July 31, 2005
Parrish Quick to Impress at Bills Camp
With a quick burst through the middle of the field and a move that left defensive back Jabari Greer stuck in his tracks, Roscoe Parrish grabbed a J.P. Losman pass and darted toward the end zone.
Transcript: QB J.P. Losman
On today's practice:
"We came out on fire, offensively. Everyone was doing alright. I felt a little rusty with the throwing, just with the helmets and with regular cadence and all those things. Definitely for our first practice, this went very well."
A Closer Look: Lionel Gates
Rookie running back Lionel Gates recently sat down with buffalobills.com to clear up some odds and ends and to give the fans a glimpse of his off-the-field hobbies and pre-game rituals.
Sold that QB's a Bill of good?
Specifically, we're left with possibly the most watched and scrutinized player in the division -- Bills quarterback J.P. Losman
Let's get it started- PFW Bills preview
Battle to watch: Gandy vs. other possible options at left tackle. After losing starter Jennings via free agency, the Bills are banking on ex-Bears reserve Gandy to hold his own as Losman's blindside protector. If Gandy falters, it could cause a domino effect that moves starting C Trey Teague to left tackle and inserts Ross Tucker into the starting lineup at center.
Don't be surprised if ... the Bills rely on defense and special teams to carry the offense early -- until Losman gets comfortable as the starter -- similar to the way the Steelers used Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
Miami partisans get carried away
Now the Miami fans are strutting once again, which proves you can't keep an arrogant bunch civil.
Evans strives to keep his promises on and off the field
Lee Evans made a promise back in 1999, the year he graduated from high school in Bedford, Ohio. He told himself it didn't matter whether his football talents eventually showed him the way to an NFL career. So long as he was enrolling in college, Evans vowed to maximize the opportunity. He'd never bid farewell to Wisconsin before completing work toward his degree.
Training camp begins on an upbeat note
Like kids at Christmas excitedly unwrapping gifts, the Buffalo Bills started to take the wrappings of the 2005 season during the opening session of training camp at St. John Fisher College on Saturday.
McGahee arrives ready to roll
People are often judged by the company they keep. Considering the people McGahee surrounded himself with during the offseason, the judgment on him should be very positive.
The billboard
The Bills held their first night practice before an overflow crowd in St. John Fisher College's Growney Stadium.
Buffalo Bills get red-carpet treatment at Pittsford rally
They rolled out the red carpet Saturday for the Buffalo Bills.
Gandy is feeling dandy with Buffalo Bills
Signed by the Buffalo Bills in early March, Gandy was named the team's starting left tackle to replace four-year starter Jonas Jennings, who struck a huge free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Pundits predict Bills to finish in middle of AFC East pack
The Buffalo Bills reported to training camp at St. John Fisher without great expectations — at least on the pages of 10 of the nation's prominent NFL preseason publications.
Bills fans carry high hopes team will end 5-year playoff drought
Some Bills fans who attended the first day of training camp Saturday are enthusiastically optimistic. Others have their doubts.
McGahee the key to Bills' success
The Bills will go as far as No. 21 carries them.
Parrish takes runs with Bills' first unit
Upon arriving at St. John Fisher College for the start of training camp, Buffalo Bills top draft pick Roscoe Parrish received some advice from 10-year veteran Eric Moulds.
Notes: Fresh Start for Bills
The Bills had all the pieces in place for good luck on Saturday as the team opened their sixth training camp at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY.
Bills Kick Off Training Camp
The Buffalo Bills stepped onto the field at St. John Fisher College Saturday to officially start their 2005 season. Not all of the Bills could participate.
Bills Wrap Up Day One at SJF
Day and night one of Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College is complete.
Thousands cheer on the Buffalo Bills at the Welcome Home Celebration in Pittsford
Thousands of Bills fans filled downtown Pittsford Saturday afternoon. They came out to welcome the Bills home for their sixth training camp, and from the looks of it fans and merchants couldn't be happier.
Bills' cornerback on PUP list
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Thomas was on the physically unable to perform list as the Buffalo Bills opened training camp at Saint John Fisher College today.
July 30, 2005
Fans welcome back the Bills
Thousands of local and out-of-town fans packed downtown Pittsford for the 6th annual Buffalo Bills pep rally.
Tight End Pair Back to Work
Tight ends Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus stepped onto the field at St. John Fisher alongside their fellow teammates, capping off what has been a long and grueling rehabilitation process after both suffered serious knee injuries at the end of last season.
McGahee free of questions heading into new season
Play after play, Willis McGahee took the handoff, put his head down and ran through an imaginary hole into daylight.It was the opening day of Buffalo Bills training camp Saturday, and the only thing keeping up with the team's running back during the individual drill was the tail of the gray T-shirt hanging out from under his jersey.
3rd Annual Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball
Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly was in Rochester Friday night, raising money and awareness about the genetic disorder--his inspiration and hope for the last eight years...his son, Hunter.
Bills Players Report to Camp for Duty
There were smiles all around as the players moved into their dorm rooms and spoke of their expectations for the year. But underneath their happy exteriors was an underlying theme: it's time to get to work.
Woodbury says he's sure he'll make Bills' roster
Tory Woodbury hasn't given up his dream of playing in the NFL. Woodbury, a former star at Winston-Salem State, will be in training camp today with the Buffalo Bills at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y.
Parrish avoids a holdout
The last time super agent Drew Rosenhaus represented the Buffalo Bills' top draft pick, a 21-day training camp holdout ensued. Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish signed a four-year, $2.705 million deal on Friday and was scheduled to arrive at St. John Fisher College in time for an early evening team meeting.
It's all business now for Losman
When Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman arrived at training camp a year ago, he was a typical rookie unprepared for the power of images. Newspaper and television cameras caught the prized Tulane passer carrying blankets, pillows and personal items into his dorm.
Donahoe's detractors need a refresher
Some fans of the Buffalo Bills would have preferred to see president-general manager Tom Donahoe's contract exterminated rather than extended.
They didn't get their wish with this week's news that Donahoe will be calling the shots through at least the 2006-07 season.
July 29, 2005
Bills opening training camp on Saturday
The Buffalo Bills are reporting to their St. John Fisher College training camp today.
