Bills Gab

Bills Working Out At Ralph Wilson

Matt Loede — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:58:34 +0000

The Bills are holding an organized team activity this week and all but three players were on hand Monday. Receiver Lee Evans said the Bills have offered him a new contract, but wouldn’t offer any further details. The workouts go through Thursday.

Bills WR James Hardy Releases Statement Regarding Reported Altercation w/ Father

Matt Loede — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:58:26 +0000

James Hardy released a statement on Wednesday regarding the reported altercation with his father. As reprinted on the team’s official web site, Hardy says, “I realize what the public perception could be pertaining to this incident, however that was not the reality of the situation. This situation that has been blown out of proportion has been very hurtful and frustrating for me and my father. There was a misunderstanding and a misinterpretation of the situation. I would like to first apologize to the fans of Buffalo and the Bills organization for any distractions this may have caused.” Published reports claim Hardy was beating up his father and had pulled a gun on the older man. It sounds like the Bills have done their part to figure out what happened and are ready to move forward with the rookie receiver. Hardy hopefully won’t have this hanging over him as he tries to climb the depth chart this summer.

TE Everett Released in a Move to Be Able to Collect Disability

Matt Loede — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:11:48 +0000

The Bills today officially released injured TE Kevin Everett in a move that will clear the way for him to receive disability benefits after suffering a spinal cord injury that ended his career last September. Everett will receive about $255,000 a year while he is injured. He is a story of courage after at first appearing to be paralyzed from the neck down after a collision on a kickoff return in the season opener vs Denver.

Since then, he has come back to regain most of his motor skills, including the ability to walk without assistance. “The Buffalo Bills continue to be moved by Kevin Everett’s heartwarming story of his recovery,” the team said in a statement released Tuesday. “His progress from September 9 of last year through today is nothing short of a miracle, and is a tremendous example of faith, family and hard work.”

Report: Patriots Videotaped Bills

Matt Loede — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:47:38 +0000

The Patriots spied on the Bills and videotaped them in order to steal their signals, according to the “New York Times”. The Patriots reportedly videotaped five of their opponents between 2000 and 2002. That was in addition to the taping of the Jets for which the Pats were already fined $750-thousand and lost a first-round draft pick.

Prices For Miami Game in Toronto Are Sky High

Matt Loede — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:36:17 +0000

If you want to see the Bills play the Dolphins in December in Toronto, start saving now. The average ticket will be over 200-dollars and since the American and Canadian dollar are worth about the same these days, it doesn’t matter how you pay. Top seats are at least $300. Seats from the end zone to the 20-year-line will be $200. If you want to be first in line, you’ll have to buy the entire eight-game package for all the games that the Bills are playing in Canada over the next five years.

Bills Claim QB Baker, Sign Drone

Matt Loede — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:11:47 +0000

There’s no shortage of quarterbacks on the Buffalo Bills roster. The team claimed Matt Baker off the waiver list from the Dolphins on Thursday. Baker played at the University of North Carolina. The Bills already have starter Trent Edwards along with J.P. Losman and Gibran Harndan from last year’s squad. Meantime, the Bills also signed free-agent quarterback Luke Drone of Illinois State

Bills Continue to Look for Players

Matt Loede — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:35:41 +0000

Many are saying the Bills did pretty well in the NFL draft, especially in the early rounds. You never have enough cornerbacks and they got the big wide receiver they were looking for. The action didn’t end however after the ten picks. Sources say the Bills have been busy signing players who weren’t drafted. The inked at least four more on Monday. All are getting ready to see if they can make the team when preseason training opens in Rochester.

Bills Make Their Picks

Matt Loede — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:38:22 +0000

The Bills have completed the NFL Draft and now all the armchair quarterbacks get to give their opinions on how they did. They had two picks on Saturday and took cornerback Leodis McKelvin of Troy Number One. They followed that up with a big wide received in 6-foot-6 James Hardy of Indiana. On Sunday they added defensive end Chris Ellis of Virginia tech followed by cornerback Reggie Corner of Akron. Number 5 was tight end Derek Fine from Kansas then outside linebacker Alvin Bowen out of Iowa State. Number 7 was running back Xavier Omon of Missouri State. The Bills eight pick was Demetrius Bell, an offensive tackle from Northwest State. Next Wide Receiver Steve Johnson of Kentucky followed by cornerback Kennard Cox of Pittsburgh.

Bills Select CB Leodis McKelvin With The 11th Pick

Matt Loede — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:19:44 +0000

Corner Solved? Bills Take Troy’s CB McKelvin with 11th Pick

Matt Loede — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:43:38 +0000

The Bills needed corner help, and they got it on Saturday in the first round of the NFL draft with corner Leodis McKelvin of Troy. 5-10, 190 pounds, he is a solid cover corner that will find things to his liking in Western NY. He also is a good kick returner, and that part of the Bills game could be upgraded as well with the pick. McKelvin is a great pick that hopefully will be a solid one for the Bills for years to come.

Here is a scouting report on McKelvin from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Very athletic…Has good size…Excellent timed speed with a burst to close…A solid tackler…Outstanding footwork…Great hands…Has fluid hips and is smooth in his transition…Natural man coverage skills…True playmaker who is a threat to take it the distance every time he gets his hands on the ball…Also a dynamic return man.

Weaknesses:
Relatively marginal instincts and anticipation…He doesn’t have a lot of experience bumping at the line…Could do a better job in zone coverage…Too aggressive and plays a little out of control at times…Did not always play against elite competition.

Notes:
Hails from the same college program that produced Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware…For his career he averaged 13.1 yards per punt return with 7 touchdowns and 23.7 yard per kick return with one touchdown…Named to several All-American teams after averaging 17.4 yards and with 3 TD’s as a punt returner in ‘07…Draft stock soared as a senior and quietly emerged as one of the best prospects at his position..Has starting potential as a corner and should be a top-notch return man..

And here is ESPN’s take on McKelvin:

McKelvin doesn’t have elite ball skills and he isn’t tough against the run, but he has great speed (4.38), changes directions quickly and flashes great instincts. In addition, he’s a dangerous open-field runner who can contribute in the return game and is always a threat to turn an interception into points. If he can adjust to the speed of the pro game, McKelvin can make an immediate impact.