Buffalo Sports Day » Buffalo Bills

Team Additions – J. Delhomme – QB, S. Wallace – QB, B. Watson – TE, S. Brown – CB, T. Pashos – OT, C. Gocong – LB, S. Fujita – LB, P. Hillis – RB/FB, A. Smith – TE, E. Ghiaciuc – C

Team Needs – QB, S, WR, CB, RB, LB, O-Line

Draft:

1. Joe Haden – CB, Florida

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJBn0saY1_k

2. TJ Ward – S, Oregon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NetmUwDaAI

2. Montario Hardesty – RB, Tennessee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJJiHPqy8xE

3. Colt McCoy – QB, Texas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5B_tGheuQ4

3. Shawn Lauvao – G, Arizona State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcaxxJoe3n0

5. Larry Asante – S, Nebraska

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IkAU7G6Sic

6. Carlton Mitchell – WR, South Florida

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddm_AwNfUY8

6. Clifton Geathers – DE, South Carolina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8uCPzHnWk4

Pittsburgh Steelers

Team Losses – S. Holmes – WR, W. Parker – RB

Team Additions – B. Leftwich – QB, A. Randle-El – WR, W. Allen – S, B. McFadden – CB, L. Foote – LB, J. Scott – OT

Team Needs – O-Line, CB, LB, RB, WR, TE

Draft:

1. Maurkice Pouncey – C, Florida

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6NT3DAMtrE

2. Jason Worilds – LB, Virginia Tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBzLNXDuTGA

3. Emmanuel Sanders – WR, SMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNthxAPLaFw

4. Thaddeus Gibson – LB, Ohio State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icaUlcW2SCQ

5. Chris Scott – OT, Tennessee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IysD6dlxsIo

5. Crezdon Butler – DB, Clemson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhQucP7DjYE

5. Stevenson Sylvester – LB, Utah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-3oUIQ09IU

6. Jonathan Dwyer – RB, Georgia Tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq9Yme2gczU

6. Antonio Brown – WR, Central Michigan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U172KCi1mks

7. Doug Worthington – DE, Ohio State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeCahfEqJLg

AFC South

Houston Texans

Team Losses – D. Robinson – CB, B. Russell (?) – S

Team Additions – N. Rackers – K, W. Smith – O-Line, M. Gaines – TE

Team Needs – CB, RB, G, FS, WR

Draft:

1. Kareem Jackson – CB, Alabama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUlu7sXogUM

2. Ben Tate – RB, Auburn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfBkonPBFGY

3. Earl Mitchell – DT, Arizona

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FgzV4MRXcU

4. Darryl Sharpton – LB, Miami

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fMGEdBCO4A (at 1:22 mark)

4. Garrett Graham – TE, Wisconsin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAljnqfm7yA

5. Sherrick McManis – DB, Northwestern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4VulMlHEjI (at :12 mark)

6. Shelley Smith – G, Colorado State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIXVCmvoUw (at :10 mark)

6. Trindon Holliday – KR, LSU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlYgAUH7zfI

7. Dorin Dickerson – TE/WR – Pittsburgh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9fZQpuoJ_Q

Indianapolis Colts

Team Losses – M. Jackson – CB, R. Brock – DE, R. Lilja – G, J. Sorgi – QB

Team Additions – A. Terry – OT

Team Needs – OT, G, DT, LB, QB, DE

Draft:

1. Jerry Hughes – DE, TCU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkvPIDwMlqE

2. Pat Angerer – LB, Iowa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NpRbgzYTY0

3. Kevin Thomas – CB, Southern Cal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TltqT7D8D_I

4. Jacques McClendon – G, Tennessee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f_Obm0Zi74

5. Brody Eldridge – TE, Oklahoma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulV_O5UZE6U (at 2:05 mark)

7. Ricardo Mathews – DE, Cincinnati

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGh_uGzSPH8 (at 1:28 mark)

