available in the second, third and fourth rounds. That could be the ideal time for the Bills to fill their need at the position. "

"The first predraft trade happened Wednesday and more deals could play a big role in the weekend’s draft. Kansas City dealt Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota for an additional first-round pick and two third-round selections. Other veterans could be on the move, too. The Buffalo Bills might figure into the deal-making. Given their two biggest needs are wide receiver and cornerback, the Bills could move back from the 11th overall pick and still fill one of those needs. It is believed that Michigan State wide receiver Devin Thomas would be the choice if the Bills stay put. But he might be a better value later in the first round."

"They’ve been all over the Midwest and the South, evaluating players at not only the big schools, the football schools, but also places like Newberry, Catawba and Mars Hill College, tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, N. C. They’ve gathered information that astounds and it’s all top of mind, not only the heights and weights and times in the 40, but arm length and hand size and presumably caloric intake and rate of burn."

"Two years ago, the Bills picked safety Donte Whitner a tad higher than many draftniks had him rated— at eighth overall. This year the Bills may make a similar move in selecting Devin Thomas, the wide receiver from Michigan State. Thomas is rated by many as the best receiver in the draft but most experts don’t put him among the top 12 players overall. Like all NFL teams, the Bills are being secretive about their plans for the draft. But team sources indicate Thomas is highly regarded at One Bills Drive. "

"Don't laugh. I'm not losing my mind. How about the Buffalo Bills offering the No. 11 pick in Saturday's NFL college draft to Cincinnati for Chad Johnson? Why gamble on drafting a wide receiver when one of the five best in the sport is on the trade block? Johnson and Lee Evans would be an exciting WR duo and Sunday afternoons would be a lot more fun for Bills fans."

"DeMarcus Ware and Terrell Suggs are two examples of college defensive ends who made a smooth transition to outside linebacker in the NFL. Vernon Gholston might follow in their footsteps. "

"The Bills appear headed for the best cornerback available in the April 26 NFL draft. It worked well in 1999 with Antoine Winfield and 2001 with Nate Clements, not so well in 1990 with James Williams. Only one, Williams, was drafted as high as 16th in the first round."

"The 2008 Buffalo Bills appear to be on the upgrade and they have a favorable schedule. But are they good enough to end their eight-year playoff drought?"

"There is pretty good depth at the tight end position in the 2008 NFL draft. The Buffalo Bills could use another young tight end, and they should have a chance to get one — if the right one is available in their eyes — in the second, third or fourth round. “I think it’s deep,” said Scot McCloughan, the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager, of this year’s class of tight ends. “But the thing that’s unique about it is a lot of these colleges are going to those three-and four-receiver sets, spread offenses, and you’re not seeing the prototypical tight end on the line of scrimmage next to the tackle. "

"It does not appear the Buffalo Bills will be parting ways with quarterback J.P. Losman this season. Losman, who is entering his fifth NFL season, lost his starting job to rookie Trent Edwards last season and has requested to be traded. But Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said there are no plans to grant that request at this time."

"The Buffalo Bills will take a wide receiver in the first round of the 2008 draft. Or maybe a cornerback. Or maybe a defensive end. Or maybe . . . As you can see, it is anyone’s guess what direction the Bills will go when they’re on the clock for the 11th overall pick. With less than two weeks to go, it’s a good bet the Bills have a good idea where they are headed. They just aren’t going to share their intentions. "

"Only time will tell if Russ Brandon is as gifted at building an NFL roster as he was at building a team’s fan base. But like any good football executive, Brandon seems to be well-practiced in the art of saying nothing. The Bills held their annual pre-draft luncheon Wednesday at One Bills Drive. Brandon, the new chief operating officer, and Tom Modrak, the veteran head of college scouting, met with the media for 40 minutes and gave the usual vague answers to specific questions. "

"In a league where very few quarterbacks remain injury free for an entire season, the Buffalo Bills plan on having J.P. Losman on their roster in 2008 playing backup to Trent Edwards.Losman, who is entering his fifth NFL season, has requested he be traded and a prime opportunity to do so for the Bills is next weekend during the college draft.But Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said today during a pre-draft luncheon with reporters at the stadium that club isn't planning to do that."

"From the first NFL regular-season game in Canada to another home date on Monday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills’ 2008 schedule has a little bit of everything."

"Buffalo defensive end Chris Kelsay knew the teams the Bills would be playing against in 2008, but like everyone else, he didn't know when — or on what days — the games would be played."

"You’re looking at the schedule and wondering how this is going to play out. You’re loving those four home games against West Coast teams. You’re finding it hard to muster up any bitterness over the defused Bills-Dolphins rivalry being moved to Toronto."

"Great bloodlines and a great work ethic similar to his dad’s make Chris Long look like a safe pick at the top of the draft. It’s hard to see the 6-foot-3, 272-pounder being a bust. “My dad taught me to work hard and to be the same guy every day,” Long said. “If that’s going 100 mph and working hard, then that’s what I’ll do.” Long projects as a prototypical end in a 3-4 defense, which is the scheme used at Virginia. "

"Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie knew he had to have a strong postseason to be a high pick in the NFL draft because he played at little Tennessee State University. “Coming from a small school, I was like a guy that was going under the radar,” said Rodgers-Cromartie. “I felt like I had to do three out of three — the Senior Bowl, the combine and then my pro day.” "

"Wide receiver is usually one of the deepest positions in the draft, and also one of the hardest to project. Six wide receivers were selected in the first round last year, but their overall impact was marginal. Dwayne Bowe, the 23rd overall pick and the third receiver taken, led all rookies with 70 receptions, 995 yards and five touchdowns for Kansas City."

"Jim Overdorf hung up the phone with the agent for linebacker Kawika Mitchell at 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 29. The NFL’s free-agency signing period was less than an hour old, and Overdorf, the Bills’ contract negotiator and capologist, had just struck the team’s first deal. The Bills’ agreement with Mitchell was the product of a year’s worth of research and analysis that involved dozens of members of the Bills’ organization. "