Free Agent Linebacker Takeo Spikes Visits
Spikes impressed with Bills organization, top to bottom
buffalobills.com
March 6, 2003
(On Thursday, linebacker Takeo Spikes was in Buffalo visiting with President and General Manager Tom Donahoe and coach Gregg Williams. Spikes, the 13th overall pick in the 1998 draft out of Auburn, has had five straight seasons with 100+ tackles for the Bengals. Prior to the start of the free agency period, Cincinnati placed the transition tag on Spikes, giving them the right to match any offer made to him.)
Spikes said the Buffalo fans made him feel welcome when he played here on December 29.
Thoughts on your visit
"It's going well right now. I'm just finishing up on some of my visits, visiting around with all the personnel staff and everybody. I'm very impressed with everything I see."
"Just how organized it is (impressed me). And the commitment to winning in the organization. From the top, Mr. (owner Ralph) Wilson all the way to the bottom and the water boy. It's very impressive. It's the little things that are done right around here. A lot of people always focus on the big picture. Around here it's the little things, how they take care of their players, the respect factor."
Searching for final puzzle pieces
"I think so. I very much think so. With me even coming in here before hand, just looking at the roster, and the history that they went through last year. I paid attention just because of Drew Bledsoe. Cincinnati and Buffalo (were) in the hunt for Drew. I kind of paid attention to that throughout the season. A player or two away? I think so."
Recalling fan support in December 29 game
"That was impressive by all the fans. I thought I was coming down to Cincinnati and Paul Brown Stadium in the last game of the year. They made me feel welcome. I remember one guy… 'play well Takeo, just don't hurt anybody so you can get ready for us next year.' I saw posters out there. I even saw some guys (say)… 'Spikes I love Buffalo but I'm going to take my jersey today and put a Cincinnati jersey on today.' He put it on, it was impressive."
Factoring in fans
"That plays a big factor. It's a bonus part to it. You always want to go somewhere where you feel like you're wanted as a person, as player, and this is my career and this is what I'm going to do."
Buffalo connections
"I'm very good close friends with Jonas Jennings. We grew up in the same area in Georgia. We had a nice talk. I always talk with Jonas. I talked with big Pat (Williams) and Eric Moulds. Like I said, I like everything. I like the way coach (Gregg) Williams orchestrates the whole schedule, as far as taking care of the players and leaving it up to the veteran players to demand more of the younger players on the team. I like that."
Transition Tag
"Right now I just take it one step at a time. I don't even worry about that. In the back of my mind I do just a little. I'm focused right now with my agent. He's working on everything right now and until he comes back and tells me otherwise then I worry about that."
Offer sheet status
"I expect to get something one day. Who knows. (We're) just waiting. I have my fingers crossed and everything, I'm just waiting to see what happens."
Exceeding expectations of Buffalo
"Yes it has. I think of lot of it is just because of the fact that this is my first trip and also just because of the fact that Cincinnati is the only place that I know. Somewhat similar, the same facilities and everything but it's totally different by how it is run."
Making a change
"I think change is good. Change is good for everybody. For my point right now, I think change would be more than welcome."
Difficulty of playing in Cincinnati
"It was tough. Coming in as a rookie you really don't know what to expect. You're trying to get your feet grounded and understand how everything goes but year three, four, and five the expectations are there not only by the public but it's made by us as players. And what I expect out of each and every guy. When you don't accomplish that and you come from a winning program such as I have, in college at Auburn and in high school, I just see it as not being acceptable."
Possible role in Buffalo
"It would be the weak side linebacker, the Will, that would be the position."
Future plans
"No plans right now. I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm not making any moves unless anybody is real serious about it."