It’s their sixth year in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford after 19 summers at Fredonia State and 13 at Niagara University.
Players Arrive For Camp, Bills Sign Parrish
The Buffalo Bills are getting set to begin the 2005 training camp. Rookies and veterans alike reported to Pittsford, N.Y. for a team meeting tonight. Practice wil start tomorrow with a morning and night session.
Bills Arrive for Camp
A new season of football is about to begin for the Buffalo Bills. Players reported to training camp at St. John Fisher College Friday and they come in with high expectations.
Losman has business-like approach heading into Bills camp
Quarterback J.P. Losman arrived for training camp Friday with a briefcase in hand, ready to show he's serious about taking over the Buffalo Bills starting job.
Bills sign 2nd-round pick, WR Parrish
Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish, the Buffalo Bills' second-round draft pick, agreed to terms of a four-year, $2.7 million contract Friday.
O.J. not expected to show up
Don’t expect to see O.J. Simpson at this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival.
Simpson, the former football star acquitted in the 1994 murder of his ex-wife but ordered to pay damages in her death, has been a no-show ever since the criminal case exploded onto the national scene.
Bills Agree to Terms with Parrish
The Bills Friday announced that the team has agreed to terms with second-round draft pick Roscoe Parrish. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Armed and ready: Special section
"It's a good nucleus here, and we have very good players -- and the expectations should be high, not only in the locker room but from our fans," safety Lawyer Milloy said
University of Miami has become draft-pick central
Each year, the Buffalo Bills spend millions of dollars scouting hundreds of colleges to find new players. When it came time to use their top two picks in the NFL draft in April, however, only one college mattered: the University of Miami, Florida.
At 32, Moulds isn't letting age slow down his game
The young receivers like to razz Eric Moulds about his elder statesman status. Occasionally, they'll remind old man Moulds that he has more years of NFL experience than the rest of the Bills receiving corps combined.
On special teams, big plays are his specialty
When Bobby April joined Mike Mularkey's coaching staff before the 2004 NFL season to oversee special teams, his first priority was to learn his personnel. "I evaluated every player and every play," April said.
Bills get depth, girth to replace void
There were three large reasons why the Buffalo Bills' linebacking crew of Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher and Jeff Posey was able to wreak havoc on opposing offenses the past two seasons.
Tireless Mularkey wants even more
Mularkey appreciated the compliments and politely said "thank you," but deep down he actually wanted to reach for another Tums.
Famed QB Kelly rooting for Losman to find success
It's been nearly a decade now, and the search continues for an air apparent rather than an err apparent to Jim Kelly. Since his retirement following the 1996 season, the Bills have started five different quarterbacks, and only one of them — Doug Flutie — left Buffalo with a winning record.
Losman enters a solid situation
As Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger was setting a new standard last year for how a rookie quarterback should play, it became a popular pastime in Buffalo to dare to dream that J.P. Losman — his classmate in the 2004 draft — could someday enjoy the same type of success.
Resurfaced Growney Stadium enhances fans' view
Training camp at St. John Fisher College will have more of a game-like feel, thanks to the new super turf at Growney Stadium.
Nothing posh about early Bills camps
When players assembled in East Aurora, Erie County, for the first Buffalo Bills training camp 45 years ago, they each had one mission: Impress coach Buster Ramsey.
Bills sign defensive pick King
The Buffalo Bills signed cornerback Eric King on Thursday, assuring that four of their six draft picks will report to training camp on time today. Still out were wide receiver Roscoe Parrish and injured tight end Kevin Everett, their top two choices, each from the University of Miami.
Bills set to start without Parrish
Unless something happens today, the Buffalo Bills will begin training camp without their top draft pick. The Bills and wide receiver Roscoe Parrish had yet to agree on a contract as of Thursday evening.
July 28, 2005
Bills sign 5th-round pick
Cornerback Eric King, the Buffalo Bills' fifth-round draft pick, agreed to terms of a contract Thursday. The Bills also waived Tom Sverchek, a California defensive tackle who had signed as an undrafted rookie free agent last April.
'Offseason' Speculation Finished for Losman
Who will replace Pat Williams? Who will backup Willis McGahee? How will Mike Gandy shape up at left tackle? How healthy are the Bills tight ends?
While all of those questions are important as far as the 2005 Buffalo Bills season goes (and ones that we've touched upon in our "Countdown to Camp" series), everyone knows that there is one burning question that trumps all others: Is J.P. Losman ready to be Buffalo's starting quarterback?
Bills Agree to Terms with King
The Bills Thursday announced that the team has agreed to terms with fifth-round draft pick Eric King. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Donahoe receives contract extension
Buffalo Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe won't have to endure the 2005 NFL season as a lame duck. Donahoe's original five-year deal was to have expired after this season, but team owner Ralph Wilson said Wednesday that he has given his chief executive an extension.
Bills trim camp work to 14 days
Vacation time is over for the Buffalo Bills, who return to work this weekend with the start of training camp. The players are scheduled to report to St. John Fisher College in Pittsford on Friday. Practice begins on Saturday with morning and evening sessions.
July 27, 2005
Gandy In-Line For Left Tackle Opening
Most Bills fans expect J.P. Losman to use his scrambling abilities to his advantage in his first year as an NFL starting quarterback - however, they also hope that he won't be running for his life.
Geisinger has deal
The Buffalo Bills agreed to terms with sixth-round draft pick Justin Geisinger, an offensive lineman from Vanderbilt.
With extension, Donahoe in full control
The pressure never is off the general manager of an NFL team. At any moment in the uncertain business of pro football, a ship that looks stable can start to list. Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe, however, has less pressure on his head this season thanks to a contact extension granted to him by owner Ralph Wilson late last year.
July 26, 2005
Hansen to host sportsmanship camp in Fargo
Former Buffalo Bills star, NDSU football standout and Oakes native Phil Hansen will host his Sportsmanship Kamp for Kids August 2 at the South High School complex in Fargo.
Big Battle Set for Starting DT Job
The Buffalo Bills head into the 2004 season with 10 of its 11 starters returning on the defensive side. However, the one player that will not be back wasn't some insignificant piece of the Bills' No. 2-ranked defense; rather, it was a meaty 6-foot-3, 315-pound piece of the puzzle - and those numbers are generous.