7. Kavell Conner – LB, Clemson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzgxywpm8wc (at 2:26 mark)

7. Ray Fisher – DB, Indiana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjBpDXKv6Fc

Jacksonville Jaguars

Team Losses – J. Henderson – DT, T. Holt – WR, T. Thomas – OT, Q. Groves – DE

Team Additions – A. Kampman – DE, K. Morrison – MLB, F. Keiaho – LB, K. Osgood – WR

Team Needs – LB, DT, S, QB, C, DE, WR

Draft:

1. Tyson Alualu – DT, California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCjawbHQ2Ns

3. D’Anthony Smith – DT, Louisiana Tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdX0jhm3ulI

5. Larry Hart – DE, Central Arkansas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxOvrOHGbU0

5. Austen Lane – DE, Murray State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzaVpl0NUQ

6. Deji Karim – RB, Southern Illinois

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMpFoHv6kQM

6. Scotty McGee – KR, James Madison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svRvZxTCTb4

Tennessee Titans

Team Losses – K. Vanden Bosch – DE, K. Bulluck (?) – LB, K. Mawae (?) – C, L. White – RB

Team Additions – W. Witherspoon – LB, J. Babin – DE, T. Hill – CB, C. Simms – QB

Team Needs – DE, CB, LB, G, WR, QB

Draft:

1. Derrick Morgan – DE, Georgia Tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDFUIyuqiH0

3. Damian Williams – WR, Southern Cal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eggkv0Z0tQ

3. Rennie Curran – LB, Georgia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wndM8tc0SB8

4. Alterraun Verner – CB, UCLA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cZbjLR1l_c

5. Robert Johnson – S, Utah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ourKzKOnY

6. Rusty Smith – QB, Florida Atlantic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qf5qN7TfiA

6. Myron Rolle – S, Florida State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsn1aIaYj-Y

7. Marc Mariani – WR, Montana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNM1NYBp0QQ

7. David Howard – DT, Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzaVpl0NUQ (at :22 mark)

ACC DRAFT RECAP

William Queen — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:30:22 +0000

With the 9th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Clemson running back CJ Spiller. The biggest scoring threat in this year’s draft, Spiller is too electrifying and too explosive to be ignored. I guess you could say that he has enough talent to be taken anywhere in the draft, so it shouldn’t have been a huge shocker when he went 9th overall. However, I didn’t think the Bills were going to take this big of a chance with a running back this early. Now we’re talking about a position that they’re not even in the need of; while Bills running back Marshawn Lynch missed plenty of games last season, back-up Fred Jackson took over and ran for more than 1000 yards during his absence. There has been a mixed success of top-10 running backs in recent years. Since 2005, Cedric Benson, Cadillac Williams, Reggie Bush, Darren McFadden, and Adrian Peterson are the backs that have been drafted with a top-10 pick. That’s one future hall-of-famer, one stuck on a crappy team, and three busts. So while the Bills are dreaming of Spiller being the next AP, the odds are against it. A better way to handle the situation would have been to draft someone like Derrick Morgan or Jason Pierre-Paul, who could help out at defensive end or perhaps at a an outside linebacker spot. Or maybe even a Brandon Graham, who would be a definite fix at linebacker. Plus, there are plenty of late-round backs that could have fit the bill such as Montio Hardesty, Conte Cuttino, Dexter McCluster, or Charles Scott.

With the 16th pick of the NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans took versatile Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan. Morgan is another one of those guys that has tons of talent and, like Spiller, had the potential to be drafted anywhere in the draft. Quite frankly, if I were Jeff Fisher right now, I’d be pretty stoked about finding this guy at the 16th spot. He can play defensive end in a 4-3 system and an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Morgan’s speed and relentless pass rush gives him the edge over most sluggish offensive tackles and he collapses the pocket very quickly; Tennessee couldn’t be happier. The defensive line has been falling apart lately and Morgan could defiantly add depth there and, heck, outside linebacker Kieth Bullock is getting up there in age, so it may not be a bad idea to see how he does at outside linebacker too.

