Andre Reed to retire as a Buffalo Bill
Advertiser News Services
Andre Reed, Buffalo's leading career receiver and a key member of the Bills teams that went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, has called a news conference for tomorrow where he is expected to announce his retirement.
The news conference is scheduled for noon at the Bills' headquarters in Orchard Park, N.Y.
A team spokesman declined comment but it is expected Reed, who hasn't played since being placed on injured reserve by Washington in December, will follow the lead of running back Thurman Thomas and retire as a member of the Bills.
In February, Thomas — Buffalo's leading career rusher — signed a one-day contract with the Bills and retired at an hourlong ceremony.
Reed spent 15 seasons with the Bills, setting four franchise records including most receiving touchdowns (86) and most receptions in a game — 15 against Green Bay in 1994. He also had 13,095 receiving yards with the Bills.
Reed is third on the NFL's career list with 951 catches, behind Oakland's Jerry Rice and Minnesota's Cris Carter.
Buffalo released Reed after the 1999 season.
He signed with the Redskins last season and finished with 10 catches for 103 yards and one touchdown in limited action.
RAIDERS
• Rice will start: In a move that surprised no one, Oakland coach Jon Gruden announced Jerry Rice will start opposite Tim Brown in tomorrow's game in Kansas City. The move confirmed what many had assumed would take place since Rice was signed by the Raiders in June after 16 years with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Raiders will carry six receivers on their roster as opposed to five last season.
"We think Jerry Rice has got the criteria to be a heck of a receiver for us, but there will be some situations where we want to use some other people, and we will," Gruden said.
PACKERS
• Freeman ready to return: After almost three weeks off to clear out the cobwebs from a concussion, Green Bay wide receiver Antonio Freeman said he was clear-headed and ready to start the regular season tomorrow against the Detroit Lions.
"I am excited," Freeman said Thursday. "I think we made the right decision by not risking anything playing another two (exhibition) games. Playing in this opener has been the goal."
Freeman suffered the concussion Aug. 20 when Denver Broncos safety Eric Brown leveled him with a helmet-to-helmet hit as Freeman stretched out for a pass from Brett Favre in an exhibition game. Brown was fined one game check, or $24,588, for the hit.
COWBOYS
• Adams fined for chop block: The NFL fined Dallas tackle Flozell Adams yesterday for performing a chop block against defensive end Tony Brackens of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Adams was fined one game's pay, or one-seventeenth of his estimated annual salary of $500,000.
NFL spokesman Dan Masonson said there was no fine against Mark Stepnoski, who hit Brackens high while Adams rolled into Brackens' lower legs during an Aug. 30 preseason game.
Brackens sprained a ligament in his right knee during the block and will miss the next 4-6 weeks.