Bills Agree to Terms With Geisinger
Offensive lineman Justin Geisinger, Buffalo's sixth-round draft pick, agreed to terms with the Bills on Tuesday.
Selected 197th overall out of Vanderbilt, Geisinger started 43 games during a four-year college career.
Southern Oregon Univ All-American Baker Gets NFL Shot With Buffalo
Former Southern Oregon University All-American punter/placekicker Steve Baker has signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills. Baker resumes his quest to crack a 53-man NFL regular-season roster this week at Bills training camp in Rochester, N.Y. when he vies with five-year veteran punter Brian Moorman for a starting role.
Bills defense aims for 'legendary' tag
You would think finishing with the second-ranked defense in the NFL for two straight seasons would be satisfying to a football team. Such is not the case with the Buffalo Bills.
July 25, 2005
Bills report: Notes, quotes
--Tennessee swooped in to out-deal Jacksonville for RB Travis Henry, sending the player back to the state where he starred in college. How did it go down? "We made it clear to the teams [that] if somebody [was] willing to step up and give us a solid third, we [would] do the deal," general manager Tom Donahoe said. "A couple teams said, 'What if you get two offers for a third-round pick?' I said our inclination would be to take who offered it to us first."
Bills report: Strategy and personnel
He's no Michael Vick, but Bills QB J.P. Losman is no turtle when it comes to flat-out running speed. At the combine workout before the 2004 draft, the former Tulane star clocked consistently in the 4.6 range in the 40-yard dash.
Bills report: Inside slant
It took 5 1/2 months to trade Travis Henry, but the Bills have been planning all along for life without the former Pro Bowl running back as the primary backup to Willis McGahee. General manager Tom Donahoe and coach Mike Mularkey have lined up plenty of candidates to compete for the No. 2 job when training camp kicks off July 30.
April's Unit Primed for Special Season
"He's a punt catcher, not a punt returner."
Sure, Bills fans can now chuckle at that infamous statement made by former Buffalo head coach Wade Phillips in 2000 about cornerback Chris Watson.
They can laugh because in a span of five years the Bills have changed from perennially having one of the worst special teams units in the league to one of the very best.
Bills' offense looks to apply what it's learned
The players operated the offense like they have been in it for years. But they weren't in pads. They weren't facing an enemy defense.
Despite making strides during the spring, the Buffalo Bills have plenty more work to do this summer to be ready for the fall.
July 24, 2005
Tight End Depth Chart Looks Promising
It was a game that Mike Mularkey would probably rather forget - or at least a certain part of it, anyways.
It wasn't the end result - the Bills defeated the Dolphins 42-32 in a South Florida shootout, making Mularkey the first first-year Bills head coach to sweep the rival Dolphins since Joe Collier in 1966.
In a span of about 15 minutes, the former tight end saw both of his top two tight ends go down to injury.
'Wide Open' Battle for Bills Third WR
Heading into his fourth year as a pro, Buffalo's Reed finds himself at a crossroads of his young career.
Reed lit up the record books at LSU before entering the league after his junior year. Despite starting only 16 games, he caught 167 passes for 3,001 yards (an average of 18 yards per catch) and 17 touchdowns, becoming the first player in SEC history to rack up over 3,000 yards in a career.
Losman finds Buffalo to be a 'grind it out' town
.P. Losman spent the first 18 years of his life in Venice, Calif., a funky, beachside district within the city limits of Los Angeles. He spent his next five in New Orleans.
After a year and a half in Buffalo, here's his take on the City of Good Neighbors:
"Venice is more of a working-class town, like Buffalo," he said. "People have to grind and work hard for their living, there's really no easy way out. You've just got to grind it out.
Cyber-experts take their shots at forecasting Bills' fate
In years past when the Bills opened training camp, there would be a waiting period of at least a week before the media began to speculate on what might happen in the coming season. But that was when the media had just three heads - print, broadcast television and nightly radio shows. Now the media has multiple heads, growing new ones almost daily. There is cable TV, talk radio and vast numbers of cyber sports magazines. And don't forget the bloggers, whose own views may change two or three times during a 24-hour news cycle.
Keeping it real
This is the first of four stories previewing Bills training camp. Today's story focuses on the quarterback.
It is 5 p.m. on this sunny Saturday afternoon in June, and all the shouting from the Buffalo Bills' latest fan celebration has been over for two hours. The 5,000 diehards who came to see the Bills unveil their new throwback jerseys have left. The players have gone their separate ways.
July 22, 2005
Titans have challenge of balancing backs' loads
An NFL adage suggests that when a coach insists he has two starting-caliber quarterbacks, it probably means he has none. That doesn't necessarily hold true for running backs. And actually, as the Tennessee Titans might soon discover after having traded for former Buffalo Bills starter Travis Henry earlier this week, having two proven starters at tailback might mean that you've got one too many.
Bills put their faith in untested Losman
After starting the year 0-4 and ending it by failing to reach the playoffs because of a miserable 29-24 defeat to the Steelers in the last game of the season, coach Mike Mularkey and club president Tom Donahoe decided to bring an end to the brief Drew Bledsoe era. Bledsoe started every game at quarterback his three seasons in Buffalo but went 23-25 overall, including a deadly 3-9 against the Patriots and Jets, and failed to reach the playoffs despite having the No. 2-ranked defense and No. 1-rated special teams units behind him last season. So the Bills decided they’d gone as far as they could with the immobile pocket passer.
Bills May See Change at Nickel Position
Heading into his fourth year in the league, Kevin Thomas may be the favorite for the third corner role, having spent much of last season in the same capacity. But it's not a given that Thomas will step back into the nickel because he is recovering from microfrature surgery on his knee.
Jabari Greer, who impressed the coaches enough to make the team as an undrafted free agent last year, is another player that Szabo likes a lot. He spent some time in the nickel package last year as well.
Whatever happened to Kent Hull?
After three Pro Bowl appearances, 170 games, four Super Bowls, four knee surgeries and the innovation of the no-huddle offense, Greenville native Kent Hull is now taking it a lot easier.
