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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 28, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 11, 2003 Cota won’t join the Bills By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Chad Cota’s new football home won’t be in Buffalo after all. Cota, who agreed to a contract with the Buffalo Bills last week and planned to fly to the team’s headquarters Monday for the team’s final week of mini camp, backed out of the deal Friday after speaking to head coach Gregg Williams. "I hate to agree to something verbally and then back out of it, but my heart just wasn’t in it," the 31- year-old Cota said from his Medford home on Tuesday night. What Cota feared was spending mini camp and training camp in Buffalo and then getting cut before the season started in early September. Advertisement The Bills were offering Cota the minimum salary for an eight-year veteran, believed to be more than $600,000, but he would collect virtually none of it if he were released. Cota was cut by San Francisco last August before signing on with St. Louis, his fourth NFL team. "I still have a desire to play the game, but the business side of things have soured a little," said Cota, who starred at Ashland High and the University of Oregon. "It’s taken a little bit away from it for me. "I’ve got nothing to complain about, though. I’ve reaped the benefits of free agency. But sometimes in the latter part of your career, you’ve got to deal with this stuff." Cota said that his agent, Frank Bauer, has been in contact with other teams and that a new deal could still work out. But Cota admitted his days in the NFL might be over. "Retirement is a thought that has gone through my head," he said. "If an opportunity comes along that I feel good about, then I’ll do it. All I can do is follow my heart." Williams, the Buffalo coach, appeared to take the news philosophically. "I respect his decision and wish him the best of luck," Williams told The Associated Press. The Bills were one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL last season and were looking to Cota to solidify their young secondary. He was expected to battle third-year safety Tony Driver for the backup spot behind Coy Wire, who is coming off a promising rookie season. Buffalo would have been Cota’s fifth team. In addition to the Rams last season, he had stints with Carolina, New Orleans and Indianapolis. He was taken by Carolina in the seventh round of the 1995 NFL draft after a stellar career at Oregon in which he helped the Ducks to their first Rose Bowl appearance in 37 years. Cota led Ashland High to an unbeaten season and its first state championship in 1989 . Cota and his family have made Medford their home since February of last year. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers