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03-06-2005, 11:34 AM
Bills sign QB Holcomb
Ex-Brown to be backup; Gandy joins O-line
By MARK GAUGHAN
News Sports Reporter
3/5/2005
http://www.buffalonews.com/graphics/2005/03/05/actualsize/0305kellyv2.jpg
The Buffalo Bills found an experienced backup quarterback with decent credentials Friday evening and also added depth to their offensive line.
Cleveland Browns free agent Kelly Holcomb reached an agreement in principle on a contract to become the backup quarterback to J.P. Losman. Meanwhile, the Bills signed former Chicago Bears lineman Mike Gandy, who can play tackle or guard.
Holcomb, a 31-year-old, eight-year veteran, gives the Bills good insurance behind Losman. He went 4-8 as a starter for the Browns the past four years, but he had monster passing games in five of his losses.
One of those was in the 2002 playoffs against Mike Mularkey's Pittsburgh team. Holcomb threw for 438 yards, but the Browns lost, 36-33. Holcomb threw for 326 yards in a 40-39 loss to Kansas City in 2003 (the Browns lost on a penalty when one of their players prematurely removed his helmet). He threw for 413 yards in a 58-48 loss to Cincinnati last season.
When Holcomb got a hot hand in Cleveland, he was hard to stop.
The Browns were negotiating all week to try to bring Holcomb back. They reportedly were dangling a four-year, $8 million deal. But Holcomb apparently got tired of waiting for the Browns to make a firm decision. He came to terms on a four-year, $6.6 million deal with the Bills, including a $2 million signing bonus, according to a league source.
The Bills had been waiting to see if Shane Matthews, their 34-year-old backup last season, wanted to return as Losman's backup or retire. With Holcomb available, the Bills jumped at the chance to strike a deal.
Injuries hindered Holcomb in Cleveland. He beat out Tim Couch for the starting job in 2003 and probably would have kept the starting job for 2004. But he suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder late in 2003, so the Browns turned to veteran Jeff Garcia. Holcomb started just two games last season.
Gandy, meanwhile, falls into the "street free agent" category because he was not on any team's roster at the end of the season. However, he started 30 games for Chicago over the past three years.
The Bills are in need of depth on the line, because in addition to losing starting left tackle Jonas Jennings, they also are minus versatile No. 3 tackle Marcus Price, who is an unrestricted free agent.
Gandy, 26, offers versatility. A 6-foot-4, 310-pounder, he has played or practiced at all five line positions. Gandy was a third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2001. In 2002, he started five games at left guard and six at left tackle. In 2003, he started 14 games for Chicago at left tackle.
The Bears were unsatisfied with Gandy's consistency after the 2003 season and decided his best spot might be guard.
Gandy started five games the first half of the 2004 season at left guard but battled a hamstring injury. When tackle Marc Colombo became came back from injury in November, the Bears released Gandy. He was playing behind Rex Tucker, and the Bears realized more salary cap savings by releasing Gandy than their other reserves.
www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050305/1047194.asp
e-mail: mgaughan@buffnews.com
Ex-Brown to be backup; Gandy joins O-line
By MARK GAUGHAN
News Sports Reporter
3/5/2005
http://www.buffalonews.com/graphics/2005/03/05/actualsize/0305kellyv2.jpg
The Buffalo Bills found an experienced backup quarterback with decent credentials Friday evening and also added depth to their offensive line.
Cleveland Browns free agent Kelly Holcomb reached an agreement in principle on a contract to become the backup quarterback to J.P. Losman. Meanwhile, the Bills signed former Chicago Bears lineman Mike Gandy, who can play tackle or guard.
Holcomb, a 31-year-old, eight-year veteran, gives the Bills good insurance behind Losman. He went 4-8 as a starter for the Browns the past four years, but he had monster passing games in five of his losses.
One of those was in the 2002 playoffs against Mike Mularkey's Pittsburgh team. Holcomb threw for 438 yards, but the Browns lost, 36-33. Holcomb threw for 326 yards in a 40-39 loss to Kansas City in 2003 (the Browns lost on a penalty when one of their players prematurely removed his helmet). He threw for 413 yards in a 58-48 loss to Cincinnati last season.
When Holcomb got a hot hand in Cleveland, he was hard to stop.
The Browns were negotiating all week to try to bring Holcomb back. They reportedly were dangling a four-year, $8 million deal. But Holcomb apparently got tired of waiting for the Browns to make a firm decision. He came to terms on a four-year, $6.6 million deal with the Bills, including a $2 million signing bonus, according to a league source.
The Bills had been waiting to see if Shane Matthews, their 34-year-old backup last season, wanted to return as Losman's backup or retire. With Holcomb available, the Bills jumped at the chance to strike a deal.
Injuries hindered Holcomb in Cleveland. He beat out Tim Couch for the starting job in 2003 and probably would have kept the starting job for 2004. But he suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder late in 2003, so the Browns turned to veteran Jeff Garcia. Holcomb started just two games last season.
Gandy, meanwhile, falls into the "street free agent" category because he was not on any team's roster at the end of the season. However, he started 30 games for Chicago over the past three years.
The Bills are in need of depth on the line, because in addition to losing starting left tackle Jonas Jennings, they also are minus versatile No. 3 tackle Marcus Price, who is an unrestricted free agent.
Gandy, 26, offers versatility. A 6-foot-4, 310-pounder, he has played or practiced at all five line positions. Gandy was a third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2001. In 2002, he started five games at left guard and six at left tackle. In 2003, he started 14 games for Chicago at left tackle.
The Bears were unsatisfied with Gandy's consistency after the 2003 season and decided his best spot might be guard.
Gandy started five games the first half of the 2004 season at left guard but battled a hamstring injury. When tackle Marc Colombo became came back from injury in November, the Bears released Gandy. He was playing behind Rex Tucker, and the Bears realized more salary cap savings by releasing Gandy than their other reserves.
www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050305/1047194.asp
e-mail: mgaughan@buffnews.com