The former standout center for Mississippi State and the Buffalo Bills has returned to his family's farm between Greenwood and Carrollton to raise cattle with his father, Charles, a former basketball star at MSU. The beef is sold to markets in Kansas, he said.
Most High Clothing Featured on Reality Show
Most High Clothing, an apparel line founded in 2003 by Buffalo Bills' Safety, Coy Wire, is currently being featured on SOAPnet's hit reality series, "I Wanna Be a Soap Star," which premiered June 23 and concludes August 18.
July 21, 2005
Packers and Bills will bang helmets
It has been 14 years since the Packers were hosts for another team during training camp, but when Bills coach Mike Mularkey approached Mike Sherman in February about teaming up in Green Bay for a couple of practices and a scrimmage this summer, the Packers' coach started to warm to the idea.
"I think I put a bug in his ear," Mularkey says.
McGahee Set for a Full Season as Starter
Bigger + Stronger + Faster + Healthier = Scarier.
The above statement appeared in a recent Sporting News magazine brief about Buffalo's Willis McGahee.
If that's true - and from all accounts, it is - then opponents of the Bills have good reason to fear McGahee this year.
Defense Wants to Be ‘All-Time’
After finishing the last two seasons ranked second in the league, the Buffalo Bills defense doesn't want to be second to anyone in 2005… or to any other defense in any other year for that matter.
"We have high goals set for ourselves," said defensive captain London Fletcher. "It goes beyond just wanting to be number one in the league. Our goal is to be the greatest defense of all time."
Pats' Bruschi to sit out entire season
New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi will sit out this season because of a stroke he suffered 10 days after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years.
Kelly tackling auto racing
When Jim Kelly hears about the four Super Bowl losses from Randy LaJoie, the former Buffalo Bills quarterback smiles. He can take a good ribbing.
Texans' rush, no Ricky are breaks for Bills
Leading off with two huge breaks for the Buffalo Bills in their early 2005 NFL schedule:
The Bills will open at home against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 11. There couldn't be many softer spots for second-year quarterback J.P. Losman to make his debut as an NFL starter.
July 20, 2005
Losman growing at his own beat
J.P. Losman marches to the beat of a different drummer, which is to say himself. When the Buffalo Bills quarterback gets home each day, he closes himself in a room and pounds on his drums for 10 or so minutes while Incubus, his favorite band, blares on the sound system. Losman says it's a fast, easy way to vent frustration — therapy by percussion.
How Will the Bills’ Offense Be Different?
The former Steelers' offensive coordinator and current Bills' head coach has never been one to shy away from his ever-changing bag of tricks.
Last year against the Seattle Seahawks was no different, as Mularkey went back to his bag once again. Looking for the jugular in the fourth quarter and facing a fourth and 1 at the Seattle 30, Drew Bledsoe took the snap and went toward the line. But instead of diving for the first down, the QB backed away and tossed a lateral to Willis McGahee, who sprinted 30 yards for a touchdown.
Wilson Posts Double Victory at USTA National Championships
Mary Wilson, the wife of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, showed the family’s athletic success expands beyond the football field.
On Friday, July 15 in Forest Hills, NY, Wilson claimed two titles at the USTA National Grass Court Championships held at The West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills.
Titans reach deal with Henry
Running back Travis Henry agreed with to a multiyear contract extension with the Tennessee Titans after being obtained in a trade with Buffalo.
July 19, 2005
Camp battles: AFC East
Ron Edwards vs. Tim Anderson, defensive tackle
The Bills lost Pat Williams to the Vikings in free agency, creating a huge (360-pound) void in the middle of their line. Replacing him will be tough. But Anderson is a second-year player from Ohio State they are high on. He's not big at 300 pounds, but he plays hard and he had a good offseason. Edwards started 16 games in 2003, so he has the ability to be a starter, but he doesn't have as much upside as Anderson.
Backup RB Battle Could Be Tight Race
Willis McGahee will be the starting running back for the Buffalo Bills this season - that much we know.
But after that? Nobody knows for sure just yet.
Bills Digest Training Camp Tip Sheet
The Buffalo Bills have entered the final phase of preparation for the 2005 season. In the weeks of August, the Bills will take on their most intense work in the hopes of ending their five-year absence from the postseason. With the team more determined than ever to reach the playoffs, there are several developments for Bills fans to monitor.
Handwriting was on wall for Henry
Travis Henry saw the writing on the wall, and it spelled Willis McGahee. When the Bills selected McGahee in the first round of the 2003 draft, it was the beginning of the end for Henry in Buffalo.
Candidates line up to replace Henry
"It's probably been almost as difficult as childbirth, at least from what my wife tells me," said Donahoe, who has had Henry's trade request on his plate since February. "But we're really glad it's over."
Bills trade Henry to Titans
The arduous process of ridding the roster of Travis Henry was finally completed Monday when the Tennessee Titans agreed to acquire Buffalo's disgruntled running back in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2006.
"It was probably almost as difficult as childbirth, at least from what my wife tells me," Bills general manager Tom Donahoe quipped during a news conference at the Bills' practice facility in Orchard Park. "We're really glad it's over."
It’s still full speed ahead for Beebe
When he played in the National Football League, former Green Bay Packers receiver Don Beebe was one of the fastest, if not the fastest, player on the field. He was timed at 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Beebe used his quickness while playing with the Buffalo Bills to catch Leon Lett from behind in Super Bowl XXVII, knocking the ball loose from the show-boating Dallas Cowboys player before he had a chance to cross the goal line for a touchdown during a fumble return.
Henry gives Titans extra opportunities
When veteran left tackle Brad Hopkins learned that the Titans had finally, officially, acquired running back Travis Henry from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a third-round pick, his mind started racing.
"It's exciting to me that we have two backs like that now, because that means we're going to use them," Hopkins said yesterday. "We have the potential to have two backs with 1,000 yards. Has that ever happened?"
July 18, 2005
Bills Line Starting to Take Shape
The Buffalo Bills offensive line has been a "work in progress" for some time now - and it appears that all of that work may begin to pay off.
Upgrading the unit has been such a priority that not one lineman from Bills President/GM Tom Donahoe's first year with the Bills (in 2001) remains with the team.
2005 Buffalo Bills preview
During the second half of last season, the Buffalo Bills were scoring points in record numbers, shutting down opponents, and getting big plays from their special teams. They also were winning -- six games in row at one point and eight of 10 overall. Unfortunately for the Bills and their loyal fans, finishing 9-7 under rookie coach Mike Mularkey after a 0-4 start wasn't enough to end a postseason drought now at five years.
Bills Trade Henry to Titans for Draft Pick
The Buffalo Bills traded running back Travis Henry to the Tennessee Titans on Monday for a third-round draft pick in 2006.
Henry had been a starter since his rookie year of 2001 and was coming off consecutive 1,300-yard rushing seasons before losing his job to Willis McGahee last October.
Bills Acquire 2006 Draft Pick
The Buffalo Bills announced Monday that the team has acquired an undisclosed draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft from the Tennessee Titans for veteran running back Travis Henry.
Fast start sets up a spectacular finish
The Buffalo Bills started the 2005 season 5-3 in the NFL simulation done by WhatIfSports.com. After a bye week in Week Nine, which the coaches will say comes at a good time, the team begins its push toward trying to make the playoffs. Other leading AFC teams after Week Eight are Indianapolis (6-1), New England (5-2), Cincinnati (5-3) and San Diego (5-3).
McGee to Benefit from Offseason Preparation
To say the 2004 season went pretty well for Terrence McGee would be a bit of an understatement.
He started the year as the third cornerback in Buffalo's nickel defense packages. But by the end of the season, not only did McGee earn a starting job at cornerback, but a trip to Hawaii as well for his record-breaking performances as a kick returner.
Henry happy about Tennessee return
Travis Henry is eager to pick up where he left off in Tennessee.
After leaving the University of Tennessee as the school’s all-time leading rusher, Henry is on his way back to the Volunteer State, this time as a member of the Tennessee Titans, after a weekend trade that sends him to Nashville in exchange for a 2006 third-round pick.
Titans say team still negotiating with Bills' Henry
The Tennessee Titans said Sunday they are still negotiating with the Buffalo Bills for running back Travis Henry.
ESPN's web site reported Saturday that a deal had been worked out in principle to send Henry to the Titans.
However, Titans' general manager Floyd Reese said through a spokesman Sunday, "It is still an ongoing process." He said no terms have been reached for a trade or for a contract extension.
Jags may have missed big opportunity
There he was, dangling right over there, in front of their faces, ready to be plucked, and now, Jeff Fisher might be the one to have signed Travis Henry. What a tease. A disappointment.
Bills Defense Aims for Improvement
The Buffalo Bills ended the 2004 season as the second-ranked defensive team in the league. Most teams would be thrilled with such a reputation. But you won't find anyone gloating at One Bills Drive this offseason.
Why? It's pretty simple actually.
"As you know, we finished at number two," said linebacker Jeff Posey. "So, that's not number one. That shows there's room for improvement because we want to be the number one defense."
July 17, 2005
Henry Dealt to Titans
The Tennessee Titans have reached agreement in principle on a trade to acquire disgruntled Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry and, barring unexpected complications, the deal will be announced early next week.
| Travis Henry
Running Back
Buffalo Bills |  | | Profile | |
|
| | 2004 SEASON STATISTICS | | Rush | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | | 94 | 326 | 0 | 10 | 45 | 0 |
|
|
In return for Henry, who last season lost his starting job to Willis McGahee and who has not participated in any of the Bills' offseason sessions, Buffalo will receive a 2006 third-round draft choice. The paperwork for the trade, which is not contingent upon the Titans reaching a contract extension agreement with Henry, has been forwarded to the league offices.
• Read more- Bills get 3rd round pick
Wilson trying to catch NFL dream
George Wilson stands on a precarious stretch of middle ground.
In one direction, he seems agonizingly close to stability as a regular on an NFL roster. Go the other way and welcome to the cold reality of the waiver wire, football’s version of the unemployment line. Buffalo offered him a twoyear deal, but it’s misleading. Wilson has to make the team to get those two seasons. That won’t be easy given the Bills have two of the NFL’s premier wideouts aboard in Eric Moulds and Lee Evans.
Bills report: Notes, quotes
--The Bills veteran safety corps of Lawyer Milloy and Troy Vincent has already been given a catchy nickname by teammates: "Fire and Ice." Explained Vincent on the club's website: "You hear whispers here and there because our personalities (are so different). We both are tremendous competitors. One's a little bit more mild-mannered; one's a little bit more vocal. But we have the opportunity to be a special pair."
Bills report: Inside slant
Out of the frying pan and into the fire for running back Travis Henry?
While a deal sending the Bills one-time workhorse to Jacksonville is moving fast toward completion, it doesn't solve Henry's desire to be a No. 1 running back in the NFL again.
No Bills on the NFL's long list of bad actors
This is the kind of column written while knocking on wood, while crossing fingers, after peeking in the closet one more time to see if there are skeletons clanking around. Because here we are, a mere two weeks before the start of training camp, and the Buffalo Bills are cleaner than Mike Williams' dinner plate. All clear. Pristine. What's fair is fair. If athletes are fed through the media wringer for wrongdoing, if illegal behaviors are regarded as typical of NFL players, then it's worth noting that the Bills have been the choir boys in another ignominious offseason. To this point, no Bill's essay on summer vacation will begin: First I was handcuffed, then I was fingerprinted . . .
Computer simulator plays Bills season for the fan who can't wait
The No. 1 talk radio topic in Buffalo is not the county budget crisis, nor the war in Iraq. The question is: How will the Bills do this year? If Western New York residents are football-crazed, a Cincinnati company called WhatIfSports.com is positively certifiable.
Henry closer to exit
The Buffalo Bills may have finally succeeded in their attempt to trade disgruntled running back Travis Henry. NFL sources told The Buffalo News that the Bills and Tennessee Titans have agreed in principle on the trade of Henry for a 2006 third-round draft pick. An official announcement could come as early as Monday if Henry passes a physical administered by the Titans.
Oh, Henry! Titans reportedly deal for RB
Chris Brown won't simply have some company in the Tennessee Titans' backfield. He will have some competition. According to a report on ESPN.com, the Titans have agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills to acquire NFL veteran and former University of Tennessee star Travis Henry and the necessary paperwork has been forwarded to the league offices. Tennessee gave up a third-round choice in next year's draft, according to the report, to get Henry, who originally was a second-round choice of the Bills in 2001.
Henry deal gets Titans tough back
The Titans have found common ground with the Buffalo Bills and will acquire running back Travis Henry in exchange for a third-round draft pick.
Buffalo to deal Henry to Titans
Once considered the front-runners, the Jaguars suddenly are out of the Travis Henry sweepstakes.
The Jaguars were confident as recently as Thursday that they would acquire the Buffalo running back but didn't have a chance to complete a trade before the Bills abruptly dealt him to Tennessee on Saturday, a league source said.
Charity first for Shane, then preseason camp
Pascagoula's Shane Matthews heads to training camp with the Buffalo Bills in less than two weeks.
The quarterback, who helped guide Pascagoula to the 1987 Class 5A state championship, and his former Panther teammate, Terrell Buckley, were home this weekend giving something back to the community.
July 16, 2005
Henry Dealt
Travis Henry was granted his wish as the Buffalo Bills dealt the disgruntled running back to the Tennessee Titans. The Bills reached agreement in principle to trade Henry to the Titans for a third round pick in the 2006 draft. The deal is contingent on Henry passing a physical.
Titans, not Jaguars, land Henry in trade
The story about where Travis Henry might land now has shifted to a running back battle between Henry and Chris Brown. The Titans have reached agreement in principle with the Buffalo Bills on a trade that will bring Henry back to Tennessee, where he helped the University there win its only national championship. In return, the Bills are expected to receive the Titans' third-round draft choice in the 2006 NFL draft. The trade will become official if and when Henry passes his physical with the Titans.
Henry appears headed to Titans
Running back Travis Henry’s sister said from the family’s Florida home this afternoon that her brother has been traded to the Titans from Buffalo. “Yeah, it’s happened,” she said. “His agent gave him a phone call and said as of now, he’s a Titan. He feels great, he’s excited.”
Henry would be happy with trade to Titans
Running back Travis Henry will be very happy if the Buffalo Bills complete a trade sending him to the Tennessee Titans, his agent said Saturday.
Agent Hadley Engelhard said he had not been notified that a deal had been reached, but ESPN's Web site reported Saturday that a deal had been worked out in principal to send Henry to the Titans.
Titans may take on Travis Henry
The Titans may or may not have upped their offer for Bills running back Travis Henry in recent days. But the likelihood of anything happening between Tennessee and Buffalo this weekend appears minimal
Titans' Trade for Henry Could Be Done Next Week
The Tennessee Titans have reached agreement in principle on a trade to acquire disgruntled Buffalo Bills tailback Travis Henry and, barring unexpected complications, the deal will be announced early next week. In return for Henry, who last season lost his starting job to Willis McGahee and who has not participated in any of the Bills' offseason sessions, Buffalo will receive a 2006 third-round draft choice. The paperwork for the trade, which is not contingent upon the Titans reaching a contract extension agreement with Henry, has been forwarded to the league offices. The trade is contingent, as are most deals, on the 26-year-old Henry passing a Tennessee-administered physical exam.
Goal-line stand: Travis Henry
Where will Travis Henry finally end up? In other words, whose season is Henry going to ruin -- Fred Taylor or Chris Brown? We may find out this weekend. Early Friday morning, it looked like Henry was headed to the Jaguars. In a bizarre move, coach Jack Del Rio went public with his team's progress in the Henry sweepstakes. He said a deal, "could be complete in the next few days or week. ... The fact that we have an opportunity to acquire a running back [with] this kind of talent is something we have to look at."
Mixed signals surround talk of trade for Henry
The Titans may or may not have upped their offer for Bills running back Travis Henry in recent days.
But the likelihood of anything happening between Tennessee and Buffalo this weekend appears minimal.
A report yesterday said the Titans finally agreed to swap a third-round pick for Henry, who wants out of Buffalo after losing his starting job to Willis McGahee.
Bills QB looks to life after the NFL
Pascagoula's Shane Matthews has made six stops with five NFL teams since helping Steve Spurrier establish Florida as the Southeastern Conference's Team of the Decade some 15 years ago.
Matthews never had the arm of a Dan Marino or the release of another ex-Gator, Rex Grossman, but he definitely knew how to win.
Bills’ tickets already in big demand
If there’s any hangover from Buffalo’s season-ending, 29-24 loss to the Steelers at The Ralph that cost the Bills a playoff berth, it doesn’t show in this year’s early ticket sales.
With individual game tickets to go on sale tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock, the first three home games — Sept. 11’s season-opener against Houston, Sept. 25 versus Atlanta and Oct. 9 with Miami — are virtual sellouts with the exception of single seats.
July 15, 2005
High Expectations for Sophomore WR Evans
The players begin to walk off of the field adjacent to the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse after another day of Organized Team Activities. Practice is over - at least for most people.
Tucked away at one end are two players that look as if practice just started for them. There stands Buffalo's two first-round picks from a year ago, Lee Evans and J.P. Losman.
Len Pasquarelli- Bills keep LT Verba on Radar
The phone isn't exactly ringing off the hook for free-agent offensive tackle Ross Verba, who forced his release by the Cleveland Browns a month ago, and is finding life in the open market to be something less than he expected. One hope, though, is the Buffalo Bills might have some interest. Buffalo officials touched base with Verba's representatives this week, inquiring about his status and his plans, thus keeping him on their radar screen. …
Len Pasquarelli- Bills want to lock up McGee
| |
| | 2004 SEASON STATISTICS | | Tot | Ast | Solo | FF | Sack | Int | | 87 | 81 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
|
• Foresight isn't a strong suit limited only to the Colts. The Buffalo Bills told Terry Bolar, the agent for third-year cornerback Terrence McGee, they want to sit down and discuss a contract extension once training camp starts. McGee became a Pro Bowl return man in 2004, averaging 26.3 yards and scoring three times on kickoffs. Under the tutelage of Bobby April, the league's best special teams coach, McGee made great strides. But perhaps even more important was McGee's emergence at cornerback, where he made a quantum leap after being forced into the starting lineup by an injury to Troy Vincent.
Jags Close to Trading for Bills' Henry
The Jacksonville Jaguars are close to completing a trade for disgruntled Bills running back Travis Henry, a move that would provide insurance for injured starter Fred Taylor.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said a deal for Henry could be completed "in the next few days or week." Henry demanded a trade after losing his starting job last season to Willis McGahee.
Henry trade to Jags could be imminent
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Thursday that his team is attempting to trade for the veteran running back, and an announcement could be imminent.
Jaguars, Henry are close
Acknowledging their concerns about Fred Taylor's availability this season, the Jaguars are close to completing a long-discussed trade for Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Thursday in a statement released by the team that a deal for Henry, a Pro Bowl selection in 2003, could be completed "in the next few days or week."
July 14, 2005
Who Will Be This Year’s ‘Sleeper’?
You could understand if Kyle Larson was a little worried at the time.
There the Cincinnati punter was, backed up near his own end zone when Buffalo's Jason Peters broke through the line. Peters, generously listed at 6-feet-4, 328 pounds, had a clear path to the punter before getting his massive left paw on the ball.
Remembering Bills’ Logos From The Past
The Buffalo Bills have had several corporate logos since the franchise was established in 1960. They have been used on official club stationary and in newsletters and publications produced by the club.
July 13, 2005
‘Everything In Its Right Place’ for Milloy
It was sung by Radiohead's Thom Yorke on the band's groundbreaking 1997 release OK Computer, but the phrase could just as easily serve as Lawyer Milloy's outlook for the upcoming NFL season: "No alarms and no surprises please."
The last two years have taken more than a few unexpected twists and turns for Buffalo's veteran safety. Now he's hoping to get back on track.
Inside the Herd: OL Duke Preston
The Bills’ fourth round draft pick, Duke Preston, signed his first NFL contract on July 6 and got his first taste of Buffalo fans by answering questions submited by Bills Backers. Preston, originally from Southern California, answers questions on his expectations, his favorite NFL team as a kid and even his ‘excitement’ for winter in Buffalo.
Bills determine camp tickets
Free tickets for the first of three Buffalo Bills night practices, July 30 at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, will be available next Wednesday over the Internet ......
Hawks reportedly interested in Buffalo's Travis Henry
Despite a report, the Seahawks did not confirm that they have recently talked to the Buffalo Bills about trading for running back Travis Henry.
The purported acquisition makes some sense, but isn't likely to take place. Tennessee and Jacksonville are more likely destinations for Henry.
July 12, 2005
Cool Vincent Ready for Hot Season
You could say that 2004 didn't go exactly as planned for Troy Vincent.
First he signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent after spending seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Then he missed a significant amount of regular season action due to injury for the first time in his 13-year career.
Leonhard Anxious for Opportunity
He finished his college career with 21 interceptions, tying a school record. His 50 pass breakups (21 INTs, 29 pass deflections) rank third in Wisconsin history.
You might think all of these accolades belong to Bills safety Troy Vincent, one of Wisconsin's most well-known alums. However, we are talking about Bills rookie free safety Jim Leonhard.
2005 NFL Preview: Buffalo Bills
After the first four weeks of the 2004 season, the Buffalo Bills were as average as the Fantastic Four without its super powers. Then, as if a cloud had fundamentally altered their DNA, either that or Willis McGahee joined the starting lineup, the Bills morphed into one of the most fantastic teams in the NFL.
Bills Night Practice Ticket Availability
The Buffalo Bills announced that tickets for the first of three night practices during the Buffalo Bills Bausch & Lomb Training Camp at St. John Fisher College in Rochester will be available on Wednesday, July 20th. Tickets are available at www.buffalobills.com, www.ticketmaster.com and Western and Central New York Ticketmaster locations. A list is available at ticketmaster.com by searching ‘ticketmaster outlets’.
July 11, 2005
Training Camp Countdown: A Look Back
Before we get started with our countdown to training camp, we thought it would be fun to look back at the issues that were facing the team at this very same time last year.
A lot has changed. Some hasn't.
Either way, let's look at the issues that everyone was wondering about last year - and how much more we now know about the team than we did then.
July 10, 2005
Bills report: Notes, quotes
The Bills are hoping RB Travis Henry's trade value rises when training camps open around the NFL in three weeks. Injuries, an inevitable part of the game, could force a team to meet GM Tom Donahoe's demand of a third-round pick for Henry. The Bills originally sought a second-rounder. "We're not going to budge," Donahoe told the Florida Times-Union. "We feel we've already lessened the asking price. We don't think we could go below that. We think that a three is pretty fair for a starting caliber running back, somebody who's been to the Pro Bowl. It's been perplexing to us why we haven't been able to get it done."
Bills report: Inside slant
When it came to the college draft, the Bills made the University of Miami one stop shopping this year. Selected with their top two picks, 55th and 86th overall, were Hurricanes wide receiver Roscoe Parrish and tight end Kevin Everett. To hear Buffalo's personnel men explain it, if they had only one school in the country to pick players from, the deep Miami program would be it. "One thing consistent with Miami kids is that they love to compete," general manager Tom Donahoe said. "They're used to competing in practice and playing in big games and they like that and we like that about them."
Vincent gives back to community
Three weeks until training camp in his 14th NFL season, and all-pro defensive back Troy Vincent had only one thing on his mind yesterday: his community. The Trenton native, current Buffalo Bill and former Philadelphia Eagle football star was back in town yesterday with his charity, Love Thy Neighbor, and its second annual Community Fest. For Vincent, yesterday's event, held near the Hedgepeth/Williams Middle School in Trenton, is just another chapter in a career-long tale of charitable acts and humanitarian awards.
July 09, 2005
Buffalobills.com to Countdown Final Days
It's so close you can taste it … well, maybe not quite that close.
We're now under 10 weeks until the beginning of the regular season for the Bills on Sept. 11. Before that there's the preseason. And before that is the summer ritual that is training camp. So here at Buffalobills.com, we figured: Why not have a preview - of a preview - of what will eventually be the regular season?