The Broncos used their 1st round pick, 22, to draft Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas. This pick leaves me with one question; is this Denver’s master plan? First, we’re going to trade our #1 offensive threat, Brandon Marshall, to the Dolphins and, then, we’re going to replace him with an incoming rookie receiver that was the leader in YPC in college. They also drafted Tim Tebow with the 25th pick; the Broncos are taking some huge strides, the question is, are they in the right direction? There’s no doubt that the Broncos are looking to acquire a big-play receiver to replace Brandon Marshall, but the fact that they’re drafting Thomas to take over; those are some big shoes to fill. Now there’s no question that Thomas is a talented receiver; you don’t just fall into the 1st round on accident. He’s a very physical receiver that blows by corners with his strength. He has very sticky hands and, when he goes up for the ball, he’s almost always coming down with it. Sounds a little bit like Marshall. Final note – the Broncos should have never traded Brandon Marshall, because they’ve forced themselves to draft a receiver such as Thomas this early in the draft.

Only two ACC players were drafted in the 2nd round; Virginia cornerback Chris Cook went 34th to the Vikings and Virginia Tech defensive end Jason Worilds went 52nd to the Steelers.

When the Vikings took Cook, well, I’m not sure if they had their thinking caps on for this one. Cook is a very competitive, tough corner that isn’t afraid to help out with the run; sounds like a Vikings corner to me. But I’m afraid that Minnesota missed out on the chance to draft an elite receiver. Golden Tate, Arrelious Benn, Brandon LaFell, and Damian Williams are all receivers that would have scratched the itch for receiver in the 2nd round. Perhaps the Vikings are looking to turn Cook into a strong safety; not only do they have a greater need at that position, but Cook’s toughness and tackling mentality would certainly make an easy transition to the safety position.

Jason Worilds is a perfect fit for the Steelers; I love the pick. Pittsburgh’s starting defensive end Aaron Smith is entering his 13th NFL season, so it’s safe to say that, unless he pulls a Brett Favre, the Steelers are going to be without a defensive end very soon. Worilds will be a very good asset to the smash-mouth kind of football that the Steelers defense brings to the field. He is in a lot of ways like Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan in the sense that he explodes into the backfield. His pass rushing moves are as good as they get and he when he when he gets to the quarterback, he leaves no prisoners. I think Pittsburgh made a great pick here and that Worilds will be very successful under the Steelers aggressive, blitzing defensive scheme.

With the 71st pick, Georgia Tech safety Morgan Burnett was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. The main goal for Green Bay coming into the draft was to complete their offensive line in a sense where they wouldn’t be racing for answers in free agency. They took care of that in the 1st round, allowing them to pick up Morgan Burnett, a guy who wasn’t expected to be there in the 3rd round. Burnett’s a very quick, athletic, instinctive player that has all you want in a safety. He makes big plays on the ball, is terrific against the run, and should be a very good asset in Green Bay.

Miami tight end Jimmy Graham was drafted by the defending Super Bowl champions at 95th overall. It seems like defensive back has been the Saints biggest need in the NFL Draft the last five years, but as the 3rd round came along, New Orleans piled up by drafting a tight end I’m not quite sure they really needed. Hey, Graham should be thrilled; he’s going to be playing on last year’s Super Bowl winning, #1 offense. Though he may not get much playing time. Jeremy Shockey is still at lbay reeling in passes and 2nd string tight end David Thomas isn’t too bad either; he caught 35 passes for 356 yards and a touchdown as a back up in 2009. Not to mention the other two tight ends on their roster that never got to the field in the Saints Super Bowl run. I guess they’re just trying to provide competition.

Wake Forest cornerback Brandon Ghee was drafted by the Bengals with 96th pick. I like the decision the Bengals made with going with this guy in the 3rd round. They’re in a huge need of a #2 corner, as well as two fresh safeties; at least this satisfies one of their needs considering they didn’t address any needs in the first two rounds. Cincinnati drafted another tight end in the 1st round? What!? I thought their 2009 1st round selection, Missouri tight end Chase Coffman, was expose to take care of that? Oh yeah, he didn’t catch any balls last season, guess they gotta keep trying. Ghee didn’t make many headlines as a starter for Wake Forest, but he was very productive and will be a very solid corner in the NFL if he has time to develop. However, I’m feeling obligated to bash on Cincinnati; they didn’t really need to draft a tight end. They could have used their 21st pick in the 1st round to draft, hmm, I don’t know maybe Devin McCourtney? Kyle Wilson?

