By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
Peerless Price of the Bills
Taken in Round 2 in 1999
Other picks in that round: Mike Peterson (No. 36 to the Vikings) played 198 games at linebacker after he was drafted the Colts. New England grabbed running back Kevin Faulk at No. 46. The Browns took wide receiver Kevin Johnson at wide receiver to start the second round.
The details: Price got better and better during his first stay with the Bills. He moved into the starting lineup in 2000, and started every game through 2002. Price peaked in that final year, when he caught 94 passes for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns. That caught Atlanta’s attention, and the Falcons gave up a first-round choice for him – and then handed the veteran a seven-year deal worth $42 million. Price only spent two seasons with Atlanta, and he spent one year in Dallas before returning to Buffalo for his two final seasons.
Other 53s: Bruce Jarvis played four years at center for the Bills during the early 1970s, which means the offensive lineman did some blocking for O.J. Simpson during that fabulous 1973 season. Gabe Northern started at linebacker in 1998 and 1999, went to Minnesota, and was out of football after 2000. Julian Nunamaker was a backup defensive lineman in 1969 and 1970. Gary McAdam was a regular for a couple of years for the Sabres, and then was traded to Pittsburgh for famous tough guy Dave Schultz. Gary kept playing through 1986.
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)
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