Rumors Fly About Henry
With the start of Bills training camp closing in, the rumors have intensified about what exactly will happen with Buffalo's unhappy running back Travis Henry. The last few days have drawn attention to a possible deal that would send Henry to Jacksonville to fill the void left by an injured Fred Taylor. The WGR Morning Show is counting down the days to training camp by going Around The League to preview each NFL team. Today, they talked with Jaguars Play-by-Play man Brian Sexton who got right to the point. When asked if he thought that Jacksonville was going to trade for Henry he said simply, "Yes."
July 07, 2005
Tops ending promotion with Buffalo Bills
The clock has run out on Tops Markets' sponsorship deal with the Buffalo Bills. Tops opted not to extend its three-year contract with the team, said Stefanie Zakowicz, a Tops spokeswoman. Bills tickets will no longer be sold at Tops stores.
Bills sign fourth-round pick
The Buffalo Bills announced Wednesday the signing of fourth-round draft pick Duke Preston. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to average roughly $400,000 per year.
July 06, 2005
Bills Sign Draft Pick Preston
The Bills Wednesday announced that the team has signed fourth-round draft pick, Duke Preston. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.
The Bills also announced Wednesday that the team has waived K Joe Rheem.
Inside the Herd: TE Mark Campbell
Bills tight end Mark Campbell is doing rather well at this point in the offseason as he continues his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury a year ago. Campbell recently took a break from the weight room - literally - and sat down with Buffalobills.com to answer some questions submitted by you, the fans. Wonder how his knee is holding up? How about his thoughts on the offense this year? He'll touch on each of those subjects and more ... so without any further ado, here's number 84.
July 04, 2005
Drew and J.P. rank 25, 27 on this QB list
Nothing could spark more July 4 fireworks in this space than my ratings of the NFL starting quarterbacks for the 2005 season.
25. Drew Bledsoe (Dallas). Regressed badly last season in the eyes of most Buffalo fans. He's eager to prove the Bills were foolish to let him go and will be a contender for NFL Comeback Player of the Year if he pulls it off. I don't believe he can, even with a better offensive line.
27. J.P. Losman (Buffalo). If all goes well, I'll be rating him much higher in preseason 2006. The lack of tears shed in western New York over Bledsoe's departure suggests that a majority of fans would prefer to see a young QB learn on the job than a veteran QB who already had taken the team as far as he could.
July 03, 2005
Burns football camp a success
Joe Burns continues to win on the football field — only this time he won the hearts of area children.
The former Thomas County Central Yellow Jacket, who won a state title in 1996 and ’97, held his first football camp Saturday.
Holcomb finds solid ground in upstate New York
This summer has a different feel for Kelly Holcomb.
Sure, family comes first with wife Lorie and daughters Kellyn and Jalyn and son Jameson. But professional anxiety is gone. You can hear it in his voice.
Will this season open like last one ended?
Vacation period in the NFL will end soon, so it's time to think about the Buffalo Bills and discuss if they have a chance to open the 2005 season as well as they ended 2004.
You remember how the Bills closed last year, don't you? If you're a sourpuss, you'll bring up the final game, when they frittered away a playoff chance and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were on cruise control.
But if you look back at the big picture, you'll remember the Bills were hell after Halloween, winning eight of their last 10 games after opening the season with four straight losses.
Bills report: Notes, quotes
--Veteran backup QB Kelly Holcomb showed during spring drills why the Bills went hard after signing him. In one word: poise. "In the huddle, the scheme, with everything new to him, he doesn't flinch," coach Mike Mularkey said. "The speed of the rush is pretty heavy and he's standing in there and making some throws."
Bills report: Inside slant
There's a fine line in the NFL between being experienced and over the hill. In the case of the Bills safety core, the club's brain trust is confident that age will once again be served.
With 34-year-old Troy Vincent shifting over from cornerback to free safety this season, and joining 31-year-old strong safety Lawyer Milloy, the Bills have the league's most accomplished tandem to guard against the deep ball while supporting the run.
Bills players say you can't beat system
In a sports world increasingly tainted by the presence of performance-enhancing drugs, numerous Buffalo Bills welcome submitting to random drug testing if only to remain above reproach.
That's why many were mystified, even angry, when Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith was detained at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport two months ago for possessing a store-bought kit used to beat urine testing for drugs.
Reasonable record for 2005 Bills: 8-8
The Answer Man makes a stop between Red Wings games on a long holiday weekend:
What is a reasonable projection for the 2005 Buffalo Bills? Any team with an inexperienced quarterback is a risky projection for a winning record or a playoff berth.
I won't be shocked if the Bills finish slightly above .500 in J.P. Losman's first season as starting QB, but 8-8 is a more reasonable projection.
NFL Confidential: Bills find no takers for Henry
When Buffalo Bills president
Tom Donahoe was asked about the status of running back
Travis Henry last week, he responded, "He's available.''
He then jokingly added, "Are you interested?''
Donahoe can't figure out why he's having so much trouble trading Henry, who became expendable when he lost the starting running back job to Willis McGahee last year.
July 02, 2005
Jaguars are top suitor for Buffalo RB Henry
At least for the time being, the Bills have a little more bargaining power in trade talks regarding running back Travis Henry. They can thank another running back — Jacksonville's Fred Taylor — for that.
Taylor raised more questions about his availability for this season when he admitted his left knee injury from last season was worse than initially thought. In the coming weeks, the Jaguars will know a lot more about Taylor's immediate future.
Jim Kelly May Run for Congress
Freshman Congressman Brian Higgins is talking about a possible challenge from former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly next year. It's something Erie County's Republicans are hoping for. Erie County Republican Chairman Robert Davis: "There's a lot of powerful Republicans at the national, the state and the local level that are very interested in what Jim Kelly wants to do.
July 01, 2005
All systems go for Greer in Buffalo
As he reflected on his first year in the NFL, Jabari Greer sounded like a pessimist.
''Looking back on this season, I see a lot of missed opportunities,'' said Greer, a former South Side and University of Tennessee football standout who now plays for the Buffalo Bills. ''I'm looking for bigger and better things this season. Not necessarily a breakout season, but I'm just looking to show that I can play the game.''