Miami linebacker Darryl Sharpton was drafted to the Houston Texans 102nd overall and offensive tackle Bruce Campbell was drafted 106th by the Oakland Raiders. A few picks later, Clemson receiver Jacoby Ford was drafted at 108 (The Raiders couldn’t go a draft without choosing a 4.3 forty receiver?).

UNC defensive end E.J. Wilson was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks at 127th overall, while Miami offensive tackle Jason Fox was picked next (128th ) by the Lions.

The Seahawks also picked up Virginia Tech safety Kam Chancellor 133rd overall (5th round), Clemson defensive end Ricky Sapp was drafted by the Eagles 134th overall, and Virginia Tech offensive tackle Ed Wang was selected by the Bills with the 140th spot.

Maryland corner back Nolan Carroll and UNC defensive tackle Cam Thomas were drafted back to back in the 5th round. Carroll by the Dolphins145th and Thomas by the Chargers 146th.

Boston College center Matt Tenant was selected by the Saints (158th), Wake Forest guard Chris DeGeare was picked up by the Vikings (161st), and Clemson cornerback Crezdon Butler was drafted by the Steelers (164th).

Hookies punter Brent Bowden was drafted by the Buccaneers (172nd), former Georgia Tech A-back Jonathan Dwyer was selected by the Steelers (188th), NC State center Ted Larson was picked up by the Patriots, and Florida State safety, road scholar, Myron Rolle slipped all the way down to the Titans; the last pick in the 6th round (207th).

Virginia Tech safety Cody Grimm was drafted by the Buccaneers (210th), NC State defensive end Willie Young was taken by the Lions (213th), Miami tight end Derrick Epps was picked up by the Chargers (235th), and, going to the Indianapolis Colts, Clemson linebacker Cavell Connor was the last ACC player taken in the draft.

Bills Sign Fred Jackson to Extension

Wire Services — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:45:32 +0000

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Buffalo Bills today announced that the team and running back Fred Jackson have agreed to terms on a contract extension. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The three-year veteran has played in 24 career games with four starts. In 2008, Jackson set a career-high with 571 rushing yards on 130 carries including three touchdowns and added 37 catches for 317 yards.

Jackson has recorded 871 rushing yards on 188 attempts and 507 receiving yards on 59 catches in his career.

A product of Coe College and a Forth Worth, TX native, Jackson joined Buffalo in September of 2006 on the team’s practice squad.

NFL Schedule Released

Bob Lazzari — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:54:19 +0000

On Tuesday, the National Football League unveiled its 2009 regular season schedule and both occupants of the present Meadowlands/Giants Stadium (depending on which team is playing at home that particular day) will receive national exposure a total of seven times. The Giants will bid farewell to their home since 1976 with a Sunday Night Football contest on October 25 versus the defending NFC champions Arizona Cardinals and another NBC game versus their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, on December 13.

The Jets? Without the fanfare of Brett Favre and their December collapse, they will have to go on the road for their two prime time affairs - an ESPN Monday Night Football game at Miami (October 12) and in Montreal for what is considered a Buffalo Bills home game on Thursday, December 3 on the NFL Network.

For the sideline boss of Gang Green, finally seeing where and when his team will be was a sign of good things. “We got the schedule today and I am fired up about the coming season,” Rex Ryan said. “This will be my first season as a head coach and the schedule is filled with challenges, but our coaching staff and players have been working hard and I know that we will be ready.”

On the plate in Week One for the Jets is a road game versus the Texans, the first time in 22 years that they have opened up the season in the big state. Back then it was the Houston Oilers on the short end of a 20-0 score at the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ otherwise known as the Astrodome.

The home opener a week later will bring a familiar foe into East Rutherford as the Patriots make the trip south for the fourth consecutive year. Things do not get any easier as the Tennessee Titans are up next and they will be looking to avenge the Jets’ Week 12 win last year that snapped their 10-game winning streak. Other notable games on the schedule are at Indianapolis (December 27) and - barring any post-season home games - the last dance at the old building on January 3 versus Cincinnati.

In 2010, both teams will move into the brand new stadium right next door and the Giants would love to close out an era with a better showing than last year’s Divisional Round playoff loss to the Eagles. They open things up on September 13 at home versus the Redskins then go on a three-game road trip to Dallas, Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

Big Blue will have the evening game on the NFL Network on Thanksgiving Day at Denver then have three division games after that, at home versus Dallas and Philadelphia and at Washington. A tough stretch, indeed, something not lost on head coach Tom Coughlin, who noted the advantage of having the bye in Week 10.

“We play nine games before the bye - I think that’s better for us,” he said to reporters, commenting on the early Week 4 week off in 2008. “The bye gives the players, I think, an opportunity to play a long stretch against high-quality opponents and then have a little break.”

For the second consecutive season, the G-Men finish up at Minnesota (January 3) and will look to springboard into the playoffs on a higher note than last year when they lost by a field goal at the final gun.

Of course, the NFL’s flexible scheduling in the season’s final seven weeks make all of those games tentative and officially considered “To Be Announced” for a starting time. Depending on where both teams are at that point in the season will determine their schedule, with NBC getting the opportunity to switch their night game to show a better match-up than what was put on the charts months in advance.

If Ryan and Coughlin’s troops do their jobs, both teams may end up with more national games than the seven planned now. First things first, though.

Bills Re-Sign John DiGiorgio

Wire Services — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:01:48 +0000

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Buffalo Bills today announced the team has re-signed linebacker John DiGiorgio. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

DiGiorgio appeared in six games during the 2008 season before being placed on injured reserve and finished with six special teams tackles.

The Saginaw Valley State product joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and has made 14 starts in 34 games played. Since 2006, DiGiorgio has recorded 137 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one interception.

DiGiorgio will enter his fourth NFL season in 2009.

Bills Re-sign Justin Jenkins

Wire Services — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:53:56 +0000

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Buffalo Bills today announced the team has re-signed wide receiver Justin Jenkins. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jenkins played in 13 games this season and made most of his contributions to the Bills’ special teams unit finishing with seven special teams tackles. The Buffalo Bills finished No. 1 in the Dallas Morning News comprehensive special teams rankings in 2008.

Jenkins will enter his fourth NFL season in 2009 and third season with the Buffalo Bills.

Bills finish second in NFL fan’s “Click for Cans” Championship

Wire Services — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:12:29 +0000

Orchard Park, NY - The Buffalo Bills announced today that the Food Bank of WNY has received 12,000 cans of Campbell’s Chunky Soup courtesy of Buffalo Bills fans everywhere. The Bills, Campbell’s Chunky Soup and the NFL donated the cans to the Food Bank of WNY in recognition of the Bills second place finish in the Campbell’s Chunky soup “Click for Cans” Championship.

Bills wide receiver James Hardy, tight end Derek Schouman and safety John Wendling were present to show their support and assist with the soup can delivery at the Food Bank of WNY today.

“12,000 cans of Campbell’s Chunky soup is an incredible donation and we are thankful that the Bills fans cared and clicked online enough to make this happen,” said Food Bank of WNY marketing and public relations director, Michael Billoni. “We are happy to distribute this food to our partner agencies and continue to help the less fortunate in the Western New York community.”

For the past nine years, Campbell Soup Company has invited NFL fans to harness their competitive team spirit for a good cause…tackling hunger in America. As part of Chunky soup’s “Click for Cans” online food drive, fans earned soup donations for their local community food banks. Fans were encouraged to log on to www.chunky.com every day for 17 weeks, where they clicked on the helmet of their favorite team to register.

