Two Bills Drive

‘As for the trade-up option, sign me up. No. 1, not all seven players that the Bills are in line to draft on Day 3 are going to make the team. No. 2, packaging some fourth- or fifth-round picks to land a third-rounder could potentially net the Bills a player who can contribute, if not start, right away. No. 3, if Beane considered my feelings at all, making seven picks on the Saturday of the draft would be cruel and unusual punishment.’

‘In 1958, Pat McGroder Jr. – a Buffalo sports legend – served as the city’s parks commissioner. Charley Young, sports editor of the then-Buffalo Evening News, gave him a broader title:’

‘He called out his fellow owners and the league commissioner for “callousness,” and voted against the relocation of the Cleveland Browns franchise to Baltimore in 1996. In fact, Wilson opposed every single team relocation plan through five decades.’

‘Good cultures take care of their players. They don’t needlessly create roster holes and have to force things in the draft by reaching for a player or by trading up when there is a run on a certain position group. In turn, those players show a willingness to potentially accept slightly less even though it is life-changing money.’

‘“I think there’s going to be some edge rushers in this draft who you’re going to look back at a couple years from now and say, ‘Why did they drop a little bit?’ ” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “History tells us you can find some of these guys a little later in the draft.”’

‘They were lauded by the likes of Bills owner Terry Pegula, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for their commitment to the project during a stadium topping out ceremony on a mild and sunny Friday in front of the Orchard Park construction site.’