Two Bills Drive

‘A hearing on the contract dispute between Wade Phillips and the Buffalo Bills has been rescheduled for May 16, the National Football League reported Tuesday.’

Yesterday the Bills signed undrafted free agent Center Randall Cummins who played for Kansas State. This is a pre-bowl profile on the kid once nicknamed "Ogre" by his middle school teammates. Cummins was a horse for the K-State offensive line, starting at center in his sophomore, junior, and senior years while earning All Big 12 honors.

President and General Manager, Tom Donahoe, announced that there will not be any practice sessions open to the public this weekend. However, there will be an open session at the next minicamp in June.

We were the first public group to meet the new President and Coach. They were both very informative and gracious in answering questions and telling us the "why’s" and the "what’s" to expect. We even received a Rob Johnson update regarding his arm strength and speed in decision making (it looks very promising). Donahoe also told us about the players who gave up some serious money to help out with the dreadful cap situation and how they wanted to remain Buffalo Bills.

Williams stressed was that participation this week is NOT a mandatory, until this weekend for three days. There will be another mandatory camp in June. He is very pleased with the attitude of the players and demands quick resonses from all around him. He gave the players a week off, but warned them not to go off the diet and conditioning program and come back fat.

‘The Buffalo Bills will bring 18 free agents into mini-camp this weekend, including one of the most prolific receivers in NCAA Division I-AA history, another Boston College quarterback and two players from the XFL.’

‘At Boston College, Hasselbeck threw for 29 touchdowns, fifth most in BC history, and 3,890 yards, sixth on the school’s all-time list.’

‘The Buffalo Bills today announced that the following 18 undrafted free agents have agreed to terms with the team. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.’

‘Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe and head coach Gregg Williams will be guest speakers at an open meeting of the Buffalo Bills Booster Club at 7:30 tonight. The meeting will be held in the Bills Fieldhouse adjacent to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.’

‘Attorneys from the National Football League conducted a hearing Monday in Buffalo concerning the contract dispute between the Buffalo Bills and former coach Wade Phillips.’

‘He doesn’t have any grandiose thoughts of supplanting Rob Johnson as the Bills’ starter. He even concedes second-string duties to veteran Alex Van Pelt. Where Hasselbeck stands is in competition for the No. 3 spot with third-year signal-caller Pete Gonzalez…’.

‘”I like this city,” said Christie, who lives in suburban Buffalo about an hour’s drive from his hometown of Oakville, Ontario. “It’s a nice place to be. It’s home. It’s hard to leave.”‘

‘As with any draft, the Buffalo Bills’ success this weekend won’t be fully-appreciated for two or three years. But for sheer numbers, it was a great three days for the teams new president/general manager Tom Donahoe.’

‘He explained that when the Bills’ pick came at No. 14, "we felt there wasn’t anybody we were overly excited about.’

Not that one. QB Tim Hasselbeck from Boston College. He said the Bills and others called as early as the fifth round and Buffalo said he might be its pick in the seventh. He wasn't, but his deal was struck soon after the end of the draft.

Kiper rates the Bills draft a B, along with comments on all their picks. For the record, he rated the other AFC teams as such: the Colts a B-, the Dolphins a B, the Jets a B, and the Pats a B. And gave no one, not even Seattle an A.