This season featured weekly team matchups mirroring those of the NFL’s regular season. After the regular season match ups, the teams with the top four ‘Click for Cans’ records from each conference battled it out in bracket-style playoffs that culminated with the championship match between the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills and Packers were undefeated and cruised through their playoff bracket to square off in the Championship which assured a 12,000 can donation to both team’s food banks. The Packers fans nipped the Bills fans in the final voting to receive an additional 5,000 cans. All remaining NFL squads received a 1,000 can donation to their local Feeding America food bank.

The fans of the Bills and Packers supported the contest with greater numbers than any others in the NFL. “I would like to congratulate the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills on a fantastic ‘Click for Cans’ season,” said Doug Brand, Campbell’s Chunky soup Brand Manager.

February 6, 2009 – 12,000 cans of Chunky soup donated to Food Bank of WNY by Bills

Each month, about 95,000 hungry Western New Yorkers turn to soup kitchens, food pantries, and

other emergency food providers – 40% are children and 11% are seniors! The Food Bank of WNY

helps to make sure that the soup kitchens, pantries and other providers have enough food to feed the

hungry. The Food Bank ships about 1 million pounds of food every month to about 360 member

agencies to help feed the less fortunate in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

The Food Bank of WNY solicits food donations from farmers, wholesalers, retailers and other members of the food industry. Additionally, community groups hold food drives to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food for the Food Bank. The WNY Community is also very supportive in providing cash donations to the Food Bank. These funds are used along with government grants to purchase food very efficiently. About 94 cents of each dollar goes directly to providing food to the less fortunate.

Campbell Soup Company has donated more than three million pounds of food to Feeding America food banks nationwide over the past year. For more information on the Campbell‘s Chunky/NFL Tackling Hunger program, please visit http://www.chunky.com/Happenings.aspx.

Founded in 1959, the Buffalo Bills are one of the most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills have won two American Football League (AFL) Championships (1964 – 1965) and won an NFL record four straight AFC Championships (1990 – 1993) that included four trips to the Super Bowl. The Bills pride themselves on supporting the Western New York community by establishing player outreach programs, supporting NFL educational and physical fitness youth initiatives and increasing community awareness. Under the guidance of newly elected Hall of Fame member and team founder, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., the Bills will celebrate their 50^th Season in 2009. For more Bills community relations information, please visit www.buffalobills.com or call (716) 648-1800.

Smith and Thomas Lead Hall Class

Joe Pietaro — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:41:48 +0000

Bruce Smith enters the Hall of Fame after an All-Pro career with the Buffalo Bills. (Joe Pietaro/NYSD)

TAMPA, FL - Perhaps Rich Eisen of the NFL Network summed it up best when he called it a “goose bump moment.” Two of the six names in the 2009 class are no longer with us, but will still represent the sport they played when they are officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Bob Hayes, the former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver who died in 2002 at the age of 51 after suffering liver ailments, prostate cancer and kidney failure, left his sister Lucille Hester a note for her to read for him “in case this day ever came.” When she finished, Eisen made his statement and there was not a hush in the overcrowded auditorium at the Tampa Convention Center.

Kansas City Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt remembered more than just Derrick Thomas’s football prowess, stating that he was a “Hall of Famer off the field, as well.” Thomas, who averaged one forced fumble out of every four games during his career, had his life cut short while he was still an active player when he died in an automobile accident nine years ago.

“When Derrick’s dad was shot down in Vietnam in 1972, oddly enough the code name for the operation was ‘Linebacker Two,’” continued Hunt, commenting on the position that Thomas would end up dominating in the 1990s.

“Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs,” he said.

Bruce Smith, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, remembered Thomas as being “an incredible player and an incredible person.” The bruising defensive end, who is the all-time career sacks leader with 200, became emotional when he spoke about his morning.

“I just had a moment,” the 19-year veteran said, “wishing that my father was still here. He would have been so proud.” Unable to hold back his tears, he then admitted, “Some may look at this as a sign of weakness. I cry because I’m not less than a man but because I am a man.”

Another player getting in his first year on the ballot was Rod Woodson, who starred playing in the secondary of four different franchises. Eisen, his colleague on the NFL Network said, “For the last five years, we always referred to him as ‘Future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson’ and he didn’t want to hear it.”

That will no longer be necessary and the humble Woodson thought back what drove him. “I didn’t start playing football because I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “I started playing because my brothers played it.” Woodson was named to the 1990s all-decade team, mainly from his years in Pittsburgh.

Unable to attend was Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, but via telephone he gave credit to the two most important people in his life. “I’ve got to thank my folks for raising me the right way.”

Joining Smith representing the Buffalo Bills is 90-year-old Ralph Wilson, Jr., the team owner and president since 1959 when he was a member of the original group that formed the American Football League. Known as the NFL’s Voice of Reason, Wilson was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what to say, but you’ve got to say something,” he said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

It was also announced that this year’s Hall of Fame Game on August 9 will be between Buffalo and the Tennessee Titans, formerly an original AFL franchise, the Houston Oilers, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the old “rival league.”

The younger Hunt spoke of his late father Lamaar - who was the founder of the AFL - and what he would think of the half-century milestone and Wilson’s enshrinement the same day.

“I know that my dad is looking down and smiling at his old club buddy.”

Add Thomas and Hayes to that list of people looking down and smiling on this day.

Bills to Face Titans in Hall of Fame Game

Wire Services — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:23:12 +0000

Two of the original teams in their original uniforms will kick off the NFL’s celebration of the 50th season of its AFL teams when the Buffalo Bills take on the Tennessee Titans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, August 9, the Hall of Fame and NFL announced today.

The game will be televised nationally by NBC at 8:00 PM ET.

The American Football League, which merged with the NFL in 1970 to become the American Football Conference, played its first season in 1960 with eight teams. Two of those clubs were the Bills and the Houston Oilers — the forerunner of the Titans and the team that captured the AFL’s first championship.

The founding owners of the Bills and Titans in 1960 are still in command of those teams.

RALPH C. WILSON, JR. is the original owner of the Bills. The Titans have been owned by K.S. (BUD) ADAMS, JR. since their inception.

The Titans will wear their Oilers uniforms of the early 1960s that were distinguished by the derrick logo on their blue helmets. The team played in Houston from 1960-96 before moving to Tennessee.

Buffalo will wear its “throwback” uniforms that feature a simple red buffalo on a white helmet.

The NFL is planning to celebrate the 50th season of its AFL clubs in numerous ways this year.

The Hall of Fame Game will follow the induction of the Hall’s class of 2009 on Saturday, August 8 and cap a multi-day celebration known as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

For more information, visit profootballhof.com.

Lynch Added to the Pro Bowl Roster

Wire Services — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:26:47 +0000

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Buffalo Bills today announced that RB Marshawn Lynch has been added to the AFC roster for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. The game will take place on Sunday, February 8th at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI. The game will air on NBC at 4:30 pm.

Lynch will become the first Bills running back to reach the Pro Bowl since Travis Henry following the 2002 season.

Lynch will make his first career Pro Bowl appearance. He posted his second 1,000-yard season with 1,036 rushing yards in 2008. Lynch finished the season ranked fifth in the AFC in rushing yards and seventh in the AFC in scrimmage yards with 1,336. He ranked ninth in the AFC with eight rushing touchdowns. Lynch also set a career-high with 47 receptions and 300 receiving yards.

Below is a list of the Buffalo Bills running backs to be named to the Pro Bowl or AFL All-Star game (1961-69):

Greg Bell – 1984

Bobby Burnett – 1966

Joe Cribbs* – 1980, 1981, 1983

Cookie Gilchrist – 1962-64

Travis Henry – 2002

Keith Lincoln – 1967

O.J. Simpson – 1969, 1972-76

Thurman Thomas* – 1989-93

*Cribbs was selected but did not play due to injury in 1981. Thomas was selected but did not play due to injury in 1992.